@Napoleon Ordaz  Doesn't seem like a lot of people apply there. Did you go to their open house? How did you like it?

It doesn't seem like a lot of people applied to Cornell either. Nobody is talking about it. My video interview went terribly. The first questions answer got cut off half way through me saying it. The second answer was perfect and slightly made up for the first but good lord! I messed up on that first one, I look like a fool.

@M_ARCHhopeful....I didn't go to their open house. I knew about the professors and the firms before I knew I wanted to apply to Princeton University. It is because of them and their work that led me to apply their. I wish I would've gone to their open house, but I'll have to wait and see now. I am not really interested in people's GPA or GRE scores. I want to hear why we chose the Universities that we did...I feel like some of us just chose just to chose cause we do not know any better. I see people ask which school is better? Why is it better? Where it would be better for me? I feel like if you are gonna invest that much time and money at this stage...you should know the answer to these questions and what you wanna do after grad school.

         So, why?  I am curious to hear everyone's story.....

^ Wasn't there an issue with AZP wrt plagiarizing or something like that? Wonder how'd that turned out.

@GypsySquid I transferred from my fine arts major to do architecture. I only have 2.5 years of training in architecture. In my opinion it helps a lot with architecture school. A professor that went to GSD once told me that they look for potential for M.Arch I program.

Also, I just don't think a lot of people posted about Cornell? I do think UPenn and Cornell get less applicants then GSD and Yale..Check this thread out:

http://archinect.com/forum/thread/117971325/cornell-m-arch-video-interview

@Napoleon Ordaz I agree with you 100%. When I went to the open house for MIT/GSD/Upenn/Berkeley no one really knew why they were there, what they wanted to do with their degree etc. IMO if you are spending 150k + and three years of your life you should have a little bit more conviction when you apply to schools. My top choice is GSD and it is a perfect fit for me bc of my interests. Here is how I see it though: (schools I applied to)

GSD: Theory heavy school, Strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research (they constantly emphasized this at the open house also), intense program - cut throat 

^everything I have wanted for 5 years. 

PennDesign: Design heavy , have a great psychology department that does the type of research I am interested in..DAVID LEATHERBARROW!

Yale: Emphasis on 'A'rchitecture, somewhat traditional, close knit program 

Cornell: ?? - No good reason - I was pressured into applying to more than 3 program , I wish I went to the Open House. A lot of good firm/partners went to school here. Including Gensler, One of the Pei Cobb Freed Partners etc.

@March_hopeful

Thanks a lot! @everyone, I am applying to the schools I am interested in mainly for interdisciplinary reasons as well. I have a strong interest in psychological design. Specifically with working in temporary shelters. Also, I have recently become intrigued by movie set design. This would couple well with psychology, so a designed based curriculum with a great psychology department to bounce ideas off of is the perfect fit! Cornell's open house was fantastic by the way. A lot of amazing facilities with great teachers as you mentioned. Plus they have James Cutting and David Fields doing bomb research on spacial environmental psychology.

@Gypsy Squid

Wow our interests are very similar except for a few things. We should talk!

@M_ARCHhopeful... Yea we can talk more for sure! I have other interests as well besides set design. One of which involves extreme habitat design which is a growing field. Psychology definitely plays a roll in that as well. The problem I am having though is trying to find the right dual degree as I don't want city planning to be my second masters. It just doesn't fit me... And it seems like that's the only option for M.ARCH I applicants (at most schools). 

@Exeg... Sorry I don't have an answer for you but try turning your pop-up blocker off and enable your flash player. This might help... Even though that solution doesn't relate well.

Hello everyone, 

I just get the offer letter from CMU and they give me 25K merit-based scholarship with the advanced standing. They asked to accept it or not before Feb. 27th, but most of the Ivy schools I applied won't have the results until March. They have the STEM-based studio and I only need 1K for tuition for only two years.However, they just have the M.arch this year and they are in the process of getting NAAB credited. Should I wait? I really like the technology studios in CMU and sustainable design, but my top school is GSD or Berkley. Advice anyone? and how is everyone doing?  The waiting is so painful. 

I would talk to their admissions department. That date is unreasonable. They are supposed to give you at least a month and a half. Make sure to tell them your situation. It sounds like they really want you so they should be able to wait for you.

22 / Architectural Studies

GRE: V:158 Q:153 W:4

GPA: 3.65/4.0

LOR: four studio professors, two of which directed honors thesis

Portfolio: four undergraduate projects, two design studies. Multiple firms I've shown it to loved it, but a reviewer at SCI-Arc said it was too "anonymous & commercial" so we'll see. 

Applied: UCLA, Sci-Arc, UT Austin, Rice, The New School, VTech

From what I've seen, UCLA starts sending out decisions Feb 26ish, Sci-Arc Feb 19th, Rice March 8th, UT Austin Feb 16th, Rice March 8th, The New School March 15th, and VTech March 7th. Bring on the anxiety. 

22 / B.A. in Architecture from the University of San Diego

GRE: V:157 Q:151 W:4.0

GPA: 3.1/4.0

LOR: my thesis professor, my departmental advisor, and my sculpture professor

Portfolio: 5 studio project, 1 woodworking project, a project from a book arts class that I took, and a spread of articles I wrote for an internship in a related field

Applied: MIT, USC, UCLA, UT Austin, UIC, Ohio State

Really hoping for UT Austin. The sample work of students seems to really fit how I go about my design process. Honestly will go anywhere but fingers crossed for UT! :)

22 / B.S. Architectural Studies - University of Louisiana at Lafayette

GRE: 159V 151Q 3.5W

GPA: 3.92/4.0

LOR: 2 Studio Professors, 1 Dean/Employer, 1 Employer; some of whom are alumni of the schools that I'm applying to.

Portfolio: 5 studio projects, Design/Build, Photography

Applied: GSD, Rice, YSOA, ULL

I feel like I fit in very well with the ideology at GSD, while Rice and YSOA come in second and third. I applied to ULL, my undergraduate institution, as a safety net. The wait is killing me!

I am with you all the way CTP801. This wait has made me extremely unproductive, I am trying to stay in the present but it isn't working haha... Oh well. Gotta wait till mid march for everyone to get back to us. :(

Any Responses yet?????

*crickets*

-_-

Nope. Anxiety central here though...

Also, i put this up: 

http://archinect.com/forum/thread/149991945/2017-stats-decisions-final-results-more

Can we "fast forward" a couple of weeks perhaps?

@dericsen8 we could, but what if all our decisions were rejections?! :O

If you don't get into your top school, what are the chances you'd get in applying again? Do they care that you really want to go to their school or is it more of a one shot deal?

Accepted to UCLA today by email! 

anyone else?

Accepted into University at Buffalo for the M.Arch/MUP dual degree program. I am awaiting other decisions. Meanwhile, opinions please.

Hey Prahallad Badami,

I also got accepted a week or two ago to UB. Not sure if I will be taking them up on their offer. Even though they are a state school, and are fairly cheap. They didn't give me much financial assistance. 

See what they do for you after you get accepted everywhere else. 

Hey Gypsy Squid,

Thank you for your response. I don't quite comprehend what you're saying. Are you implying that I have a dialogue with the university to negotiate the terms of admission once I have offers from other universities?

Accepted to UT Austin, m.arch II - Urban Design . Funding information to come in the end of march. First result, first acceptance, sooo happy :) 

congrats guys!!!

To Prahallad,

That is correct.

Got accepted to UCLA M.Arch I!

Accepted into University of Oregon for the M.Arch Track 2 at the Portland campus. I am awaiting other decisions. 

24 / Studio Art & Philosophy Double

GRE: V:163 Q:161 W:5

GPA: 3.72/4.0

LOR: Painting professor, Philosophy prof, three from current managers/coworkers (currently working in law)

Portfolio: Lots of painting, ceramics, drawings, thoughts on large modern sculpture, some excerpts of my honors thesis on color philosophy

Applied: GSD, Cornell, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, Penn, New School

Just got dinged at YSoA by email :(

In at IIT. Waiting on Columbia, Pratt, and UWashington.

- 23/M/USA
- B.Design/U.Florida/Set to graduate April
- Overall:3.06 Program: 3.36
- V:154 Q:164 Essay:4.0 
- Letter of recommendations - 3 from professors

- Schools: Applied: UVA, Michigan, WashU, Oregon (Portland Campus), UBC Vancouver

In: Michigan (3.1.2017) with 20k for 2 years, U.Oregon no money
Waiting: All others

Accepted to Cornell m.arch II with 14k merit scholarship. Although it would be an awsome choice, it would still cost too much, therefore I am waiting for better offers!

Got into UPENN- woohoo! Just gotta wait on the money as it is expensive. We will see on the 14th

- 21/m/
- b.s arch Universty of idaho
- GPA3.3
- GRELiteraly the average perticle on all three parts 

- Letter of recommendations - Employer or Arch firm/ @ proffesors, both who I had for studio and TAed for

- Portfolio https://issuu.com/calebehly/docs/caleb_ehly_large.compressed

Thought this was a stronger part of my application, but later realized I should of shown alot more process and models.

- Schools GSD, Yale, Columbia, UPENN, Syracuse, CCNY,UCB, Tampere(Finland exchange program with my Undergrad school)

-Accepted Columbia(15k), Upenn(still waiting on aid, but hopefull!) CCNY

-Denied Gsd, Yale, both of these I think I could of made it if I had revamped some portfolio stuff.

Any input between Columbia vs Penn, I understand they both have some different theoretical approaches.I will be attending most likely Penn's open house, and visiting the rest of the schools while im back east. Also, has anyone been able to leverage more aid from Columbia( I have heard Columbia is firm on their offer) or Penn?

26/ M - BFA painting -Maryland Institute College of Art

Three Letters (two Art Teachers, one Artist employer)

GPA: 3.96

GRE: 144Q 152V

Would've done better if I didn't miss four questions in the Verbal. 

Schools: M.Arch I-----Buffalo, UH, Cornell, UPENN, Syracuse

Portfolio: 20 Pages, Visual art based, Visually informative about process with a little bit of furniture design. Fairly strong, I kept it fairly simple, and didn't add anything that would take away from the process information. 

Statement is alright and corresponds to the portfolio. High lights goals and desires... People I want to work with.

IN: Buffalo (late feb. email), UPENN (March 3rd email), UH (March 10th email)

OUT: Cornell AAP M. ARCH I (March 8th email). They don't give much money out anyhow so It wouldn't have been possible. 

AWAITING: Syracuse. (They take a loooonnnggg time).

Do any of you have access to the Design Intelligence 2017 rankings for Landscape Architecture graduate programs? The latest releases online only show Architecture and I am looking to see if any of the MLA programs I have been accepted to have fallen / risen significantly. Thanks! 

I got into syracuse March 14th by email! I am pumped as UPENN  didn't give me a lot of scholarship. Syracuse did! The problem now is this- Do I go to University of Houston for 13,000 a year or Syracuse for a similar price? Which one would land me into a  better phd program? I am passionate about research and wish to continue studies if finances allow.

Looking for M.Arch/MUP for Fall 2017. Following are the acceptances to both programs.

SUNY Buffalo (Concurrent) - Scholarship of $5000 combined. Can apply for Assistantship.

UW Milwaukee (Concurrent) - Applied for Assistantship and Scholarship. Will know by Mid-April.

UIUC (Joint) - No funding from Planning. Applied for Scholarship, Fellowship and Assistantship with Architecture.

Is UIUC the choice by default? Any idea what the prospects are of funding and employment on campus?

Has anyone heard back from UCLA Suprastudio? 

Also, the mail saying, 'We have recommended to you to ABC SupraStudio...' is a confirmed yet unofficial acceptance is it?

24/M/

B. Environmental Design in Arch. @ NC State

2 years (and counting) in a facade design/engineering firm

GRE: not taken yet (stressing out about)

LORs: 2 college PHDs, 1 company principal

SOP: 100%

Hi all, 

New to this site. 

Fall 2018 applicant: GSAPP, GSD, UT Austin, USC, MIT (so far)

Wanting to get your thoughts on these schools. Also, wanting to get your opinions on the requirements of portfolio size and sheet dimensions.

Would most schools disregard the portfolio entirely if it exceeds page count ? Or just stop at the 20th or 25th page? And what if my sheets are 10x8 and 8.5x11 - how serious of an issue is this ? 

Please, any thoughts/opinions are helpful. Don't hold back.

-T

22/ M / Indian / BFA Architecture @ SAIC,Chicago

GPA: n/a, school has a pass/fail system (>70 is a pass)

GRE: Yet to give (Scoring around 70-80% in mock tests)

Internships/Work Experience: 4 interdisciplinary internships (Product design, Exhibit Design, 2 x Architecture); Combined total of ~2 years with small sized offices/organizations. 

Schools & Programs Applying to: Harvard MArch1, MIT MArch, RCA Architecture, UCL Bartlett (so far)

LORs: 1 from studio professor; 1 from theory professor (also chair of architecture program); 1 from department head; 2 from previous employers.

SOP: RCA done, rest 30% completed

Portfolio: 50% completed; https://indd.adobe.com/view/1b668241-4207-433b-be0e-6e065beeabb1. (need to edit down #of pages and reformat for digital submission)

Background:  

I graduated with a BFA in architecture from a very flexible and interdisciplinary program and I want to go to a grad program that can complement my undergrad experience (which is more conceptual). I am interested in materials, experimental technologies that can enhance the sustainability aspect of architecture, and using them as design tools. I have also enjoyed the theoretical courses  and would love to build upon that (while not getting too caught up in it).

I am trying to identify programs that concentrate on either the materials & tech aspect of my interests or the sustainability/ecological part of it. So far from what I have gathered Harvard is a good mix of both where as the others on the list gravitate toward one specific interest. I am interested in hearing opinions on the list (in relation to my interests) and suggestions of other programs to consider.

As for my portfolio, the link is a version I made for a physical copy while applying for internships. I am afraid its too idiosyncratic (not sure if its a good or bad thing) and that its too dense compositionally. As for the number of pages, for my application portfolio I will be condensing the number of projects to two or three (~30 pages at max). Would love to hear some thoughts on that too.

Thank you very much for your time!

I am afraid its too idiosyncratic (not sure if its a good or bad thing) 

it's a bad thing. this is maybe the single most self-indulgent and gimmicky-with-no-substance portfolio i have ever seen. many parts of it literally hurt my eyes.

@placebeyondthesplines -

Is it really though? His folio is clearly inspired by BIG's early manifesto (via comic strip but wouldn't you say it's beyond conventional CVs? Besides, the works within aren't half bad.

In general, there is way too much in this portfolio for someone with no firm experience.  Each project does not need 5 spreads.  And you definitely don't need every project you've ever conceived.  Pick the best few.  And try ordering them in different ways and see what you like best.  I was always told your best is first and less with the not as great in the middle, so the reviewer starts and ends on a high note.

I personally do not like the comic book aesthetic. It feels too gimmicky and there was entirely too much text throughout the whole thing.  Cut the preface out completely.  All of the crucial information in the preface should be in your statement.  It takes up valuable space in your portfolio.  (I personally don't think a CV should be in the portfolio either since you're required to include it separately, but other people may disagree with that.)  If I'm a prof looking at who to admit, I'm looking at who can succinctly tell me about their work and engage me with their ideas through images.  Boil it down to a paragraph, and give the project's premise, your approach, and what you accomplished.  This may take a bunch of tries to get it right, but that's the fun of it!

I do like that you included some of your outside work, like the graphic design/branding stuff, and not just work from school.  It shows you have some initiate and range.