<p>Hi,</p>
<p>As a potential M.Arch applicant from non-arch background, I am wavering between taking an Urban Planning course this semester or in my final year of Civil Engineering degree.</p>
<p>The course is a complementary elective in Civil Engineering supposedly to be taken in 3rd or final year. I am in a strange position between second and third year because of a switch of program. (around 30% of students in the class are Civil another 60% in Arch and the rest 10% in Geography, groups are organized so that ppl from different background can work together which i think it’s extremely helpful)</p>
<p>My engineering schedule is so tight that I’d have minimum flexibility in terms of taking classes outside engineering such as Arch History in the future.</p>
<p>If I take the course in my final year, it might be easier to ask for recommendation letters since most schools now require electronic recommendation.</p>
<p>If I do take it this term, I will have to ask for a written recommendation letter first and ask the prof to fill out an electronic rec through email at a much later date ( which is 2011, expected date of graduation, he may have forgetten me all over)</p>
<p>In fact, I plan to take Arch History in 2010 instead of final year when everything gets pretty busy.</p>
<p>The problem with getting rec letters this early is that my portfolio / resume / personal statement are not well developed at this stage. There are very limited works I can show to the prof despite the fact that I will try to work hard in this class. </p>
<p>So what is your opinion on getting recommendation letters this early or at the time of application and advice on general strategy of filling pre-requisites for M.Arch ??</p>
<p>Thanks a lot.</p>