Architecture undergraduate barely under GPA threshold for graduate programs

Chance Me / Match Me
1

I am a student from Canada, and a Canadian citizen. I completed a Bachelor’s degree in architecture this April. However, during my program, I failed 3 classes which caused me to have a GPA of 2.94, according to my university. When I look around for graduate programs in architecture to become a licensed architect, they all require a GPA of 3.0. I fear that I would not be able to get into any graduate program so I spent time looking for an internship in a firm as an architectural intern. I was lucky enough to find one and I was able to stay for 5 months. However, the lack of work made it that they had to let go of me and now I am worried that as time closes in for applications, I will still not find another internship which would lead to a year gap of no work experience, which would look poorly on my CV. What I am wondering is how well would I be doing in applications? I don’t believe I have a stellar portfolio, but I do have some professional projects to showcase and I believe my projects are decent enough as I was able to get around B+ for most of them. I plan to still be on the lookout for any job opportunity in my field while waiting for the response from universities. However, with how fruitless my job hunt has been, I’m worried that 5 months of experience wouldn’t impact much the fact that I am below the minimum requirements in GPA and an average portfolio. Finally, I have two projects from the firm I could showcase, one for an architectural contest which we didn’t win, which is much more imaginative and conceptual, and a project developed to the submissions phase, showcasing work related to the building code and my capacity at producing detailed drawings, but this project intends to add an exterior ramp to an existing building, not the most ground-breaking project.

Thank you for any guidance, sorry for the rambling and I’ll try to answer any questions as soon as I can!

Schools I would apply to:

McGill University
Université de Montréal
Université Laval
University of Toronto
University of British Colombia
University of Calgary
Carleton University
Dalhousie University
University of Manitoba
Toronto Metropolitan University
University of Waterloo (Canada)

2

Which 3 classes did you fail ?

As you plan to apply to 11 schools, the effect of your sub-par grades will be evident when decisions are revealed to you. Nevertheless, the particular classes that you failed may matter depending upon the classes’ relevancy to your major.

3

My recommendation to you would be to keep focusing on the job search and continue to develop your professional experience and portfolio. Keep networking - go to local architecture society events, building fairs, etc. and exchange info with people. It may be beneficial for you to take a break from academics and focus on practice. Do you really want to dive into an intense professional academic program after failing 3 classes in undergrad recently?

4

Sorry for my late response. I failed two workshop classes and a class about detailing the skin of buildings. I was able to retake the classes and pass them. However, they still appear in my grade report, both the failed attempts and the passed attempts of those 3 classes.

5

I’m interested to know what “detailing the skin of buildings” is about?

6

Might be a mistranslation from french to english, but it was a technical class about what makes a wall, a roof, etc. Like how to draw it, how to make one, what to look out for, etc. Quite important class when it comes to architecture. Also, I forgot to mention, but I have been taking classes about the building code and said technical class outside of the university, as professional formations, to help my chances at finding a job/showcasing my interest in going in the field/showcasing my interest of the field to school admins or employer.

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