Hi,

Sorry for crashing your post. But how are you finding the NY/Paris program? I'm considering applying for it next year but am quite sceptical about how competitive admission is. Could you possibly tell me what they are looking for in prospective students for the program? 

I don't think the admissions process is nearly as competitive as actual graduate school. Most of the students are juniors from all different backgrounds looking for a study abroad opportunity. The rest are post-grad from different backgrounds (computer science and finance for example) trying to change into the architecture field.

I like the program so far, it is very intense and I am learning a lot! That is half the problem because I am spending so much time in studio that I don't really have enough time to study for the GREs and to revisit old projects to put my portfolio together.

No one has any advice for non-BArch applicants? :(

Honestly, there are plenty of architecture school grads who design crappy, cookie cutter projects.  The only thing they're good at are creating clean drawings, renderings, building the model etc.  Grad school is more that just that.  You'd have more chances of being accepted even if all your projects aren't related to architecture but instead show a great deal of creativity, thought, opinion, skill in whatever you do.  Plenty of non-arch students get accepted at top schools over architecture undergrads because of this.  Not because they know to make clean architectural drawings or know how to use all the software and tools from architecture school.  Think, write, speak and offer your voice in whatever you include.  Get the admission panel to go "wow!" Leave them inspired! Educate them! Make them question!

Use exclamation marks!

I personally don't have any experience with this, so I'm not going to answer your question. I think one reason for lack of response to this post is that there already have been probably hundreds of threads discussing this. Use the search feature to find threads about M.Arch I and you should find plenty tips on your portfolio, etc.

Thanks for the responses. I think the main reason why I'm asking this though is because the 2013 thread for applicants is filled with stats of people with BArch backgrounds, their portfolios, and their information, but NONE with BA or BS backgrounds and their portfolios. I would love to see some non-BArch portfolios who are applying or have been accepted to MArch programs.

Avanine, maybe because we're all scared or too intimidated to post our portfolios!  I know I am, at least... I have zero formal design work, just stuff I've done on my own, nowhere NEAR the fancy pants 3D stuff people have in theirs.  I'm not sure I stand a chance, to be honest.  But I agree, it would be nice to see some non-Arch or design background portfolios if they are out there.

And I've used the search function for this, many old portfolios have been deleted by now, or are by people with still a lot of design background.