What can I include in an architecture portfolio?

Applying to College
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hi, I’m a senior this year and want to apply to be an architect major (regular decision). I don’t have anything in mind that i can include in my portfolio (just relaized i need one ._.).
I have several Aps this year (Gov+Econ, Physics 1, and Stats) so I might not have enough time to make a complete portfolio. I don’t have any previous creative works other than graphic design/photoshop and clay figurines. Should I include those? idk :c
i’m thinking of sketching and coloring a couple drawings, but other than these things idk what else i could include in my portfolio :sob:

If anyone has any ideas, please let me know!

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idk if i can include this, but i also painted an anime character on glass

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also have animations :0

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Each school that requires a portfolio should have guidelines on what to submit on their website. Check there.

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Like @Momofthree24 states, every school will have slightly different expectations on a portfolio submission, from the types of items to the number to the expected format of submission.

Not all Architecture programs require a portfolio to be submitted. S23 was applying to BArch programs and we, roughly, found that schools were 1/3rd each Required, Optional, None. Generally speaking we found that most were mostly looking for straight pencil sketches. They wanted to see that you could look at/imagine something and translate that to paper. Many will say specifically they don’t want CAD Architectural drawings. Again, this is school specific but for some of them the submission of the Portfolio will follow an earlier timeline than the RD Application date where they want to compare all the portfolio’s together regardless of EA/ED/RD application type.

Do you have schools/programs that you’re looking at already? There’s some pretty good resources here if you want to give more information about what you’re looking for we can give some guidance and opinions.

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Thank you so much @Momofthree24 and @Mashinations!

I’m mostly applying for UCs (Cal, UCLA, UCSD, and UCI have some sort of architecture programs while the rest of the UCs don’t). I’m also applying to Southern California Institute of Architecture, University of Southern California, California College of the Arts, and a few ivys like Stanford, Princeton, and Yale.

I know that some schools don’t have architecture majors, but they do offer civil engineering. I might apply as a civil engineer major if that’s the case, however im not sure if my stats (unweighted GPA: 3.7, SAT 1310) would be good enough for that major.

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UCLA’s architecture program is only transfer into in junior year (either internal from ucla or external) UCLA Architecture and Urban Design | Undergraduate Studies
Cal doesn’t require a portfolio afaik
I don’t see arch at UCSD or UCI?
Cal Poly SLO isn’t on your list but has an excellent reputation for BArch - afaik they don’t require a portfolio for admission. Cal Poly Pomona also has a BArch.

USC has a page describing its portfolio requirements Undergraduate Apply | USC School of Architecture

SciArc portfolio is optional but they give details of what they look for if you submit https://www.sciarc.edu/admissions/apply/undergraduate-programs/first-year-applicants

Do you have any match/safeties?

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Thank you!

You’re right, there isn’t architecture at UCSD. As For UCI, I saw that there is architectural and environmental engineering listed as a disciple of study, but I didn’t see an architecture major option in the UC app.

i dont have any matches or safeties as of rn since im still finalizing my college list…

Also for cal state apps, when do fall 2025 apps open?

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It’s perfectly OK to be undecided what you want to do at this point in your life. You fall in with probably 80-90% of other applicants! You do need to know though that within the more competitive programs, Architecture and Engineering are likely to be direct admit and while you can transfer out of them if you decide it’s not for you, you’re not likely to be able to transfer into them from a different program.

I say this without trying to be harsh - take it constructively. You have very good stats. But Unweighted 3.7 and 1310, unless there is something incredibly compelling about the other part of your application (i.e. you have patents pending, have started a business, cure for cancer, etc), don’t waste your time with applications to Stanford/Princeton/Yale. The middle 50% of SAT scores for all 3 are 1500-1580. You can find other applicant stats on each schools Common Data Set but these schools are looking at the kids in the top 1-2% of their class PLUS have other things about them that stand out (athlete at a high level and other extra-curriculars).

If you’re intent on following an Architecture path, ultimately to licensure as an Architect, there are different paths to get there with some being longer than others. Not all schools require a portfolio but if you’re an excellent artist a portfolio can help your application stand out and will give more options.

Architecture and Engineering - though interrelated in some respects are two very different occupational paths. If you haven’t done so already sign up for an information session or two at the candidate schools your looking at. Most programs will do information sessions different than the Admissions session - that will give a high level run-down of what it means to be in XX Program at YY School.

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Not to over-simplify… but if you’re looking to become a licensed architect I would start with this site and their list of accredited programs.

https://www.naab.org/accreditation/accredited-programs

It will list under each school if its Architecture program is a B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) or M.Arch (Masters of Architecture) - a few offer both.

I don’t know if the case for every single one of the M.Arch school but most if not all are going to offer a traditional BA or BS Architecture - which is not an accredited program by NAAB but does set the student up for easier entry to the M. Arch program. So the paths to licensure are generally:

B.Arch - 5 year program
BA/BS Architecture into M. Arch - 4 year bachelor followed by ~2 years Masters program.
BA/BS Other into M. Arch - 4 years bachelor followed by ~3 years Masters program.

There are also a good many schools out there that only offer a BA/BS Architecture with no M. Arch. These might be very good programs to set you up for entry to an M. Arch program at a different school or just to set you up occupationally to work within an Architecture firm where you might not have any desire to actually be licensed to sign off on design/plans.

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I’m going to page @MaineLonghorn who may be able to give you additional insight on the differences between architecture, architectural engineering, and civil engineering.

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I’m going to loop @Gumbymom (resident expert on California public colleges) in as she may have some insight into the competitiveness of these programs; she will ask you for your weighted capped GPAs for the California publics. I know the arch programs are impacted at both cal polys, and I assume the arch programs are competitive at the UCs but don’t know those details. Engineering as you already know is competitive, but agree that some information on the differences in arch vs engineering will be useful to help you decide.

The above mentioned difficulty of switching into/out of b arch and other programs (well, switching out is easier but there may not be many credits that are transferable to other majors) is one reason some people choose a bs or ba arch rather than a b.arch even if the final path to licensure is longer, as it gives them more options early on.

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Cal State Apply opens October 1, 2024.

I would start by calculating out your 3 UC GPA’s, your CSU GPA and your SLO GPA.

UC GPA calculator: GPA Calculator for the University of California – RogerHub

CSU GPA calculator: GPA Calculator | CSU

SLO GPA= CSU GPA calculator plus add 9th grades

Not that knowledgeable about the BArch programs but I know that Cal Poly SLO and Cal Poly Pomona do not require a Portfolio for Freshman applicants.

Cal Poly SLO admit rate for the Architecture program is estimated to be around 23%.

Cal Poly Pomona uses a CPP index to determine major thresholds for admission and for last year, you needed a 4.02+ CSU capped weighted GPA to meet and exceed the threshold.
CPP index= (CSU capped weighted GPA x1000) + 450
Threshold was 4468.

UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design had a 9% admit rate for the Pre-Professional BA program.

UCSD has Structural engineering which is more in line with a Civil Engineering emphasis.

UCLA’s program as noted starts in Junior year so you would apply as Undecided or a different major before you apply. UCLA’s College of Letters and Sciences admit rate was 11% while Engineering had an overall admit rate of 4.9% and Civil engineering specifically had a 7.7% admit rate.

I cannot comment on USC’s program but @Mashinations has given you some great advice.

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Long-time users on CC are probably sick of hearing me repeat this, but architecture and structural engineering, while both focusing on building design, are VERY different careers. It’s the rare person who would make a good architect and engineer (and yes, I know there are exceptions). I don’t think it’s wise to think, “Well, I’ll start out in engineering since I can’t get into architecture school,” or vice versa. I would recommend you shadow an engineer and an architect and really think about what you want to do.

If you are interested in the engineering design of buildings in particular, I recommend going into architectural engineering. Civil engineering covers a wide variety of projects, like wastewater design, geotechnical engineering, highway design, etc. I didn’t want to spend time on those subject that I wasn’t interested in, so I was an Arch E major at UT-Austin. I had to take a couple of architectural design classes to get a feel for what architects to. Let’s just say that I was usually a straight A student, but I was lucky to make a B and a C those two semesters! I like numbers and don’t have much talent in art, ha.

Some people recommend going into civil engineering just because you might be able to get a job easier, but if you really want to be a structural engineer, go for it. You will have more time to take design classes in concrete, steel, wood, masonry, foundations, etc. There is so much to cover!

Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with.

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thank you so much! the site is under maintainence right now so i’ll have to check later…

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i understand! and yes, i am currently looking into information sessions too

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Alright!

UC GPA
Unweighted: 3.75
Weighted: 3.88
Weighted and Capped GPA: 3.88

CSU GPA: 3.88

SLO GPA: 3.79

I have a cpp index of 4330, does that mean i have lower chances of getting into cal poly ponoma?

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For CPP, the thresholds for the CPP index can change year to year based on the applicant pool, but if you are below that threshold, then your chances unfortunately are not great.

There are additional points for the following criteria that can contribute to the index score but the point values are not listed so it may be possible to reach the threshold.

Local Area or Local Admission Area (Local Area)

Military Status of Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve or Veteran

First Generation: Parents with: no high school, some high school, high school graduate and 2 year college graduate

Youth Services: Ward of the Court, Foster Youth or Unaccompanied youth

Campus Partnerships: RISE, Project CAMINOS, The Wonderful Company

Extra-curricular Activities: Student government, Athletics, Leadership, Work Status, Volunteer/Community Service, Clubs, etc.

Educational Programs

Based on your CSU GPA, SLO GPA and UC GPA, all the schools on the list will be tough admits and puts them in the Reach category.

CSU’s mainly admit based on stats, but the UC’s do have 13 areas of criteria when reviewing applicants so GPA alone cannot determine your overall chances.

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i’m currently taking a career technical civil engineering-arch course at school! obviously its not the same as shadowing an engineer/architect, but it’s pretty cool.

Architectural engineering seems pretty interesting! Are there any other universities that offer this major?

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i see :sweat:

i do a lot of volunteer/community service stuff (although its not really related to architecture) from 9th grade till now, i have over 450 hours. Half of them are from leadership roles and i have a part time job at an art studio…