Porfolio requirements: some schools have them and others don't

College Majors Architecture Major
1

<p>Hello, </p>

<p>My daughter who is a Junior in High school and we're looking at various Arch programs. She is looking at schools that are primarily on the East coast - we live in NC - and preferably 6- 8 hours (by car) away. She's currently working on her portfolio and has been researching portfolio requirements. We were surprised (& I guess I'm a little concerned) to find that many schools don't require a portfolio. The two schools in NC have specific portfolio requirements. Some of the other schools - OSU, University of Cincinnati and a few others - have a 1 year core program and THEN you are eligible to apply for the BArch program. My concern is that after you've invested a year in the program (and spent all that $$$ in out of state tuition), there is a chance that you won't make it into the program. I would like to get your collective wisdom as to whether my daughter should just focus on schools that have a portfolio requirement for admission. Your help/wisdom is greatly appreciated.
Ann</p>

2

<p>When we visited Penn St with my son, they told us the reason they don't require a portfolio was some high schools don't have art classes or have cut back on the arts and those student would be at a disadvantage in putting together a portfolio. As a public university they didn't feel they could put student from those schools at a disadvantage. The schools you mention, OSU and U of Cincinnati do not have BArch programs; both are MArch. The degree after 4 years is a BS in Architecture Studies (or something like that) or due to co-op in the case of U of Cincinnati, after 5 years. My son was accepted at U of Cincinnati, Penn St, Syracuse, and USC. He prefers a 5-year BArch rather than the 4+2 for a MArch. Syracuse's finaid was excellent, so his choice is down to USC (still waiting about finaid), Syracuse, Penn St (still waiting about finaid). He will decline U of Cincinnati (his 4th choice).</p>