Ok guys so it may an inappropiate question but I sure somebody can tell me something!

make sure to provide an explanation with your low GPA-is there an explanation?

I think it's been said here many times before, but some programs have minimum GPA (and GRE) requirements, some of which are set outside the department. A program might want to accept you regardless of your GPA, but the graduate admissions would be forced to reject you. You're probably going to have to check w/each individual school.

That being said, unless you can provide a solid explanation/narrative as to why your grades are so low (especially if you have a B.Arch.), you might have some problems. The best case scenario is if you failed as a freshman but made a strong showing as a senior--you can argue that you improved w/time and determination.

where did you do your undergrad? this may be important

also, how good is your good portfolio? i think with the 2.2 you will have to really blow people away by your work, to overcompensate for the grades.

what will you do if you dont get your march? maybe working for a while before applying would help

There is an explanation.......I just had too much fun. I have been told but a few architects that my drawings are good enough for most graduate programs. I graduated 4 years ago and since then I've worked and I'm taking some drawing and design courses to help with my portfolio. I hear that the portfolio will be most important to get into a M arch I program. If I don't get my M arch, I'll probably get some more experience and try again......any other suggestions?

most top schools require at least a 3.0 for the last two years.

Thanks for your help guys.........I'd better get work!

Give an excuse other than "I had too much fun". An excuse which one has little control over. eg: medical, family obligations, jobs to pay tution. I think the school will be more considerate in those cases.

:D

i was actually working and at one time ( the course of a year, I helped pay my parents mortgage)

how many students a year get accepted into columbia or yale? and whats the difficulty

JK664

not sure about columbia, but when i applied to yale i asked for numbers. They told me they accept about 130 people for MArch I to end up with a class of about 45-55. the 130 is 30% of all those who apply. If you call the admissions offices of schools they will usually tell you numbers (theyre supposedly required to)

Schools like Yale and Columbia don’t have min GPA requirements....lucky for you aquaman. But, a 2.2 is pretty low unless you have an amazing portfolio and almost a perfect GRE. Good Luck

i think you can get accepted to a program but be realistic with your expectations. I would not spend the time or money applying to "long shot" schools like Yale, but look into less selective schools (many of which have excellent programs) which meet your needs/desires for graduate study. Also, taking graduate level courses for credit in art history, fine arts, and calculus/phyisics and getting high marks in them may meet some schools pre-requirements as well as show that you are capabale of graduate level study - you may even be able to get a good recommendation from a professor this way.

archielude, I appreciate your honesty. I just want to be sure that it's possible to get accepted SOMEWHERE.........thanks

2.2 puts you in the upper echelon of sci-arc students

Yale publishes a 3.0 GPA as their minimum for consideration to the architecture school (along with a list of prerequisite courses.) That said, they do make exceptions from time to time - though usually that would be for someone with a GPA just below 3.0. 2.2 is a "C" average. Even though architecture schools usually don't put much weight on GPA as compared to other factors (like portfolio and recommendations) that's low enough to create concern as to whether you're up to the academic side of things. In a lot of graduate programs the lowest passing grade is C (there's no D.)

I guess the two big questions would be 1) can you present yourself in a way that will make it clear that you're outstanding candidate in other aspects, and 2) are you going to be able to provide recommendations from people who will strongly support your candidacy (preferably at least one from a former professor familiar with your studio work)?
If so then you may be ok. If I were you I'd strongly stress the value of whatever it is you've been doing since graduation.

Make sure your GRE score is really high...sometimes they will have a formula combining GPA and GRE which will tell them where you fall.
Consider this: many MArch I candidates are those who have come from other disciplines besides Architecture(pre law, pre med,etc...) and decided to change professions...Therefore, their scores may be pretty high when it comes to GRE and GPA...GPA especially because throughout college, they knew they needed high grades for Law school or Med school. They good thing for you is that you can beat them with a portfolio and recommendations.

I got excepted to Yale and Columbia for 05-06 with a 2.8 GPA and an ok GRE score.
2.2 might be low but I think these schools really look at portfolio.
I was hesitant like you, so I spent months working and reworking my portfolio, showing it to architects and professors for input (and doing a brand new project just for that purpose).
I was hoping to go to UCLA, and sent it to those 2 on a whim and it was a good thing because I didn't get UCLA.
A few other people had similar experiences so you never know.
If I were you I would send it to all the places you are interested in.

whats the gre and is it required for grad school

im still finishing up my bach. arch at sci arc and want to prepare myself as much as possible to get into a ivy or great grad school program... any other words of advice besides putting together a great portfolio and excellent recomendations.? that seems way to easy to get into a ivy league school.... (sorry not to change the sub from the orig thread)

how hard do you think it should be?

organization helps. I am a fairly unorganized person, and I really do not have a problem with it. but when something is important, a little organization can go a long way. planners, and especially manilla folders helped me out.

but you have to have a great portfolio and excellent recommendations first. Oh yeah, start early.

do a competition.
it can be as in depth as an arch studio class or any studio class.
I found it to be motivating and you have to keep on top of it because of the deadline.

i heard columbia has a class of 60, it used to be 80 but they lessened it recently.

i spoke to a person at columbia, she said if you've gotten 4 C's in any classes, you can pretty much count yourself out. It's gotten way too competitive now.

thats in any lower division classes?

It depends heavily on where you went as an undergrad though. I teach undergrads in a design school and I've had students who have recently been accepted to very competetive M.Arch programs - including Columbia, GSD and Yale. This particular undergrad program is notorious for lower GPA's, it's very difficult to get an A in anything (for instance most of those graduating with honors last year were in the 3.2 to 3.6 range.)
I'm sure these guys were well above 2.2, but I know that some had more than 4 C's, and sometimes in studios carrying 6 credits!
So: I caution against hard and fast rules. If you feel you've got the portfolio to be competetive then work on formulating some "spin" for your lackluster grades and give it your best shot.

yeah but a lot of the people i know who went to the ivy's for grad school don't even have that great of portfolios, just amazing gpa's and they were heavily involved in extracurriculars and got amazing recommendations. i think recommendations are actually more important than portfolios for a lot of schools.

apply to sciarc. from what i've heard they accept anyone! just kiddin'

i agree with le bossman. i saw open house reviews during 1st semester at some top schools the work was a bit underwhealming to me. (not to discount the ablity to score good grades, obv. not MY forte)

my gpa was in the same realm as yours - i got the school i wanted, but some of my acceptances/rejections did not make a lot of sense to me.

aside from above, i would say try to enjoy the whole process and see it as the first steps in building your education. i stressed myself out a lot about my gpa & gre, and getting my portfolio in shape. i sort of forgot that the whole application process is a chance to begin exploring the direction of your interests in the feild, and start to create a voice for yourself design-wise, conceptually, etc.

so outside all the competetive feelings and pressure, try to think of it as a chance to find the best venue to pursue your interests...