Please Help!-Prospective Architecture Major

College Majors Architecture Major
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<p>I really want to study architecture and can see myself working in the field for the rest of my life, but at the moment, I have a problem. I'm really worried about getting into college (& I hate the huge emphasis the U.S. puts on it)...anyway, I don't seem to have many/any safety schools to rely on and with the major being architecture, the selective schools only become harder to get into. (Oh, and my parents think I'm going to want to switch majors & want me going to a liberal arts school, but I'm determined that I'm not.)</p>

<p>I'm also worried because I haven't taken art since middle school. I've signed up for it every year in high school, but there's never been enough room for me (& you must take Fundamentals before any other art class) because scheduling at my school is a nightmare. I'm afraid this will affect my portfolio and possibly the chances of getting into the more art-based schools. Will it?
(I've started to work on my portfolio & it's going pretty well so far. My mom's an internationally recognized artist & will tell me the truth if my work sucks. But do you have any pointers?)</p>

<p>I'm a good student, but I think I'm smarter than my stats (I'm not being arrogant, a few things happened with unreasonable teachers who didn't really record grades):
-3.65 unweighted GPA (which I'm working on getting up when I go back)
-Top 15% of my class (which just happens to be one of the smartest and most competitive grade my high school's ever had, yay :/)
-I go to a nationally ranked public high school
-I will have taken 6 APs by the end of high school (APUSH, APWorld, AP Eng 11 & 12, AP Bio, AP Spanish) yeah they're not really math/science, but pretty much all my other classes are honors
-I've only taken the SATs once and got: 660M 620CR 670W (1950 total)
-SATIIs: 600-US History & 580-Lit
*I'm taking more SATIIs and re-taking all of these tests too. I'm not the greatest test taker though :/
& I'm really relying on my essays because I'm a good writer.</p>

<p>So my main question is...are there any decent schools that offer a B.Arch that I could potentially include as a safety?
My main list consists of: Cornell (reach, 1st choice), RISD, Pratt, Rensselaer, Cooper Union (haha yeah right), Virginia Tech, U of MD College Park (safety?), Syracuse, and possibly UNC Charlotte (safey?).</p>

<p>I'm not really guaranteed into any of these both because of academics & the art/portfolio factor. And I'm especially afraid of the home test for Cooper (& it's crazy selectivity, like 7%?!).
Go ahead and chance me if you want to, but I just don't know what to believe with that stuff anymore.</p>

<p>So, if there's anyone out there that could help me, I'd really appreciate it! Feel free to say it as it is, but please don't be deliberately rude. I may seem more english/history based, but I really love design and can't see myself doing anything else.
Thank you so much!
& Sorry this was long, but it's really important</p>

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<p>I’m interested in Arch as well and i’m looking at </p>

<p>U Mich
Carnegie Mellon
UT Austin
Rice U</p>

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<p>I was also looking at Carnegie Mellon, hadn’t heard anything great about it, but nothing really bad either. I’m not a big fan of Philadelphia, but I think I’ve realized that with architecture I’m going to have to go where I get in and may not get to choose my ideal location.</p>

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<p>Oops, I meant Pittsburgh. Drexel’s in Philadelphia</p>

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<p>I’m also a rising senior looking at applying to architecture schools this upcoming year (UVA, VaTech, NCSU, Clemson, WUSTL). Syracuse’s portfolio is pretty in-depth (if you didn’t already know). Cornell is a reach, but bring up the test scores. Yes UNC-Charlotte is a definite safety for you. Architecture is the hardest major to get accepted to at Virginia Tech (90 spots this past year with over 900 applications; this is what I was told last week at an information session). I would also suggest NCSU’s College of Design. </p>

<p>Are you sure you want to do a B.Arch and not a B.A. or B.S.?
Cause then I would have other suggestions of more schools. </p>

<p>Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions. Good Luck!</p>

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<p>Oh yeah, I forgot about NC state. Over all, we’ve been looking at the northern schools because that’s really where I’d prefer to be, but I know I should be considering the ones in VA, NC & SC. & thanks for the info about Virginia tech b/c I didn’t know that it was that selective, I know a few people at school who’re going for architecture (or were at least accepted) and was told that it would be one of my safer schools.</p>

<p>I’m pretty sure I’m set with a B.Arch. After reviewing everything it and talking it over with one of my friends (who’s in arch at Cal Poly), it seems like the best fit rather than the 4 + 2 year set to get an M.Arch. & I’m definitely not going to settle for a B.A. or B.S. because I really want to be able to be licensed. Also with the B.Arch I won’t be required to go to grad school, which I remember my parents mentioning I’d have to pay for if I go and I’m not quite sure if I’ll be able to do that.</p>

<p>Just curious, which schools would you suggest for a BA or BS? </p>

<p>And good luck to you too! This whole application process is looking like it’s going to be pretty stressful</p>

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<p>You might consider The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH or Ball State University in Muncie, IN. U. Cincinnati has a demanding architecture program, but there are probably better co-op opportunities there; their engineering co-op program is very good.</p>

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<p>Ayy, if you do consider B.S. programs, include University of Cincinnati. LivingNIndy’s right. The program is very demanding and what you can learn/connections you make during Co-op can’t be beat.</p>

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<p>Suggestion: consider taking art classes at a local art school or park district, either during the school year or during the summer. My son has been taking art classes during the summer and during the school year (on Saturdays) at a local art school. Some of the items in his portfolio came from those sessions and some came from his art classes in high school. He also set up a still life in the house and sketched that. He also had a one-on-one with an art teacher from the local art school. All this helped with creating his portfolio.</p>

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<p>Other schools to consider: U of Oregon, Kent State, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State. Don’t totally rule out a 4+2. Definitely include U of Cincinnati. There are many advantages to their program with co-op. Also check out the “Guide to Architecture Schools”. That may help you come up with a good list that meets your criteria.</p>

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<p>There are loads of evening, summer and vacation art classes in our neck of the woods, I imagine there are in yours too. Look for ones that are aimed at adults as well as teens. I don’t know enough about B. Arch programs to recommend safeties, but schools that require portfolios often will overlook less than stellar scores. There are portfolio days (aimed at art students) where you can get critiques of your portfolio. Might be worth going to one: [National</a> Portfolio Day - What is National Portfolio Day?](<a href=“http://www.portfolioday.net/content/view/60/25/]National”>http://www.portfolioday.net/content/view/60/25/)</p>

<p>For a safety, I don’t know, City University of New York has a B. Arch.</p>

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<p>Thanks for your help everyone!
I’ll try to find an art class that I can drop in on, but my schedule’s pretty hectic to begin with. For now I’ve been doing what msheft’s son is doing, setting up still lifes (?) in the house. Its just with school, dance, friends, and being an officer of a club, I don’t get much time to myself once the school year starts, but I know I’ll have to make time for the applications anyway.</p>

<p>Question about the art classes, are they typically in cities? B/c I live out in the middle of nowhere and have a feeling my parents won’t be willing to take me and definitely won’t let me drive downtown every week. I mean the only true art schools I can think of around here are in the city.</p>

<p>Thanks again, I’ll keep my options open and will think more about schools outside of the east coast and possibly ones with BA/BS degrees.</p>

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<p>ayy: the art schools don’t have to be big or major schools. The one my son took classes at was in a converted house. The artists made their living selling their art and teaching classes at the art studio (the converted house). Classes were for 5 years old on up to adults. Also look for an artist close by you who might be of help in teaching you or helping you to create a portfolio.</p>

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<p>Our high school has continuing ed classes in the evening. We have a local (suburban) art center that offers classes. I’ve taken classes in New Hampshire in a small town from a local artist and I know some people in our town who also offer classes out of their home.</p>

15

<p>Penn State has a BArch program, an excellent alumni network and does not require a portfolio (unless you are on the fence).</p>

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<p>I’m not sure how much you know about UNCC, but it can’t be classified as a ‘safety school’ - yes, sure, getting general admission to the University may not be that hard, but getting accepted into the Architecture program is quite difficult - there’s a separate and very involved admission process that includes a high bar for SAT scores (you’ll need at least 2100 to get their attention)a lengthy exam-type questionnaire, an interview (if you make it past the first hurdles). They get something like 600 applications, and they accept 60, so that’s about 10% acceptance rate.</p>

<p>I know a recent graduate of UNCC who then went to grad school at Cornell, and he’s told everyone he knows that he considers the education he got at UNCC to be more rigorous than that at Cornell. I can’t speak first-hand, but this guy’s studied at both schools, so he ought to know…</p>

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<p>^^^FYI: the thread you are responding to is two years old at this point.</p>

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<p>I’m going to Rensselaer this fall for architecture, and based on your stats i think you could get in. The portfolio for RPI isnt too difficult, they just want to make sure you have an eye for creativity.</p>