People applying to Cornell Architecture School?

zipzoop
Thu, 01 Jan 2015 02:32:47 +0000

Architecture schools are there to teach technical skills, while creative skills are generally expected to come from the students themselves without any instruction on how to “be creative.” Almost anyone can be taught how to use computer modeling software or build models, but creative problem solving, to me, is a much more complex and innate skill set that schools like Cornell are particularly scouting for.

However, if you feel like you can do more with technical media, then definitely include it. Learning other less technical mediums, like paining or collage, just to build a portfolio will come off as amateurish, and there are definitely others out there who can do that better.

Just have fun, be diligent, and know that the schools that see potential in your work are going to be the best to help you thrive. Cornell produces a specific type of work that you may find you don’t agree with, and that’s ok. And the end of the day, you want a school that will allow you to explore the areas of architecture that interest you, and you are a lot more likely to find that if you stay true to what interests you.