momrath

Just catching up on back reading. Thanks again for all the in-put. At this point I think my son needs to focus primarily on the application process – the selection of schools, the GRE, the recommendations and the portfolio.

It probably would have been helpful to have had an architecture internship under his belt, but as it turned out the museum opportunities were overwhelmingly appealing.

He did attend one of those summer “So you think you want to be an architect?” programs as Soozie’s daughter did at Harvard (his was at Columbia) and his reaction to the work and atmosphere was very positive. Intensive yes, but also intellectually stimulating and creatively fulfilling.

It also would have been helpful to take calculus prior to senior year (take note, humanities driven architecture hopefuls!) but it seems that can be accomplished as well.

So, we’ll see where this leads. . .

mathmom

"It also would have been helpful to take calculus prior to senior year (take note, humanities driven architecture hopefuls!) but it seems that can be accomplished as well."

I liked math and it still took me a while to find a year it was convenient to fit in my schedule. I also needed a year of Lab Physics which I took as a senior. That might actually have been a good thing as my mid year grade was an A, but it dropped to a B by second semester!

schiesser

Hi mathmom, you seem to be pretty knowledgeable about this subject, so I hope you don't mind if I have a few questions for you:

When you say "B or better in Calculus and lab Physics", do you mean that B is the minimum or that a B or better is preferred?

Since it's so hard to find stats on this stuff, what would you say were the median GPA and GRE scores for Harvard (since you said you attended it), Columbia (since you said you worked on the admissions committee), and top MArch I programs in general?

When looking at portfolios, what were the main factors you took into account? Did you ever take into account versatility? If someone included (in conjunction with drawings/paintings) mediums that didn't seem directly relevant to architecture (e.g. music, photography, etc.) but that may have demonstrated certain skills that might be useful nonetheless, did you factor that in?

I've heard the "10-12 works" thing being tossed around a lot for the max number of works to include in the portfolio. How stringent are they about this? Is it okay if I include, say, 20 works, as long as each demonstrates something new about one's skillset? Or do they tend to get ****ed off / annoyed with more than 10-12?

Do top MArch I programs virtually require some prior architecture experience (whether as an internship or in classes) to have a good chance of getting in, or are they perfectly fine with works of buildings in the portfolio and an expression of interest?

Cheers.

mathmom

Haven't checked this folder in a while. My experience on the admissions committee was 25 years ago, I have no idea how much is still applicable and I don't remember that much.

So my recollection. We'd run down the transcript and see what grades were there. C's catch your eye, and you look to see what they are in. If it's something completely unrelated (for example a language course) you could dismiss it if there weren't too many, but a C in math or physics would definitely count against you. An A is always better than a B, but we didn't formally assign points for each part of the application. You gave an overall number based on your overall feeling for the candidate

I have no idea what the GRE or GPA numbers were. My recollection is that most applicants had GREs lower than mine (which were in the mid 700s except for the logic section which was a high 600.) My GPA was exactly half way between a B+ and an A-.

Versatility was neither a plus nor a minus. We were happy to see photography. Music would be hard to judge. One candidate had a portfolio that was mostly photos of dances she had choreographed, I don't think we accepted her. If the guidelines are 10-12 I would NOT hand in 20 - time is limited.

My understanding is that MArch 1 programs don't expect experience. They certainly didn't in our day. It's very hard to get an architecture internship if you haven't learned any of the skills that would be useful to an architect.

I do think there should be some reason to believe that architecture is a real interest, but that doesn't mean you have to take courses or have work experience. I gave tours of the National Cathedral one summer for example.

schiesser

It takes me 5 seconds to look over and accurately assess a piece. With 8 more pieces than 12, that's only 40 extra seconds! Did you guys look over each piece for 20 minutes or something?!

mathmom

No, but it would irritate me. We met every day during lunch and had a lot of applications to go through. The committee consisted of students and professors who all had other jobs besides reading applications. Our only pay was a free lunch.

Also, my experience currently as a member of the membership committee for a local art association is that the people who insist on bringing the whole portfolio (instead of just three finish pieces) inevitably have work in there that is less good, or that at least one member of the committee hates. Learning to edit is a an important skill. It was an architect who said "Less is more."

cfso1952

Mathmom:

I am currently in a good Civil Engineering program with a very rigorous curriculum that allows little flexibility in taking courses in humanities and art history. I am able to fit only one art history course for the next semester and my final year would be full of tech and engineering electives in order to graduate. Would such deficiencies prevent me from applying to top M.Arch I programs or put me at disadvantages while competing with applicants with BA and B.Sc degrees? On MIT's website, there is a requirement of 6 semesters of humanities and social sciences, a condition that is nearly impossible to fulfill in my case. Should I even bother to apply such programs provided that I can produce a stellar portfolio?

Wonder if you can give some advices on this....

mathmom

I don't know MIT's admissions office. My guess is that you'll be fine at most schools, and probably at MIT too. Why not call the MIT office and ask for an opinion?

schiesser

mathmom, thanks for your response. You are really helpful.

I have one more question for now: how much does it hurt (if at all) if you lack ONE of the non-art-history prerequisites (e.g. physics, calculus, or something else -- but just one), but agree to take it during the summer if accepted (assuming they allow it)? I assume the strength of the portfolio and other factors would tend to significantly override lacking one non-art-history prerequisite, but I just wanted to make sure.

ilikedrit

Are you referring to verbal or quantitative, or both?

ilikedrit

bump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

momrath

ilike, this is an old, old thread. [Though I, the OP, certainly liked re-reading it three years on. Some very good advice here!]

I'd suggest you start a new thread of your own with your GRE question in the title.