Well ... It will not be a surprise if I will not get into Cornell, Columbia or SCI-Arc ... (those are the 40% of my applications !!!)

I need a miracle.

Well it could be worse, a portfolio, recommendations and personal essay that are a six out of six (so to speak) certainly overshadow an obscure essay score that's a three and a half out of six. Just hope your primary application materials really kill.

Y- on the long list of factors...the GRE essay is the last thing to keep you out (still a possibility). I doubt Sci-Arc would care that much.

Is Cornell accredited yet?

YbTH - you applied to RISD? they might not care as much either...

i really wouldn't worry too much about the gre scores. i don't know how i'm going to get through these next couple months either.

i am so burnt out at my job and the sad part is that it's not that bad! it's one of those things, though, where i just don't feel like i'm moving forward at all.

i did the wait last yr. and it was terrible. this time around, however, i have a few more distractions.

the only thing i can suggest to help, is think of all of the stuff you'd like to get done before you get in school because it won't be happening then. hopefully, i'll be putting together a website with my portfolio on it. heh. we'll see if that actually happens.

ytbth, i wouldn't worry. i bombed my essay section too.

i'm hoping it won't affect us THAT much. or at all. fingers crossed. heh

the "pre-masters bucket list":

sleep
watch 386 movies
go to one of these, how you say?, "gyms"
study all those architects my undergrad profs hated us for not knowing (this one probably wont happen)
be 22 for a couple months
travel to the edge of black sky on sir branson's new spacecraft

toasteroven. Yes I am applying to RISD. Also Columbia ($@#$@), Cornell, SCI-Arc, Parsons, Pratt and Syracuse.

well if it makes you feel any better, last year I got into Syracuse & RISD M.Arch with a 3.5 on my essay.

Why you did not enroll?

For a few reasons:

- I'm a resident of California, RISD and Syracuse are very, very expensive.
- I decided to work one more year and make my applications stronger so I can re-apply to schools that I really want to get into.

RISD is a good school. I have seen a lot of references. But What about Syracuse? I do not know dates as another schools. Just I will apply because I like the program

Are you applying for SCI-Arc ?

They are amazing. The problem, in my case, the program is really independent and special to transfer in Europe and become Architect over there.

Why do you like the Syracuse program?

I did not apply to SCI-Arc. I applied to Berkeley, UCLA, Michigan, Cornell, and Virginia Tech.

so cornell is accredited now? anyone shed anylight on this?

no, it's not.

They just had their first graduating class. It might be a few more years until they get accredited.

oh, so whats the motive of going there? (not trying to be a dick, just curious).

my understanding is that once cornell does get its accreditation (which it will, barring major scandals, within the next two years), prior graduates degrees will be grandfathered and considered accredited.

can you grandfather in people who got a degree before the school was accredited (maybe they'll call it "fetaled in")

I thought Cornell was accredited at one point. What happened?

I remember a few months back looking into their program, and their website, at that point, said they were not accredited. Perhaps it was old info. I would've applied for sure if they were.

The undergrad prog is accredited. The grad is not and never was. It couldn't have been since they just had their first graduating class which is one of the requirements.

asbuckeye07, my gravitation towards Cornell grew after speaking with one of the faculty members. I believe it to have a strong, energetic faculty; it has a small class size of about 13; it's close to NYC, Montreal and Boston; it has a lot of travel opportunities; and I "connected" with the school's mission statement.

never isn't correct. I believe they lost their accreditation in the early '90s...before that they were consistently one of the country's top programs. Ask rowe and eisenmann.

yeah, it seems like a great program. I just cant swallow the prospect of never being an registered architect in the states.

90's? That doesn't make sense to me. I'm under the impression that their M.Arch program a relatively new program.

Yeah, there is that problem, which is why it's not my first pick (assuming that I even get in). We'll see. I have 3-4 months to decide.

actually, im 95% sure they've had one...and the 90's is a guess based on historical DI rankings for graduate programs. They have Cornell's program at number one through the early 90's when it fell off the map, and presumably, lost their accred (just my logical assumption).

cornell has not had an m.arch before the last couple years, but they've always had an accredited five-year b.arch program, hence the ranking confusion. despite the current non-accreditation status, i don't think getting an m.arch from cornell now will really be an obstacle to eventual registration.

afrdzak, do you have a car? because cornell's 4.5 hrs to nyc, 5 to toronto, 5.5 to montreal, and a whopping 6 (if there's no traffic on the masspike, ha!) to boston. tack on 1-3 hours to each of those if you go by train. ithaca is, as they say, gorges, but it's really not close to much except syracuse and utica.

i do have a car, but it's more the fact that I have a much better opportunity to visit those cities and hopefully intern there.

tumbleweed......... I think they are going to start at least one week after.

I think going through applications means consolidating each persons portfolio, letters, GREs, and transcripts into files for review. I know that each school I applied to received eight pieces of mail plus online stuff regarding only my application.

yeah, i've been in the process recently of hearing back from schools (who's apps were recieved around the 1st) - that they have all of my stuff (or are missing something).

unfortunately, that doesn't mean we'll necessarily be hearing anything anytime soon. le sigh.

I looked through last year's version of this thread...as much as could take (they were up to 20 something pages at this point)...and they started hearing back early march. Looks like we're in for a long, painful ride (thats what she said?).

SCi Arc was the first to send out letters last year...early March. yep.

last year seemed much more frantic too..this years commiserate posse are cool and collective.

i can change that

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

here we go...


..no but seriously, last years was weird year...I am much more calm this year. My portfolio is much better i guess....and I have more "perspective"..

Lets just hope SCI arc's admissions committee can see this...

GET ME OUT OF THIS BOX! I'M GONNA DIIIEEEEE.

afrdzak,....are you okay? Its just grad school. haha

I am sure if you talk to some old farts on Archinect, you will hear a million reasons why you shouldn't care about Grad school.

well, when it's the 2nd step in my career change, it's important.

yeah, I know what you are saying....its more than just a career thing too, at least for me.....it is sort of a greater level training that i seek, that is not just justified by the word career. It goes deeper.

good mornigs,


Somebody applying to Parsons?

must. finish. folio.

I just got a really hard critique about my portfolio from a professor of my university.


The admission are going to be funny!

hey ybth.. i applied to parsons.. i hope i get in!

I know someone mentioned this before, but the more I look at the letters of intent I sent out to schools with earlier deadlines (unfortunately, my top picks), the more I hate them.

they seem much sloppier and less coherent.

bollucks.

anyone applying for MLA? Most of the deadlines later than M arch, I wonder if the admission dates (mid march) are the same?

ripomatic, same here. the earlier, more competitive programs got my worst writing, the later the date, the better my statement got.

my portfolio has stayed the same throughout, though not because there isn't any room for improvement.

"Waiting ............... .


Serene, I fold my hands and wait,
Nor care for wind, nor tide, nor sea;
I rave no more 'gainst time or fate,
For lo! my own shall come to me.

I stay my haste, I make delays,
For what avails this eager pace?
I stand amid the eternal ways,
And what is mine shall know my face.

Asleep, awake, by night or day,
The friends I seek are seeking me;
No wind can drive my bark astray,
Nor change the tide of destiny.

What matter if I stand alone?
I wait with joy the coming years;
My heart shall reap where it hath sown,
And garner up its fruit of tears.

The waters know their own and draw
The brook that springs in yonder height;
So flows the good with equal law
Unto the soul of pure delight.

The stars come nightly to the sky;
The tidal wave unto the sea;
Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high,
Can keep my own away from me.

John Burroughs..........."

in response to the MLA question, i just finished my applications last week. from what i read from people applying last year, they were mostly hearing mid-late march