Transfer to the architecture program as CU

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I have a question for current students and alumni at Cooper Union. I'm a recent graduate from UBC (that's in Vancouver, Canada) where I got a civil engineering degree and an arts degree (major art history). My goal from the start was to study architecture, but here in Canada that is a graduate program (except for McGill, I think). So I decided to do a dual degree in areas that would give me a solid background in theory and structures. Coming out of high school I didn't even consider US schools after I saw the tuitions for a couple of schools.</p>

<p>Now that I'm finished, I'm trying to decide on the next step. I've looked at some graduate schools and they seem great. But I've heard great things about Cooper Union. Everyone at my work (a structural engineering firm) thinks I'm crazy to even consider another undergraduate program like the one at CU. They think I should just go for a master in engineering. But I've been working towards architecture for the past five years and I would like to see it through. I'm just wondering if Cooper Union is worth potentially another three or four years (I've looked at the course and I'm hoping I can get credit for some of the structures and architectural history courses), that is if the stars and the moon all align and the miraculous happens and I get in. </p>

<p>I've already sent in my application and I'm just waiting for the hometest since it was getting late. But I just wanted the opinion of those who've been there to either tell me to try for it or set me straight. I was also hoping some of you might tell me what my chances are. I'm not sure if at this point my high school marks matter anymore but I had a GPA of 4.0/4.0 (Canadian system). My university average was 84% in engineering and 86% in art. There is one issue and that is that I don't have a portfolio yet since I'm not really sure what to put in it (and I'm not sure if CU requires it).</p>

<p>Sorry if this is long or meandering. It is pretty late here but I just can't sleep. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. </p>

<p>Thanks,
Alex</p>

<p>Unless you majored in something directly related to architecture, you will not really need to apply as a transfer - therefore waiving you from the portfolio requirement.</p>

<p>im transferring to architecture too. and im currently doing architecture at another school.
but yes, after seeing their studio work i say if you really like architecture, cooper is worth a shot.</p>

<p>Sorry to revive this old post, but I just wanted to give an update and perhaps give it closure. </p>

<p>Well I applied to Cooper as a transfer applicant. Even though I asked to be considered as a freshman, the admission people said that anyone with an undergraduate degree will be considered a transfer student (and subject to the portfolio requirement). When I told them I don’t have a portfolio because my undergrad education was tangentially related to architecture, they told me to just send the hometest and see what happens.</p>

<p>Well I think the lack of portfolio combined with what I could assume a substandard hometest got me a nice rejection letter today. So kids out there, don’t listen to admission people, even if you have to splatter paint on some canvasses and do some abstract 3D renderings, just send them a portfolio like they asked.</p>

<p>As for others who are in my situation, if your undergraduate degree(s) are not related and you don’t have too much experience in the design field, forget about Cooper. Since you are automatically classified as a transfer student , your fourth year college level courses are equated to high school level courses and then you are penalized and have to compete with second-year architecture students who have already had a couple of studios and much more experience.</p>

<p>Moral of the story for is, it was a dumb idea to try. I should have gone to architecture school straight out of high school. Now I’m in the middle of a no-man’s land where I am neither an artist/critic/architect nor an engineer. It is funny how many engineering job interviews I had that the third or fourth question has been “why do you have an arts degree?” followed by “what is your goal? are you interested in engineering or arts?” And getting into architectural offices? Forget it. I’ve tried getting unpaid internship positions that all I have to do is drafting and I am still rebuffed because I don’t have a “design background.”</p>

<p>Sorry for rambling on. I’m just dazed and confused and I have myself to blame for trying to do something fancy without really thinking it through.</p>

<p>Best of luck to others,
Alex</p>

<p>Don’t give up. Look into M.arch 1 Degree programs. They’re completely appropriate for what you want to do and you can find plenty of good schools (Harvard GSD, MIT, Yale, Princeton) that are renowned for architecture. You’d need to build a portfolio, but it is worth another try. I got in for transfer to Cooper this year, but it was my second time applying. So if you really want it, go for it and don’t give up.</p>