Keep us posted as you find out if you are accepted. Those eare good schools.

highsmith-what did you think of the disco program? what was it like

kissy_face,

I thought the disco program was awesome and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is considering a change or transition into architecture. The program has changed some over the years [for the better], and is still taught by recent graduates of the GSD.

You are assigned three studio projects, which occupy most of your time over the 6 week period. There are about 20 architecture studios of 10 people. My instructor was awesome and we kept our studio rocking all night long. For the crits, the instructors teamed up and also brought some outsiders which kept things interesting. Lectures were also conducted by speakers including Toshiko Mori, Peter Eisenman, and Maurice Cox.

Having only art and music as my background, I was able to put in a lot of time and come out with three projects which I have used heavily in my current portfolio. So I am hoping it will pay off as I am applying to these schools. I feel like I have been christened. And my instructor [briefly] considered knighting us with a t-square as we received our diplomas.

Okay - ah, the disco days...

highsmith

i'll vouch for virginia tech, but i guess i have no choice, i've already spent 40k here. grads seem to be everywhere. it is a good program, but doesn't have the name recognition of most of the above. recent trips to yale provided a sense that i picked the right school. the grad profs at tech are outstanding, and there are numerous oppurtunities to study outside of blacksburg as well. if you haven't been down to visit yet, i highly advise it. the area leaves much to be desired if you appreciate denser places. it is nice and quiet for the most part, however, and allows a greater focus on architectural studies. or at least i keep telling myself that. some pretty progressive stuff comes out, but not on scale of sci-arc. it's not overly technical, and is fairly artistic, but in a pragmatic sense. get the feeling that while here you learn to design more, and that's one of the reasons i was drawn to this program. any other questions i can direct you to a prof or provide further assistance.

If you have money and talent, then GSD, I guess. But if you don't have that quite confidence, how about Berkeley?

With your background(your father firm), you might goto GSD. But you need to make sure you can get most out of there when you meet Rem and others. Otherwise, goto other schools for a leading role.

highsmith,

I wouldn't be applying to architecture schools if I didn't do CDisco. (before last summer, I never really considered a career in design) My background is history and photography, so my portfolio consists of the Disco stuff in addition to photography and a few other projects.
I'm applying to schools that integrate urban design into the MArch I program or have the MAUD option or something similar:
GSD, Yale, UCLA, Wash U, UVA.
Also applying to SCI-Arc.

Down in Charlottesville a couple weeks ago I saw the portfolios of admitted MArch I students from previous years (2, 3 yrs ago). A couple of them had Career Discovery studios. For the most part they were all very well designed/crafted (a bit dated graphic design wise), and the content was exceptional.

Right now I'm taking care of the prerequistites. (arch history courses)

Does anyone know if your chances are worse at getting into the GSD if you did NOT do the Career Discovery program? I'm sure doing the program helps, but I'm wondering if not doing it hurts your chances. I don't have a background in architecture, so I'm curious about my chances of getting in.

no, i don't think it hurts -not doing it that is-.

i'd say the main purpose of doing career disco should be testing the waters re arch school. you get a sample of what the experience will be like, what the studio environment is, etc.

i know many people use it as a portfolio builder, but that should be the second priority. if you have good creative stuff to show, your portfolio will be much more original and will show more commitment to design than a career disco only portfolio [in fact, these should be rare, usually always combined].

i heard once that doing career disco hurts your chances of getting into yale, though. supposedly they are tired of getting career disco grads as applicants since the schools are rivals. but don't believe me.

btw, i'm an ex-career disco instructor. and that is a great experience, also.

Thanks aml! I'm anxiously awaiting the results.
My background is actually construction-6 years now, so architecture won't be that different for me-just the other side of the fence. But since I don't have a background in architecture, most of my portfolio includes paintings I've done. Hope it works!

sounds like a good balance. good luck!

Thanks aml! Keeping my fingers crossed. Wavering between moments of hope and moments of fear!

Thanks aml! Keeping my fingers crossed. Wavering between moments of hope and moments of fear!

tinydancer,

I would definately agree with aml. I think the disco program serves as more of a testing ground than any sort of insurance that your chances to actually be accepted into the GSD will be increased. It doesnt' hurt, but not having done it shouldn't matter. At least that's the impression that I have.

I think the most important thing from all of the M.Arch I portfolios I have seen and the few that I have done is diversity of designwork, art, etc...

Makes me want to go back and tweak a few things! But I'm in the same boat as you...just waiting.

Good luck to you!

highsmith

Good luck to you too! I applied to NC State and Harvard as well! Also applied to Columbia and Cincinnati. Was going to apply to VA Tech (grew up in Richmond) but I needed to go to a big city where my husband can find employment! Must have an income source!

Any links on the web to see some examples of good portfolios?

For everyones information I have actually heard from a school regarding my application. I was rejected which sucks because the other schools I applied to are supposed to be much harder to get into. I was called by admissions. I suppose this means my portfolio is worthless which probably means back to the drawing board. Happens quickly at least.

where did you hear from already?

tinydancer--i know more than a few people who did career disco and did not get into harvard. so dont worry about not having done it.

I'll just spend my time worrying whether or not I get in!

why is rice missing from your list? houston isn't soooo bad...

yeah...so this post is about 6 months old. but rice was missing because i hear that morale is very low and students aren't very happy with the school as a whole. feel free to comment otherwise...

i'm at risd now, doing the summer transfer program. next week is the last week of classes, and i have to say it has been a great experience working in so many areas this summer [modeling, painting, drawing, 2d,3d, etc]

good luck to everyone applying around this year.