sorry to hear about your experience dole; those people are absolute scum...

i didnt realise about the 2 grand price tag for an interview... what the hell???

i have friends currently in school who have gone for part i interview... they talked a lot with people in academia (in the uk) who know more about the process, went through their portfolio, etc..etc..
some of them passed...
i suggest if you have such contacts, you try getting advice for them...

still, f*cked up though...

i guess you can say "BLAME IT ON THE AIA!"

back in the 90's if you were licensed in the US you only had to do an oral exam to get receprocity. then cam NCARB/AIA and tightened the screws down to protect the US from those 'so called' qualified architects prancing around europe thinking they could come here and build 'quality buildings' like we do here as a standard[oh yeah]. there was a bit of a time lag of a couple of years or so, but the brits got wise.

i worked in the uk 4-5 years and have been licensed here xx years- i have my arb app in front of me and i still have to do lots of hoops etc. i dont mind the process, i feel it is far more reasonable than the us exam and Part III, is also reasonable.

not knowing exactly how you were graded, i would also say that i have never seen any "CURTAIN WALLS' in UK housing[except that stunner project in manchester, deansgate by ian simpson]. suttle as it is, window walls or windows are in housing. has significant technical and design differences. you failed for good reasons if in fact this was a question! most likely you would have a curtain wall on an office skin, etc.

I've just heard that couple of other students have failed this as well. We're all award winning, top class students that are working in some of the better offices in london. I would say, pulling our weight out here. What i find really difficult is that, if a UK student would be raked over the coals as we were - in a similar interview to mine and the experience of a few others, i seriously doubt that anyone would pass. I was given a lot of questions that an architect at a professional would be able to answer, but certainly not within the criterea to test a Student project.

failure rate in us architecture schools is non-existance, especially at grad level[weeding out is more at 2nd year portfolio reviews]. UK is different. if you recall the fuss a year or so ago about birmingham failure rate. it is much more common in uk system than you think. external examiners are really tough on uk students.....

this is a letter a friend of mine wrote published in bd in response to the what was happening in birmingham and students are ....

Learning curve
13 August 2004

Now that the shock has subsided, it is important to assess the implications of the alarming failure rate at Birmingham School of Architecture.

The school (and its external examiners) should be commended for having the resolve to fail students who have not achieved the required standards. This is far less damaging than dropping standards to maintain a respectable pass rate. As an employer, I would rather see the very best entering the profession.

As a visiting tutor, critic and former graduate of the school, I have witnessed a remarkable transformation and a new energy in the studios. One cannot fail to realise the enormous contribution made by head of school Thom Gorst and post-graduate course leader Kevin Singh.

BD July 30 (Class of 2004) featured Andy Hilton, who was rightly identified as one of the most gifted post-graduates in the country. While he is not typical of the students at the school, Andy, along with a handful of others, may be considered as a barometer for what can be achieved.