| FYI, Syracuse was the only private to offer my S money without asking, so that might help. S is starting Rice next year. He wanted a school with good overall academics in case the BArch didn't work out.
On admissions, the folks at Rice did mention that the "funnel" that they put applications through is narrower for architecture than for other programs, and this is probably true at other schools as well. I can't remember his stats, but he was strong academically in an honors program and did well on the SATs. I'm sorry for all involved that statistics make up such a large part of admissions.
More importantly, I think, S did practice drawing (in school and on his own) quite a bit (get some David Macaulay books for inspiration), took a summer camp at a local architecture school and interned (read: did filing for) a local architect last summer. Rice mentioned that they particularly look for sustained interest in the field because they favor students to enter their program who are likely to stick with it for the full 6 years.
One thing to do, that will come in useful at application time, is to maintain an art journal. My S had to do this for two years of art class and we were thankful for it when he had to assemble his portfolio. Anyone could do this on their own, though. Get a bound sketch book and start sketching anything at all while also annotating your work with thoughts about the process that you are going through. The drawing itself is not the point so much as developing your faculty for exploring the world visually. Past in cut-out bits from brochures of art exhibits that you visited, magazine articles that made you think, personal mementos that lead you to riff on some new idea, whatever. Write about the ideas and events that are influencing what you choose to draw. Use the space to plan other works, like sculptures, furniture, etc. When you do your portfolio, you can scan some of the best journal pages to show how you have developed technically and intellectually. This would work for any application, not just architecture.
After having just finished an anxious year, I'd say try to not fret the top schools too much. One runs the risk of ending up a "status whore". Try Cornell or Cooper (which would be fun just for the sake of doing the home test) for the heck of it, but I was heartened by how many great programs out there (VTech, Kansas State, UCincinnati, Oregon, Auburn).
Good luck! |