Thank you for your reply. I am not Fady Farjallah, my name is Francisco Farrera, and I am a 23 year old architecture student, currently getting my Masters of Architecture degree as part of a 4+2 program. Our program is not research based, but rather very much like a normal studio setting, therefore, not I do not have any publications or research under my name. The Masters of Urban Design and Housing at McGill is described on the website this way :"The UDH program enables students to develop specialized skills for contemporary practice in housing, urban design, the interpretation of cultural landscapes, and the management of human settlements." Which is why I saw it as a good option to become specialized in urban housing. Do you think it is impossible to enter the program directly from my MArch?

I just noticed my browser defaulted to fjfdesign.com.  That clears up a whole load of things.

I can remove the website link from my resume, I don't think it is developed enough and it is distracting. My portfolio can be much more concise and helpful.

I still think my website is not a good complement. I want to focus on the portfolio more and take the website out. This is my portfolio now (please consider I arranged it for some internship applications, so I will need to tailor it to show more process and evidence of thought). https://fjfdesign.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/summer-2018-portfolio.pdf

No need to remove the link... turns out there is an identical design chump with the same design office name and I mistook that as yours. Big difference and have a look for yourself if curious. Anyways, your resume means little to the application process as it is mostly a formality. Its goal is to highlight previous research gigs and/or design awards, not verify previous work experience. What will likely be the governing factor is your letter of intent (hopefully they require one) which should tie-in nicely with the broad scope of your application portfolio. For example, if your focus is on urban, don't waste full-bleed pages to generic interior kitchen renderings. I would recommend limiting your professional work and expand on the academic projects. At a casual glance, they have good urban design values.

Thank you for the feedback. Yes they require a "research intent", which I have done a first draft of already. I am proposing research in urban settlements in poor conditions around Guatemala city. I will remove my suburban residential projects from the academic portfolio, and show the tiny homes through a different scope (maybe the idea of minimalistic dwelling spaces in cities, and mobile units).

I graduated from my Bachelors with a 3.66./4.0, and currently hold a 3.75 in my masters. With a good statement of intent and recommendations and after polishing my portfolio, do you think I stand a chance to enter McGill?

I went to fjfdesign.com, and wow.

Yes, hopefully that puts my earlier comments in perspective... Anyways, what I would say is consider your competition for entry into McGill. Its name and reputation attracts a great deal of international applicants and many of them aim to continue in academia post post-prof degree. This means your competition might very have existing published works to their name. Something to consider when you start to organize your portfolio pages since the images will need to compensate. It would also help if you knew the min grade cut-off and typical yearly admittance numbers. Good luck

Thank you again for your help. I might change my website domain, as I wonder how many people have mistaken it for the .com version. I will strengthen my portfolio and do my best on the statement of research intent. I'm also applying to Ryerson's Master of Building Science as a second choice. I hear it has a good sustainability and building systems content. How do you think I would stand there? Is it more likely to get in than McGill? I am well above the GPA application averages and cut offs. For both schools. I have the equivalent to a 92 in my undergrad and 94 maste
r's so far.

Your odds are much better at Ryerson as that is still considered a technical school. It's neither bad or top of the game, but likely won't be what you're looking for since it's geared towards canadian practice. Grades are looked at once to ensure you meet the minimum entrance standards, then again following portfolio review (sometimes only once).

Awesome. Thank you for all of your help. I might post again in a few days with an updated portfolio. Would you be willing to look at my statement of research intent and offer some advice? I understand if this falls out of the ethical grounds of an application.

I appreciate the thought, but I always refrain from commenting on statements. I cannot justify the time and would not bring anything of substance compared to that of a peer, or a current prof. They are the ones who should advise on statements, not random strangers online. Cheers

Fair enough and very true. Thank you for all your help!