People applying to Cornell Architecture School? - Page 7

cheers · 06-06-2007, 09:35 PM

You have six months to put a portfoolio together. If you have a natural talent, you can assemble a good one. Post what you have online and get the current arch students to critique your work and make suggestions.

Gns · 06-06-2007, 10:33 PM

thanks... i'll do that, i have i course on architetural drawing, i made a few things.. u think it would help?

Tzar · 06-07-2007, 02:36 AM

If you really want to have a good chance at getting in( because the rate is only 1/17 and most of those really do have pretty good portfolios) you will need to do a lot of work. This is mainly because learning what makes a good 2D drawing or any type of Design takes time-- I would sketch as much as possible-- look at architecture sketches/ artist sketchs - this will give you a basic foundation in drawing/design- but the key is going to be to do a lot- constantly carry around a sketchbook and draw.- this is a sure fire way to get better. This may sound strange but just in general copying famous works of art/ architecture is a pretty good Idea. By copying these lines you will gain recognition of what looks "good" and what "works".-- While doing all of this you should work on your own original pieces. If you have talent, which you may-- you never know, things will start to come together. Work, Work, Work and never stop. This is all just for the Portfolio btw- you still have to keep top notch grades and reasonable to good SAT's. Good luck.

Gns · 06-07-2007, 11:46 PM

well i have good grades, not all b's tho, i'm not good w/ exercise! lol.... but the majority are b's and a's....thanks a BUNCH fro your help.. i really apprecciate it.... thanks!

jamaicanmelaugh · 06-20-2007, 07:04 PM

I am a high school junior. I want to be a [sustainable design] architect. I'm very interested in Cornell, but I know I don't have "Ivy League" credentials. My GPA is about a 3.4 (unweighted), all AP/honors level though. ACT score is a 31, SAT is a 1980 (both were first time I took it). But I am confident that my portfolio will be far better technically and creatively than most applicants --and I have numerous great leadershipy extracurriculars...and I'm interning with an architect this summer. Is it too far of a "reach", or is there a glimmer of hope with my mediocre gpa and SAT (but UNPARALLELED portfolio/drive/love of architecture) to get into the best architecture school in the country?

Tzar · 06-20-2007, 08:27 PM

It all depends- your GPA is quite low- for my school elites anyway- and your SAT borderline-ok for Cornell architecture. You would have to have one of the best portfolios out there and it is possible that you do. A great portfolio can definitely make the difference and one of the things over the summer that I always heard the architecture professors saying is that sometimes the borderline applicants have been the most successful at the school. Secondly- I wouldn't say Cornell is far and away the "best"- it definitely has some shortcomings and DI also has serious flaws in the way it ranks schools- If you are looking for a pack of great schools I would suggest others as well such as- Rice, University of Cincinnati - Cooper Union, Sci-arch + a few others. Also, I know if Cheers ever weighs in on this- he would say that you should think about where you want to work in the future as a determination for where to apply.

jamaicanmelaugh · 06-20-2007, 08:34 PM

Thanks for you input. My favorites now are Syracuse, RPI, Northeastern for architecture. I'm thinking about applying to a non-arch program early decision that's a reach (Wesleyan)-just because i really like the school...then i will go to a slightly longer masters arch program. I know an ivy's standards are probably much higher than my standards..but it would be fantastic if my portfolio were amazing enough to be that exception.
I was wondering if a great art portfolio at a liberal arts college with no architecture program could help with admissions in general?

cheers · 06-21-2007, 12:26 AM

Are you Jamaican? African Americans are seriously underrepresented in the profession. Your chances could be quite good if your portfolio is hot. Post it online and get the current students to give you their impressions. Also, there are a couple of older posters who have evaluated portfolios for well-known schools.

That SAT is a bit low too--what was the split? Can you raise your CR and Math scores? Don't worry about the Writing.

jamaicanmelaugh · 06-21-2007, 09:26 AM

cheers- unfortunately my login name is misleading.. I'm italian..from Connecticut...no minority points.
CR-640 M-660 WR-680
SAT IIs- Math L2 600, USHistory 770, French 720

/ If I can't really improve the SATs the next time I take it, I might just send the ACTs to colleges...I'm pretty sure I can do better on those.
But I'm almost certain it is not worth for me to apply to Cornell.

Do you know of anyone who went to an OK undergrad and got into like MIT et. al. for grad school? I'd like to make this my serious goal for after college.

jamaicanmelaugh · 06-21-2007, 11:42 AM

nevermind about that question.. I found a thread on it.
I think I'd really rather go to a lib. arts college undergrad like Wesleyan/ Conn College then aim for a toptier grad school
and as a second choice look into big undergrad arch programs like Syracuse/ Cornell...

cheers · 06-21-2007, 09:53 PM

Yup--no points for being Italian. Some huge percentage of Italians study architecture in uni.

MIT is essentially a Math school. Even in their architecture school, they like to see super high Math scores. Is my impression.

Have you thought about more arts based schools like Syracuse, SCAD, Pratt, Parsons or Cooper?

jamaicanmelaugh · 06-22-2007, 08:07 AM

Thanks for your help.
I looked at Pratt and decided a strictly art school was not for me.. Syracuse would be the only one I would go to because it is a normal university and not just art.
About the math- I don't know what it is with my SAT scores, but math is actually my best subject. Possibly I did poorly on them because they are focused on at most precalc..and i'm "accelerated" 2 yrs..so while most juniors have just completed precalc, I took it 2 years ago and just completed ap Stats. I def. plan on studying for the SATs this summer to raise them a LOT.

Do you know anything about the Yale M.Arch program? That would be an amazing place for me to aspire to be after undergrad because I live about 5 minutes away and love New Haven.

cheers · 06-22-2007, 07:34 PM

I know it is extremely difficult to get in. I know their faculty has a high percentage of well-regarded female architects and a high percentage of BA/MArch Is. I've known a couple of faculty at Yale--but not that many grads for whatever reason.

Their student work looks a bit more rectalinear compared to other schools at the moment. http://www.architecture.yale.edu/dru.../yworks&page=2

You might pm Marsden for further insights.

Lori1122 · 06-27-2007, 10:28 AM

i'm considering applying... i don't know, i would be shocked if i got in, but i'm pretty set on carnegie right now...

sashimi46 · 06-27-2007, 08:30 PM

MIT is actually very research oriented...not necessarily math based. like other arch grad schools...they emphasize heavily on the portfolio and not necessarily on the math scores. their current dean, yung ho chang (china's currently most renowned contemporary architect) is shifting the school a lot towards a global perspective. there's nothing better than studying next to the other powerhouse in boston-Harvard