Im considering applying for 5 MArch schools this coming December. I thought i should aim high and go for Harvard, UPenn, Yale, Columbia and Princeton. I'm also applying for some good schools in the UK including the Bartlett and AA. I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on applying from an international students standpoint?
I have to say im quite taken aback by how competitive it is. I've just looked through some sample portfolios and there are just so many good ones! Applying as an international student is also daunting as i don't have a GPA so it is hard to know where i stand. Are international student places more competitive? Is Financial aid alot harder to gain aswell?
I have a BA from Cambridge University, with a high 2:1(uk system). This was solely in Architecture. Also 5A's at Alevel (preuniversity). I'm coming up to two years in architecture practice, where i have worked on varying projects and i am currently on a project for the 2012 olympic site in London. On top of this i've been on numerous courses and competed in arch competitions ect. Is there any other experience i should try and aim for by december? Also does this seem enough to apply for AP?
I've just taken the GRE- and recieved a 680 Verbal and 630 Quant (im usual quite good at maths but massively neglected it in favour of the verbal). Is the quant score too awful? The programs are so competitive im wondering whether to take it again? Even though i really don't want too- it was so hellish!
Sorry for the essay! Any information will be greatly appreciated.
pretty much no financial aid for international students at the Ivy's. atleast not through the schools. you can try private ones.
Its not anymore more competitive for internationals. It's all the same process.
GRE doesnt matter much. portfolio, letters and statement will matter more. And your GPA is good.
Cambridge name and two years work experience will help you a lot too.
You seem like a strong candidate(don't know about the portfolio). But everyone at GSD is. I think out of those schools Upenn is much easier and probably can be considered a backup. GSD and princeton are the hardest to get into.
But why the states. AA diplomas are very useful if you want anything to do with design after you graduate. Bartlett is less useful i think especially if you really follow their discourse.
infact i think it might be easier for internationals since the ivy's are all trying to diversify. I think in the end it's all about things that make you stand out amongst the pack.
Its good to here from another UK based M Arch applicant! I myself am hoping to apply to Yale, Princeton, MIT and Berkeley this winter.
My situation is slightly different from yours – I have an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning / Design (1:1 - UCL) and an MA in Urban Design (Dist – Cardiff University). I’ve been working for over two years as masterplanner in central London, and want to learn more about building design, as I feel my work and career would both benefit a significant amount from a further qualification. The US is the only place I can study architecture at post graduate level without a prior undergraduate degree.
I’d have to disagree with Macpod – Princeton and MIT for instance, as I understand, are fairly generous. Plus I’d imagine you’d have a good shot at uni specific scholarships. Having said that, if I get in without a decent amount of aid I probably wouldn’t enrol; I’m not up for taking on a whole load of debt, especially given common job prospects and pay levels.
I’ve amassed a fair bit of information on the application process and financial aid, and am getting some help from the Fulbright Commission which I hope will be worth a lot. If you would like to chat about the apps process for British folk send me a message – It would be good to exchange ideas and what not.
Its good to here from another UK based M Arch applicant! I myself am hoping to apply to Yale, Princeton, MIT and Berkeley this winter.
My situation is slightly different from yours – I have an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning / Design (1:1 - UCL) and an MA in Urban Design (Dist – Cardiff University). I’ve been working for over two years as masterplanner in central London, and want to learn more about building design, as I feel my work and career would both benefit a significant amount from a further qualification. The US is the only place I can study architecture at post graduate level without a prior undergraduate degree.
I’d have to disagree with Macpod – Princeton and MIT for instance, as I understand, are fairly generous. Plus I’d imagine you’d have a good shot at uni specific scholarships. Having said that, if I get in without a decent amount of aid I probably wouldn’t enrol; I’m not up for taking on a whole load of debt, especially given common job prospects and pay levels.
I’ve amassed a fair bit of information on the application process and financial aid, and am getting some help from the Fulbright Commission which I hope will be worth a lot. If you would like to chat about the apps process for British folk send me a message – It would be good to exchange ideas and what not.
Macpod has it wrong - there is plenty of financial aid for internationals at the Ivy's, just not all Ivy's.
Yale and Princeton (and MIT, though it is not an Ivy it is worth mentioning) offer great financial aid for everybody, including international students.
Harvard is a bit stingy, and caps international financial aid at a lower level than for American students.
Columbia gives no aid to international students.
Penn tends to give merit money to international students.
I'm from the UK (London) and applied for pretty much the same MArch programs as you (Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, Penn, Bartlett, AA, RCA) and just started at Yale this fall (would highly recommend Yale btw). The applications process is a pain, but it sounds like youre more than qualified. I applied from Edinburgh University after an architecture undergrad (got rejected from John's when i applied to Cambridge after school!) and only one year work experience at a really small practice. This time round i was rejected by Harvard and Princeton but got into the other schools.
I got 4 A's at A-level, but no-one seems to know what that means here, so i wouldn't pin my hopes on that. Also, I wouldn't bother doing the GRE again, it's almost totally irrelevant. Focus on the portfolio and try and get some good recommendations-i would say those are by far the most important parts of the application. I didn't ask for financial aid from any of the schools, but Penn offered me a pretty good sum of money for some kind of scholarship. If you want to ask me anything more specific, let me know and i'll give you my email...
Are you planning on returning to the UK afterwards to get your Part 3?
Do you know what it takes to convert an american MArch into the equivalent of our part 2? Apparently the ARB charges around £2000 and you have to go for interview/exams.
Also what are your portfolios like, in the middle of compiling mine now.
yeah, im definitely going back to the UK, you can get the American degree coverted after an interview (no exam) and i think it does cost around £2000 (all the info is in a series of PDF booklets on the ARB website). However, my aim is to be working in a good office in London by then, and doing all the conversion business and the Part 3 on the side, so i'm not too bothered how long it takes, or that it's going to cost me £2000 - i think it will be worth it in the long run.
My portfolio was made up of architecture projects from undergrad, i also threw in a couple of pages related to my work experience and one page of paintings and photos, though my architecture professors told me this was unnecessary. I also kept it quite short (around 30 pages) and hand-bound it and presented it nicely in a hand made box. Again, my professors told me this was unecessary, and from the portfolios ive seen of people in my class, they range from microsoft word spiral bound A4 booklets, to really expensive professionaly bound 80-page jobs. If your work's good, it doesnt really matter how you present it...
Yes I am definately planning on coming back to the UK aswell - in fact, I think I have to as part of my scholarship. My situations alittle different to yours and Hellas's because my undergrad degree is in Urban Planning, so im a member of the RTPI and not RIBA. I'm not too bothered about RIBA recognition; its not entirely essential for masterplanning.
Im in the middle of sorting my portfolio - updating projects I did at uni, adding a few new ones, and whacking the whole thing together on InDesign. I'll post it when I've got a draft ready. Hows yours coming along?
Given the enormous cost of tution, and the general "longness" of getting Part II recognition, how come you guys didnt just choose to continue studying at home? Surely it would be cheaper and possibly quicker? Or does the prestige of Yale et al. make it all worth while?
In the scheme of things (and especially considering how long the degree is anyway) one extra year is hardly that long, and to me doesnt really make a difference-but that's a personal thing. Also, i genuinely think i'm getting a better education here than i could in the UK, but again, that totally depends on your perceptions/expectation of what an architectural education is. Money is definitely an issue, but scholarships and personal finances all play into the final decision.
Oh, and finally, 'Yale' just has a certain ring to it...
Just wanted to say a massive congrats on your results - full house! I skimmed through your portfolio and the content is excellent. From my limitied knowledge, I'd reckon you'd have a whale of a time at Princeton. Plus the massively subsidised tuition cant be too bad.
UK student MArchI application for 2011.
Hi,
Im considering applying for 5 MArch schools this coming December. I thought i should aim high and go for Harvard, UPenn, Yale, Columbia and Princeton. I'm also applying for some good schools in the UK including the Bartlett and AA. I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on applying from an international students standpoint?
I have to say im quite taken aback by how competitive it is. I've just looked through some sample portfolios and there are just so many good ones! Applying as an international student is also daunting as i don't have a GPA so it is hard to know where i stand. Are international student places more competitive? Is Financial aid alot harder to gain aswell?
I have a BA from Cambridge University, with a high 2:1(uk system). This was solely in Architecture. Also 5A's at Alevel (preuniversity). I'm coming up to two years in architecture practice, where i have worked on varying projects and i am currently on a project for the 2012 olympic site in London. On top of this i've been on numerous courses and competed in arch competitions ect. Is there any other experience i should try and aim for by december? Also does this seem enough to apply for AP?
I've just taken the GRE- and recieved a 680 Verbal and 630 Quant (im usual quite good at maths but massively neglected it in favour of the verbal). Is the quant score too awful? The programs are so competitive im wondering whether to take it again? Even though i really don't want too- it was so hellish!
Sorry for the essay! Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Claire.
pretty much no financial aid for international students at the Ivy's. atleast not through the schools. you can try private ones.
Its not anymore more competitive for internationals. It's all the same process.
GRE doesnt matter much. portfolio, letters and statement will matter more. And your GPA is good.
Cambridge name and two years work experience will help you a lot too.
You seem like a strong candidate(don't know about the portfolio). But everyone at GSD is. I think out of those schools Upenn is much easier and probably can be considered a backup. GSD and princeton are the hardest to get into.
But why the states. AA diplomas are very useful if you want anything to do with design after you graduate. Bartlett is less useful i think especially if you really follow their discourse.
infact i think it might be easier for internationals since the ivy's are all trying to diversify. I think in the end it's all about things that make you stand out amongst the pack.
Cthomas,
Its good to here from another UK based M Arch applicant! I myself am hoping to apply to Yale, Princeton, MIT and Berkeley this winter.
My situation is slightly different from yours – I have an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning / Design (1:1 - UCL) and an MA in Urban Design (Dist – Cardiff University). I’ve been working for over two years as masterplanner in central London, and want to learn more about building design, as I feel my work and career would both benefit a significant amount from a further qualification. The US is the only place I can study architecture at post graduate level without a prior undergraduate degree.
I’d have to disagree with Macpod – Princeton and MIT for instance, as I understand, are fairly generous. Plus I’d imagine you’d have a good shot at uni specific scholarships. Having said that, if I get in without a decent amount of aid I probably wouldn’t enrol; I’m not up for taking on a whole load of debt, especially given common job prospects and pay levels.
I’ve amassed a fair bit of information on the application process and financial aid, and am getting some help from the Fulbright Commission which I hope will be worth a lot. If you would like to chat about the apps process for British folk send me a message – It would be good to exchange ideas and what not.
Anyways mate good luck!
Cthomas,
Its good to here from another UK based M Arch applicant! I myself am hoping to apply to Yale, Princeton, MIT and Berkeley this winter.
My situation is slightly different from yours – I have an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning / Design (1:1 - UCL) and an MA in Urban Design (Dist – Cardiff University). I’ve been working for over two years as masterplanner in central London, and want to learn more about building design, as I feel my work and career would both benefit a significant amount from a further qualification. The US is the only place I can study architecture at post graduate level without a prior undergraduate degree.
I’d have to disagree with Macpod – Princeton and MIT for instance, as I understand, are fairly generous. Plus I’d imagine you’d have a good shot at uni specific scholarships. Having said that, if I get in without a decent amount of aid I probably wouldn’t enrol; I’m not up for taking on a whole load of debt, especially given common job prospects and pay levels.
I’ve amassed a fair bit of information on the application process and financial aid, and am getting some help from the Fulbright Commission which I hope will be worth a lot. If you would like to chat about the apps process for British folk send me a message – It would be good to exchange ideas and what not.
Anyways mate good luck!
Macpod has it wrong - there is plenty of financial aid for internationals at the Ivy's, just not all Ivy's.
Yale and Princeton (and MIT, though it is not an Ivy it is worth mentioning) offer great financial aid for everybody, including international students.
Harvard is a bit stingy, and caps international financial aid at a lower level than for American students.
Columbia gives no aid to international students.
Penn tends to give merit money to international students.
Hi Claire,
I'm from the UK (London) and applied for pretty much the same MArch programs as you (Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, Penn, Bartlett, AA, RCA) and just started at Yale this fall (would highly recommend Yale btw). The applications process is a pain, but it sounds like youre more than qualified. I applied from Edinburgh University after an architecture undergrad (got rejected from John's when i applied to Cambridge after school!) and only one year work experience at a really small practice. This time round i was rejected by Harvard and Princeton but got into the other schools.
I got 4 A's at A-level, but no-one seems to know what that means here, so i wouldn't pin my hopes on that. Also, I wouldn't bother doing the GRE again, it's almost totally irrelevant. Focus on the portfolio and try and get some good recommendations-i would say those are by far the most important parts of the application. I didn't ask for financial aid from any of the schools, but Penn offered me a pretty good sum of money for some kind of scholarship. If you want to ask me anything more specific, let me know and i'll give you my email...
Hellas or LinkOne,
Are you planning on returning to the UK afterwards to get your Part 3?
Do you know what it takes to convert an american MArch into the equivalent of our part 2? Apparently the ARB charges around £2000 and you have to go for interview/exams.
Also what are your portfolios like, in the middle of compiling mine now.
Thanks for the help,
Claire.
yeah, im definitely going back to the UK, you can get the American degree coverted after an interview (no exam) and i think it does cost around £2000 (all the info is in a series of PDF booklets on the ARB website). However, my aim is to be working in a good office in London by then, and doing all the conversion business and the Part 3 on the side, so i'm not too bothered how long it takes, or that it's going to cost me £2000 - i think it will be worth it in the long run.
My portfolio was made up of architecture projects from undergrad, i also threw in a couple of pages related to my work experience and one page of paintings and photos, though my architecture professors told me this was unnecessary. I also kept it quite short (around 30 pages) and hand-bound it and presented it nicely in a hand made box. Again, my professors told me this was unecessary, and from the portfolios ive seen of people in my class, they range from microsoft word spiral bound A4 booklets, to really expensive professionaly bound 80-page jobs. If your work's good, it doesnt really matter how you present it...
Hi Clare,
Yes I am definately planning on coming back to the UK aswell - in fact, I think I have to as part of my scholarship. My situations alittle different to yours and Hellas's because my undergrad degree is in Urban Planning, so im a member of the RTPI and not RIBA. I'm not too bothered about RIBA recognition; its not entirely essential for masterplanning.
Hellas is right - it does cost around 2 grand to get your US MArch degree recognised by ARB. Heres a link to the PDFs -
http://www.arb.org.uk/registration/how_to_register/overseas_and_non-recognised_uk_qualifications.php
Im in the middle of sorting my portfolio - updating projects I did at uni, adding a few new ones, and whacking the whole thing together on InDesign. I'll post it when I've got a draft ready. Hows yours coming along?
Given the enormous cost of tution, and the general "longness" of getting Part II recognition, how come you guys didnt just choose to continue studying at home? Surely it would be cheaper and possibly quicker? Or does the prestige of Yale et al. make it all worth while?
In the scheme of things (and especially considering how long the degree is anyway) one extra year is hardly that long, and to me doesnt really make a difference-but that's a personal thing. Also, i genuinely think i'm getting a better education here than i could in the UK, but again, that totally depends on your perceptions/expectation of what an architectural education is. Money is definitely an issue, but scholarships and personal finances all play into the final decision.
Oh, and finally, 'Yale' just has a certain ring to it...
@CThomas
Just wanted to say a massive congrats on your results - full house! I skimmed through your portfolio and the content is excellent. From my limitied knowledge, I'd reckon you'd have a whale of a time at Princeton. Plus the massively subsidised tuition cant be too bad.
@hellas
See you at Yale (funding permitting).
Leary brits abroad!
[img]http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/fun-in-the-sun.jpg[img]
picture flopped. oh well.
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