spongebodge

I'm having quite a bit of trouble trying to find a good safety school (or two) that I can apply to for architecture. I don't want them to be just any random school though, I want to feel like I would be comfortable there. The ideal school would be set in a slightly suburban campus or a small city, definitely residential though because I hate commuting. Medium sized, nice environment and of course not very academically selective. Please don't respond with things like Cornell or Princeton. :P

Basically, I'm an Asian female, 16 yrs old, in Gr 12. I skipped a grade upon moving back to Toronto this summer so I'm applying a year earlier than people my age. (There's a way longer story than that but I'll spare you the details)

I took SAT Is in October they turned out horribly (I didn't get to the end of my essay) and I ended up with an 1890. I retook as a standby in Nov and I'm waiting for those results. SAT IIs for Math 2 and Physics will be taken in Dec.
My midterms this year aren't a very good reflection of my capabilities either - I'm averaging 62% in Math and Physics and 74% overall. But in my freshman/sophomore years I was a straight A student and my school did the British curriculum where everyone sat GCSE exams if anyone out there has any idea what those are...I took exams in 10 subjects and earned 7 A*s and 3As. Based on internal mock examinations, my average in Grade 10 was somewhere in the mid or high 80s and Grade 9 was probably somewhere in the low/mid 80s.

My ECs aren't amazing or absolutely mind blowing but here's a small sample of my major ECs:
- Basketball team member since Gr 6 (regional champions last year)
- Currently a yearbook photographer
- Volunteered with UNICEF and Oxfam in Hong Kong
- Participated in an annual walk to raise money for cancer research
- Play the piano (Grade 8), used to play the violin for 2.5 yrs, currently learning the guitar by myself
- Successfully completed the Hong Kong Award for Young People (Bronze)
- Member of track team for 2 yrs (4x100m relay team placed 2nd at regionals)

So that's me, and I want to go into architecture. On my list I've already got UIUC, Rice, USC and Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and I may consider Carnegie Mellon or Cornell as a reach. I just need a couple safety schools that I could fall back on in the event that I don't get accepted anywhere. Please help! Any info is welcome. Feel free to evaluate where you think I stand in terms of UIUC/Rice/USC/IIT as say reaches or near matches, etc.

Thank you so much! Oh and questions are welcome too if you need any clarification

Ackpoor

The Pratt Institute would be a good "safe school" for people interested in architecture. Also, they give out nice scholarships.

ednamillay

Do you have a portfolio? That would be important when applying to a lot of good architecture schools with mediocre grades.

Also, do you want a professional 5 year B.arch, or a pre-professional BS degree followed by an M.arch in graduate school? Have you looked at schools in Canada like U of T or McGill yet?

spongebodge

Yea, I'm in the process of preparing my portfolio. My counselor has said that I should be able to attach a sheet explaining my situation, etc just so the admissions people understand it's not because I've suddenly lazed off in my senior year.

I'm looking for a BArch preferably but I like UIUC because I've heard/read/seen that they have the 4+2 program which sounds pretty good to me. I might also apply to the University of Waterloo here in Canada but they're also EXTREMELY selective, no exaggeration. McGill's about the same so I might apply to U of T as one of the safeties.

spongebodge

@ Ackpoor: I don't mean to question your advice, but on what basis are you saying Pratt is a good safe school? Because I've heard otherwise...with them being an art school and all.

lottastrikes

My daughter has a friend majoring in Architecture at Philadelphia University and she is very happy. It's a suburban campus on the outskirts of the city. The neighborhood is sketchy, on one side it's very nice, and the other you don't want to walk alone at night. It is probably a safety school, and will probably offer money.

bonanza

Take a look at Roger Williams University's School of Architecture in Bristol, Rhode Island.

GCM

Try Syracuse University...great program!

OneMom

Catholic University in Washington, DC, has an architecture program, and it is not an extremely competitive school in admissions.

MilwDad

Let me strongly recommend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Its School of Architecture and Urban Planning is terrific. Its students are very successful in competitions. UWM is located in one of the nicest, most cosmopolitan parts of the city. As an urban public University it's not academically selective overall, but the Arch school is one of its jewels.

PA Mom

Look into the University of Oregon - it seems to fit the bill!

spongebodge

Thanks everyone for your input. I've had a look into all the schools mentioned and I might just apply to a couple of them.
Just as an extra bit of info though - my Math score in the Nov SAT went all the way up to 740 so now my total is 1940 Reading and math combined is now 1350 though that probably doesn't change the decisions in terms of safety schools...

carloserodrod

Oregon sound an interesting program.

Count_MonteFisto

Cal Poly (SLO) fo' shizzle