look around the forums and you will find answers for these. I had a 3.2GPA and did good on 2/3 of my GRE sections. If you work hard on portfolios, have a really good looking overall package, and stay organized, you will do fine.

A lot of schools have portfolio seminars etc that they offer to their student, thats a good way to see what other people are have done that is successful. I would say that in addition to your portfolio you should really put time into your essays. Many times you get into a program, because you are a good fit, not because you have the best grades. So applying to different schools might mean writing different essays.

I just went through the hell of applying to grad school (I actually lost 10 pounds during the time that i was putting the damn thing together)so I can give you some pointers. first of all portfolio is the most important part of the package, it depends on the school you're applying to ask around and see how the previous successful candidates prepared their portfolios. the school that i applied to wanted to see a variety of creative pieces so I had video, drawing(mostly life drawings), painting, installation, photography, drafting of this thing I kinda invented and a bunch of other things. and the school loved my portfolio, the only thing related kinda to architecture was the drafting bit. so show a variety you want to show them you're getting into the program with an open mind and your views aren't too narrowed down and technical. second thing is presentation, your presentation has to be better than the pieces in the portfolio, very very important, cause the committee looks at hundreds of applications so you want to really get their attention within the first 15 seconds(a person on the committee told me this) make sure your portfolio is clean, organized and easy to read, like have tables of content and stuff like that(no slides they're a pain, if you can make good quality prints of your work that's your best option, it's a bit expensive but worth it, mine cost around 120 bucks for about 20 pieces). the essays are very important too, I had 4 different people read them for me few times, I actually changed them 7 or 8 times. your school must have a writting center or something, they're a big help. and if you bs(like architecture is my destiny and i wanted to be an architect since i was 2 blah blah blah, they hate that stuff cause everyone else writes the exact same thing) in your essays they will totally know. and don't worry about GPA too much most schools want a 3.33 mine was 3.7 and the letters of reference are important too, make sure you give whoever is writting them enough time cause people don't enjoy writting these things so they put it off, especially if they're teachers. make sure you give them your reasons for wanting to study architecture and why you'd be the right candidate for the school so it would be easier for them to write these letters. and if you have more questions I'd be happy to help you out!

hey, I'm graduating now from the U of Minnesota a year early with a BA in fine art and a BA in architecture. I had a 3.0 GPA, around 70th percentile GRE and I got into Yale among others and am going there in the fall. I tried to concentrate on making my portfolio different than everyone elses. I'm sure they get a bunch of mediocre architecture and interior design projects they have to look through. I put in no architecture projects in my portfolio, instead I had only art projects. Mostly abstract analytical installation and performance pieces, printed in black and white on drawing paper, folded it in half and stapled it like a cheap brochure and it worked. good luck

I hate you, Kai.

Do you think that adding architecture projects to one's portfolio can in fact bring your portfolio down in the eyes of an admissions commitee? I have started to get this impression.

I agree with K, no school expects you to already be an architect, most schools want to see that you're unique, unusuall, different, artistic and creative(basic foundation) and as long as you show some interest in the field you should be fine.actually most of my pieces were abstract paintings and drawings too.

I really appreciate the advice from everyone. It is so wonderful to get some advice from people who have had some experience with this. Another question comes to mind relating to the portfolio subject: with so much of my work being interior design projects does anyone have an opinion as to whether those projects are good to include or should i have more studio arts pieces? (A lot of the projects include drafting as well as concept boards and color renderings)

Please do yourself a favor and show a mix of your talents! It seems people are interested in seeing your personality and diversity within the creative arts and beyond. Have you ever done any collaborative projects? While these should not be emphasized, I think including something collaborative might show your ability to work with others.

Making the portfolio diverse is key, but don't be afraid to show architecture and interior design... creatively. I had mostly Architecture projects in my portfolio but tried to focus on the more abstract ones. They want to see the limits of your imagination, not how well you can draft.
A comment about presentation. It is very important but don't get carried away with it. Simple and clear is good, let the work speak for itself. I spent months on a portfolio that was very "Graphic Designy" as one critic put it. I was told my presentation had clouded my work by a mentor. I re-did the whole format and got into Yale and Columbia.

sanz, where did you end up choosing?

Yale. seems like we're going to be classmates.