I'm a Hampshire alum, but not a graduate. Like a lot of Hampshire students, I dropped out. Finished my BA in an even more funky program at New College of California. Studied under two great Architects, but got a Humanities BA, and still no GPA. The program was great, but the administration and overall system was a mess, and the school actually just lost it's accreditation. Not good.

I just did a round of M.Arch applications and got rejected at all but the least selective of the 6 schools I applied to. Turned down by MIT, Harvard, RISD, Berkeley, and UW Seattle, and got into UMASS Amherst. Still, I really don't think Hampshire, or New College had anything to do with it one way or another. Most people on here, and most admissions officers I have spoken to, have been pretty clear that grades, and even GRE scores, are not a big factor in admissions to Architecture programs. The formula I have heard several times is that the portfolio is 75% of the decision, and everything else is only 25%.

Hampshire affords a lot of interesting opportunities and experiences. As someone who has been there, my best advice would be to document all you can - take photos, write about it, etc. You have the opportunity to do things that will be way more impressive than a 4 point gpa, but you have to (1) take the initiative to do them, and (2) document them and figure out how to communicate them to prospective grad schools, employers, etc.

I think this is true in any field, that you can get into a good grad school without the traditional academic background as long as you show that you did great work, but I think it is especially true in architecture because of the emphasis on the portfolio.

I have had a couple of friends who have graduated from Hampshire.....both of them have had very good carrier paths
outside of the field of Architecture. I would tend to agree
with andytee....Document and keep good records of what your doing.
I have also had friends to to Evergreen State College in Washington State and they have also had very good carrier paths. So sometimes
people will shy away from those liberal schools just because, but it shouldn't be the case. If your eager to learn there are some great opportunities out there. If your just passing time....head to a regular University....and maybe you will learn something.

I would agree with andytee - you're portfolio will probably trump everything else in the admissions process. I learned this the hard way. I thought that I would be able to waltz into any M.Arch program simply because I had good grades and GRE scores. So I was pretty shocked when I started receiving rejections and people who bombed the GRE's or had bad grades were getting acceptances to the same schools. For most non-art/design masters programs, grades are probably an extremely important, but not for the M.Arch. - at least in my experience. From what I hear the essay is also very important - maybe more than GPA. If you did some interesting research/studies at Hampshire College, the essay may be a great place to talk about it.

<insert frisbee aerodynamics/basket-weaving joke here>

I sat in a on a review at the arch program at Smith and I believe there were a couple people from Hampshire involved, have you done anything via the 5 Colleges?

My friend when he was at Hamphire College wrote a paper in regard to Baseball Players and Baseball Owners back in the 1970's. His paper was actually used as a negotiation tool by the players. He was a die hard Pittsburg Base Ball Fan. He later went to Case Western and became a Lawyer. He worked in the First Clinton Administration, but unfortunately lost his life while on a camping trip in Alaska. He somehow managed to get between a mother Grizzley and her Cub. It was a very sad ending for such a wonderful guy.

Hampshire and the 5 college system afford a lot of great portfolio building opportunities. Spend some time in the Lemulson lab, get involved with arch classes at other schools, generally get out and do things. Don't forget to document them.

Hampshire seems to work best for people who go in with a goal (or set one once there) and set up a plan to work towards it. The lack of structure is a great thing if you know what you want to do, but if you don't it can make it a little too easy to just get by.

That said, if you are focused on your goal, you will find plenty of resources and opportunities.

Thanks for your responses everyone.

I actually finished up at Hampshire five years ago, so I suppose I'll actually be applying as an "older student."

Much of my undergrad work is documented through my evaluations, which are included in my transcript and should be quite helpful to me--if admissions actually takes the time to read them. Any one know what the chances are? Should I put some in my portfolio too, or is that redundant?

Pixelwhore--I found 5-college architecture courses very hard to get into. I did do a 300-level arch theory at Mt Holyoke.

Thanks for your responses everyone.

I actually finished up at Hampshire five years ago, so I suppose I'll actually be applying as an "older student."

Much of my undergrad work is documented through my evaluations, which are included in my transcript and should be quite helpful to me--if admissions actually takes the time to read them. Any one know what the chances are? Should I put some in my portfolio too, or is that redundant?

Pixelwhore--I found 5-college architecture courses very hard to get into. I did do a 300-level arch theory at Mt Holyoke.

EnemyHands,
I'm an F02, been at UMich for almost two years now in the MArch program.

Anyway, I didn't bother to warn schools that I'd have a different sort of transcript and just put down NA where their forms asked for a GPA. I don't know if it hurt me at any of the schools I didn't get in to, but those evaluation excerpts definitely helped with some schools.

One program director (after i'd been accepted) said, "i don't remember your portfolio.... oh yeah, you were the one with all those little letters of recommendation".

Having helped with admissions here, I get the sense that portfolio, letters of rec. and personal statement are the most utilized factors in the admissions process. GPA is not that useful when people are coming from all different backgrounds (schools, majors, countries).

good luck, and let me know if you have any other questions.

F89 here, graduated in 93.

Grad school was all about the portfolio (MFA in interior design). The evaluations are more informative than grades, anyway. I'm a professor now, and I think the Hampshire experience really shaped my understanding of education...

Good luck!