Architecture Portfolios

Jrock
Wed, 09 Nov 2005 14:14:44 +0000

well, I think a stunning portfolio is a sure hook anyday, esp. into the more prestigious [so-called] programs.
schools which do not require pfs look at the scores, eg, miami, cincinnati…
in my case, my pf was really woeful [in retrospect], and i got in for fall 2005 at USC, IIT, washU, and NeU[if that counts] with a 710/710[sat1] and 730/740/740[sat2].

feeling very unsure/uneasy, i postponed college, changed location, worked very hard on the pf during this summer, making huge improvements, retook tests, etc, but now, it seems like i’ve lost the interest in arch…

but decent scores + decent pf, should do the job. and the last thing, which i think is the most important of all is: passion. honestly, i think someone with a not-to-good pf, but shows a passion to learn more and more, a great passion for arch [enthusiasm], will make a very good impression.

conclusion: i don’t know which schools your son applied to but i hope this will help. in my case, i think i had the passion [something i could live or die doing, crazy about design, i could relate to it], my scores/grades/recs, and last, the pf [i think my background + relative inexperience + energy made it seem amusing/interesting].

bottomline, i guess, is just having the perfect balance between passion, pf[=portfolio], and scores [which i think matter less relative to transcripts/recs]