Questions regarding College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I am totally in love with Cornell ever since I learned about its awesome Architecture program. I just have a few questions for people who are familiar with the program.</p>

<p>First I want to know if I’m qualified. </p>

<p>GPA: 5.2 (weighted) 4.0 un-weighted
Ranked 1/788, no ties (But I’m from a somewhat mediocre Southern California public school)</p>

<p>Courses:
AP Physics B
AP Calculus BC
IB English Literature HL
IB History of the Americas HL
IB Visual Art HL/ AP Studio Art
IB Biology HL
IB Theory of Knowledge</p>

<p>SATs:
Reading: 680
Math: 770
Writing: 710
(I will be retaking them in October)</p>

<p>SAT II:
French: 720
US History: 790
(I will be taking Chemistry and Math II SAT II’s in November)</p>

<p>AP Test scores:
US history: 5
Psychology: 5
European History: 5
Chinese Language: 5
French Language: 4
French Literature: 4
English Language: 4
Chemistry: 4
(I’m taking 5 additional AP tests year)</p>

<p>I know I will get 2 phenomenon teacher recommendations (both from History teachers. Is that all right if I’m applying to the college of architecture, art and planning?)</p>

<p>EC:
President of Best Buddies: a large club on campus involving more than a hundred people. It is utilized to enhance and raise awareness of the lives of the special education students on campus. I have been involved with this club for 4 years. </p>

<p>Treasure of Speech and Debate: I have been involved with the club for more than 3 years. I do decent but not phenomenon at the tournaments. </p>

<p>Art: I paint and draw A LOT on my own. I’ve never really taken classes until this year; I simply try to figure it out on my own. One of my ink drawings has been honored with best of show at our local fair. I do a lot of sketches of buildings (my own creations and some of my favorite, existing buildings)</p>

<p>Academic Decathlon (4 years)</p>

<p>Youth Art Commissioner for our city: help plan events to beautiful our city!</p>

<p>Volunteer at local library</p>

<p>I heard that Cornell’s college of architecture, art and planning is really competitive and don’t really care about test scores and what not—all they care about is the portfolio. Is that true?
What kind of things do I need to include for my portfolio? Do I need to include this of different media? All I have right now are charcoal, color pencil, and ink drawings and a few watercolor, oil and acrylic paintings, but they are fairly small.
As for the architectural designs, is it necessary for me to make models? Is it necessary to draft it on CAD?
What kind of work (in regard to architectural design) do they like? Or should it be based on my personal taste? </p>

<p>Please, please help me!!!!
Thanks a bundle!</p>

2

<p>you REALLY need a great portfolio to get in. you could have the best stats in the world, have a mediocre portfolio, and get rejected. do NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT include ANY CAD OR ANY COMPUTER WORK!!!!! you dont need any "designs" unless you took an arch class in hs and made models that you are proud of, or something. the best thing to do with the portfolio is to look at the portfolio requirements for a lot of schools and go from there. if you are able to visit cornell within the next month or so, ask to see sample portfolios. they like to see you explore different art media (my portfolio had a lot of pencil, colored pencil, watercolor, oil, and sculptures)</p>

3

<p>Thank you laurstar07. Do you have your portfolio posted on line or anything? I would really like to get an idea. Do I have a change of getting in if I never took any architecture class? If there is a design I'm proud of, should I include it?</p>

4

<ol>
<li>no i dont...i never scanned the pictures</li>
<li>you do, but i still got in without any arch. classes...without participating in any summer program</li>
<li>yes, but make sure they are hand drawings/models rather than computer work</li>
</ol>

5

<p>For the art work, do they prefer large ones or it doesn't matter? And for designs, is there a certain size they like? How important is the interview? What should I bring (like my whole sketch book and portfolio) and how is it like?</p>