I hire all the interns for my firm and I think I might be able to shed some light on this question. First of all, do not send in a complicated portfolio. It should be well designed, concise and bound in some simple way. I have received some "custom jobs" that were just downright annoying. The one that was bound in copper went straight to the trash after I salvaged the copper. Clean graphics go a long way. Do not assume that you can do graphics just because you're an architect, this is a common fallacy. The software should be listed in your resume, but I can generally surmise what you know from renderings. I have never hired anyone based on their knowledge of a software. I have hired people based on their modelmaking ability.

Hope this helped

thanks ramsey_sleeper. i agree with you about architects thinking they are good graphic designers. hopefully that doesn't apply to me- i was a graphic designer before i decided to become an architect.

i was thinking more about tear sheets than portfolio- a sheet or two with work samples (i usually send these in with my resume and cover letter and bring a more detailed portfolio to the interview). i guess my question is whether to include a detailed description of a project on a tearsheet, or to simply put the name of the project and/or what materials/program were used to create it. do employers even look at the description, do they just want to see pretty pictures, or should you try show the breadth of media you are capable of? since i am limited to a page or two for the initial impression, i'm wondering what i can show with brevity that would attract an employer.

We don't generally care about what programs the intern knows, and getting examples of talent with software wouldn't really be relevant in and of itself. I strongly advise you to think less about conveying "the breadth of media you are capable of" and more about conveying your knowledge of, and interest in, built architecture as an end product (unless of course you have no interest in this.)

The things that we look for more than anything else - and see the least of - are construction detailing and sections. I don't mean the type of diagramatic/schematic sections that you might do for a fairly quick/conceptual studio project. I mean drawings in which materials and connections are apparent and well-drawn. This indicates that you have some basic construction knowledge and that you can think your way through the putting-together of a building or element of one. Often students would be better off leading with the work they created in construction detailing/structures/materials courses than with their studio projects. Studio projects are often better reviewed in person with the student present to explain their process and intent.

Good CAD drawings of such construction-oriented drawings would be eye-catching to a lot of architects. It would be appropriate to label the drawings, and if you feel compelled to name the software in which you created the drawing that's fine.

Flashy 3D models/renderings don't usually tell us anything about how we might incorporate you into our project teams. Pretty much everyone in this firm - and most firms, and most people coming out of school - have those skills. Some firms do hire for those skills - but those are usually firms that are thinking that they will use you primarily as a 3D specialist (or PhotoShop specialist, or whatever.) If you're looking for more of an all-around architecture experience as an intern it may be better not to stress those as your best or only skills.

As far as tear sheets: remember that whatever you submit will likely be xeroxed and passed around the office. If it can't stand up as a second or third generation copy (i.e. if it will become a black blob) then don't send it at all. You might be better off just including an address to a website on your resume - we do look at these sometimes.

We prefer just to receive resumes without images as a first step. If the person seems to meet our requirements (in terms of experience, availability, etc.) then we either request images if the applicant lives a great distance away, or call them in for an interview to look over their portfolio in person.
I'd advise always including in your cover letter: when you'll be available to start, if you're looking for something fulltime, whether you have the appropriate visa to work in the US (if applicable) and - if you're applying to firms far away - whether you are already planning a trip to interview locally, and whether you already have a move planned to the area, will be able to move immediately, etc. For summer internships in particular this is all very important as the time frame is often just too short for the employer to bother with out-of-state applicants, people who don't have appropriate work papers, people who are unclear about when they might be available, etc.