WELCOME TO PAGE 37 EVERYONE!!!

How did I know my post was going to be the first post on Page 37?

Simple. I'm psychic.

Which means I also predicted where each of you will be going and am currently tallying my accuracy (currently 100%).

Thanks for being part of my experiment.

whack

question: to those who received gsd admits, first of all, congrats. also, what is the date listed on the actual acceptance letter from the dean? (not the envelope).

so i received an odd call from a professor at UMich today. basically he was calling to congratulate me on the accepectance and ask if i had any questions or whatnot. i told him i was excited about the program but wasn't sure about accepting due to $$. i pretty much talked and he didnt say much, which was weird since he was calling me.

is this a normal thing? seemed out of the blue and i wasn't really sure what to make of it

BOS02135,

sounds kinda weird if you ask me, at least the fact that he didn't say much. But then again it is nice that they have someone call to congratulate you again. Im sure it is pretty normal though.

You hear from Cincinnati yet or you still waiting?

hi everyone...

because i've told so few people i'm going through this process, and because i like the slight degree of anonymity this board provides, i'll share (and, well, because right now i'm about to burst!)

m.arch2:

yale: nope
columbia: yay! (for msaad)
gsd: yay!!!

i got home late tonight and haven't been able to check the boards all day (to find out whether it's d-day for the gsd). rounding the corner, i saw a package on my doorstep and literally hopped out of the car while it was still moving. i cannot stop laughing right now -- i'm just that excited.

also, to answer imfalling's question above, the letter is dated march 05.

i've been reading and listening all 37 pages thus far, and i hope good news comes to all still waiting. these last two weeks have been the longest in the history of the planet.

congrats on all the good news everyone.
I'm still waiting for one... so far nothing good.

I hold a BA in architectural/visual studies from UofToronto.
Int'l student (not from North America)
no work experience at the time of application submission, but I've been working since Jan in Korea at an architecture firm, done one office building project and now working on a large complex with international corporate firms.

GPA- 3.4
TOEFL 112
GRE 1500, 4.5

I was perhaps too optimistic about getting into the Ivy league schools. I did consider applying to RISD, Michigan, UVa, IIT, Pratt, etc... that are so appealing, but just had to reduce the # of application for some reasons.
so far, no where to go this fall.

here's my portfolio. please do rip it, crit, yell, shout, etc. for my next yr's or later application. fingers crossed knock on wood!
http://issuu.com/brettlee/docs/brett_lee_portfolio10_1_

again, congrats guyz. one day I can get in to my dream school

oh, btw, when does UofT and UPenn notify us? I am unsure if I'll go to UofToronto even if I get in.. :S
how is its reputation internationally (I want to know opinions from non-UofT pupil)

oh btw, the portfolio I've uploaded have a few text error, low resolution pic, etc. cuz I'm at work now and this is the only copy I hve now. (probably my last draft before final copy)
I just wanted to hear from you guyz asap

haha... sorry, I also wanted to say...

waqas, NYC blue, theVillain, Pythagoras, melany, yunez, etc
please comment on my port... from seeing your ports, I assume you can give me some constructive comments

mugged... still silence from cincinnati. it is slightly comforting to know i am not the only one in the dark.

in response to Berkeley admissions question:

I'm in at Berkeley, and I'm pretty sure it's due to one thing only: I participated in their summer program, like word2bird. The professor I worked with wrote my recommendations, and the grad advisor chair got to know my work and liked it..

If Berkeley had only seen my portfolio, grades, gre, and art professor recs, I would have looked like any other art major turned arch major.

Disclaimers: not everyone who did the summer program got into Berkeley. It just helped me. I'm not sure if this is true for other summer programs.

Brett, I really like your portfolio. I am surprised. Where all did you apply.

I think the work is very clearly presented and is interesting and well-executed. I would tone down some "accents" (such as the rotated contents page and the burn border on your first 2 images) and turn the volume up a little on a more specific (as opposed to generic) presentation style.

The first project is so strong but the first two images and the rendering do not do it justice. Otherwise, great!

For my work samples portfolio for job applications [just 6 pages] I showed 20 images to my friends really, really quickly and asked them to just pick out what looks impressive. It sucks and it's painful, but sometimes the drawing you work so hard on is not as impressive as the drawing that was easy but conveys a lot more.

ncro54 when did you find out from Berkeley, im still waiting

BOS02135,

Yeah I'm not really sure what to think about it. People have both been accepted and rejected. I would assume waitlist but I feel like there are still some acceptances and rejections to go out. I know a few other people who are still waiting to hear as well.

ess, if it was postmarked March 5th, why did it only arrive March 18th? That's quite a gap.

@ Sbeth85 - "Fixing a broken heart" is playing on my radio! lol. How apt. The radio station sure understands how some ppl are feeling at this moment. I am dedicating this song to all those who didnt quite make it this time round. The results season is coming to an end...let's look forward to the summer, and make hay while the sun shines! BTW, Sbeth85, what are your plans? Are you going to reapply next yr?

On the topic of age, I dont think anyone here can be older than me. I am really the great grandfather of greatfathers. Quite ashamed to reveal my age on this forum. And it certainly doesnt help to know that there are many ppl here who are getting into grad sch at age of 21 ! Can you imagine yourself being an intern working with bosses 10 - 30 years younger than you? lol.

Congrats to all who got into those dream schools!

@WorkingHoot - I hope to be in your shoes next year. Is your portfolio up here on archinect? i'd love to be inspired by your master pieces :) Do share! Thanks man.

chuko10,

received email yesterday at 6 pm. I believe I was in the first round of emails because I got the summer fellowship. My friend who did not get a fellowship was admitted also yesterday later evening.

i'd like to echo ncro54... i don't think i would have gotten in to berkeley without participating in their summer program. if you decide to do it, make sure you're in keith's group.

not only does a summer program help you get to know the school and vice versa, it also is the best way to ramp up your portfolio in a way that will be received well by arch admissions committees.

fortunately for me, i've been lucky enough to have been able to participate in sci-arc's summer program in 2008, then berkeley's summer program in 2009. both programs balanced each other out well since sci-arc's program was arts and crafts...3d models, hand drawings, but mainly models, very hands on (no computers at all). berkeley's program was the exact opposite, no time at the woodshop at all, lots of autocad and illustrator, some hand drawings, models some what optional. i'd recommend either one...depending on what you feel your portfolio use the most.

the more i think about it, berkeley made me an offer i cannot refuse! i'm taking this as a sign and am likely to end up there, and happily. :D

my sister lives in the bay area too, so there's that!

@razvan, hey, could you share your portfolio please? i've seen portfolios from UofT / OCAD .. curious to see how a portfolio from ryerson would be like. especially one from a successful candidate! thanks and congrats!

word2bird and ncro54 congrats on your admittance that really awesome.

are you both in the 3 year track, do u think that they admit the 3track group first before admitting the 2 years, or do u know some 2 years who are already in

@ word2bird - how about GSAPP's summer program? have you attended that before, or do you have any idea where their focus lies?
you are setting such a gd example for mortals like me.

Pythagoras:

Maybe it's hard to be on both ends of the age spectrum.

Last summer, serving my second internship, I was never invited to go to lunch with the rest of the department, or do anything social like going to gallery openings. It was really depressing for awhile - nobody wanted to pay attention to a "kid" six to twenty years younger (even the other interns hired at the same time!)... unless there was some last minute overnight work to be done. Then, people were suddenly *very* friendly.

I'm hoping to get into a larger arch. program with 100 or 100+ students, because there are bound to be enough people close to my own age with similar experiences.

hellraiser: imfalling inquired about the date on the actual letter itself, not the envelope/postmark (although, regardless, i agree that it's still quite a gap).

chuko10_ a bunch of us got emails from sara mccarthy yesterday around 6pm.
no sure about the 2 year candidates as i don't know any... maybe you can check grad cafe.

Pythagoras_ though i've participated in two summer programs in cali, i don't have any first hand experience about gsapp's summer program. i have heard that it's lighter and yields less than others though...i'm sure it's still good. i would think.

Thanks Bird. I am undecided betw gsapp, and SCI_Arc.
Berkeley's program is way too expensive for me.
Even before getting into grad sch, I am looking at blowing a cool $8000 on this summer prog! I need to be in a program that can get(read : guarantee ) me a place in an ivy. Is there one? lol.

I am waiting for SBeth85's reply to this topic too, as she has extensive summer program experience. Let's see.

pyth_ let me see you portfolio. or can you tell me whether you have more digital or 3d model projects? fun wise, sci-arc was more fun. also more time consuming...so it seemed. berkeley was really time consuming too though... but staring at a computer screen induces sleep more than working with a band saw at 4am

by the way, there are no guarantees to an ivy or any school... obviously.

just be you, and let your light shine!

Has anyone who got into CCA heard yet about scholarship $$ or aid?

@pythagoras, I am in the same shoe as you. Maybe we will meet in a summer program.

waqas,

I applied to GSD, Cornell, Upenn, Yale, Columbia and UofT.
well, as of now I may not go to uoft even if I get in, cuz I want to try again.

still havent heard anything from GSD, MIT, UPenn and UofT...
i hope something big from GSD and UPenn...

can someone confirm berkeley's tuition: is it about $12k/semester, so $24k/year

that's what it is according to this http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/college/academics/fees

i'm confused about it though.

ur right

j/k

@ bird - sure, I will try to put a painting up here...let me first try figure out how to do it. I have no digital / 3d model projects. Well, I was naive enough to think that a down-to-earth portfolio showing drawings using different media would stand a chance of getting me into grad sch. None of those glittering photoshop/illustrator projects in my portfolio at all...and I had a dream last night about the adcomm members laughing at how silly my portfolio is. But I am going to take this experience positively and push myself to produce a killer portfolio. When that day comes, even Mr Stern will have to come down from his ivory tower to offer me a place, and of cse, with $$$$. LOL.

mitboi - yes, we may see each other at a summer program ! let me know when you have decided which program you are attending : )

no way! that cant be right...i thought it would be more...

Pythagoras and mitboi : I am seriously considering Sci-Arc's summer program if I don't get in anywhere this year. I want to experience an extended stay on the west coast, so that when/if I re-apply I can make a more informed choice about California schools. Would also like to know what you both decide.

Question to all : Did anyone's portfolio include jewelry? I am considering enrolling in a pretty serious jewelry-making program in NYC if I don't make any programs this year, and have to wait it out. Although I would seriously enjoy learning how to work in gold and silver, bezel set stones, etc, I don't know if that would be a productive expenditure of my time.

TyMArchII: Questionable - I accept you for who you are! Do they invite waitlisters to the open house?

'i accept you for who you are" ????

Waitlisters I guess aren't invited to open houses. But don't know about other schools. I'm in at GSAPP and Cornell, so I'll be there for GSAPP and not for Cornell. Haven't heard from MIT GSD, as those mails are probably in my mailbox and I have to wait till I get back from Spring Break. UPenn --- 222nd.

word2bird,
congrats on your admittance to Cal,
isn't it more like $9825.25/semister? so 19650.50/yr? provided that you're CA resident. you do need to buy CAD/CAM, computer, shop access every semister if you're in studio. well, you can kinda get by without them too, if you somehow share the access with someone.

archist.brett,
as a fellow rejectee, i can understand your dissapointment.
you probably have done this already, but if you haven't yet, call each grad school office and learn more about your application, so you can strenghten your chances next year. I love your hand drawn digrams in your projects that are clean and easy to understand.
As for name value, I think Koreans would prefer that you went to Ivy schools, if you decide to practice in Korea. Not any Ivy though, just Harvard, Yale, and Columbia. I believe that Princeton's awesome but not well known in Korea for architecture. That might open up the future door for you to teach someday in univs.

Regarding Summer Programs-

I wrote an extensive Post about my experience during Making + Meaning here:
http://www.archinect.com/forum/threads.php?id=91701_0_42_0_C


I have had a new insight regarding MONEY-

We look at these different programs and blanch about dropping so much cash, and it IS a ton of money in foresight. However, for the chance to make a significant portfolio, it is worth it, since Ad Coms can drop cash on you willy-nilly. You could find yourself with a full-ride + stipend, such as was offered Word2Bird- let's say that's $40,000 the first year right there! Now, that is TOTALLY worth the price of a few summer programs!
Or even the jump from a 'good' port to a 'stellar' port could wind you up with a few more thousands.


Pythagoras-

I don't know what my plans are for next year, if I would reapply. I think I'd just finish my degree here in Israel and get some work experience... or maybe try to get into the 5-year M.Arch program here. Or.... who knows?

I will say that I will have SO much more wherewithal if I were to apply again. Yeesh... I'd re-take the GREs with CURRENT test-prep books (tried to prepare using 2006 books, so the adaptive nature took me completely by surprise). And I'd HELLA work on my portfolio, and show a more PERSONAL side.

SBeth85: I would definitely not use test-prep books alone and would instead sign up for Princeton Review private tutoring sessions. This is INSANELY expensive (not as bad as Kaplan), but even the bare min package of hours did WONDERS for many of my friends who are applying to psychology & journalism programs. You can take tests on your computer at home that give you a similar feel to the real thing and get a score analysis - Those particular friends started out in the 300's on quant (had not touched a math text in years), and ended up in the high 500's , plus -over 600 each in verbal. While the group classes are good, everyone has particular strengths and weaknesses, and you can really stress what you need to. My friends also said they were more psychologically ready because they had taken so many "fake" tests.

I still have 5 schools left I haven't heard a word from, so I am hoping to not have to go that route myself.

My scores weren't so bad that I think I'd fork over that much money. I just needed more practice tests with an adaptive system. On the paper tests I took I got very high scores.

I wish you guys were all up and posting like usual... stupid time zones :(
At least SweetPotato is keeping me company. Still no word from UCLA, my last school.

haven't heard from any school yet. hoping ucla still comes through

imfalling -

dates on the GSD acceptance letter:

from the director of admission - Gail Gustafson and Geri Nederhoff
March 12th

from the dean, mohsen mostafavi
March 5th

...just spent a LOT of money on a plane ticket to NYC for the GSAPP open house...

Still in the waiting game for others though...

Come on Berkeley!
Come on GSD!

Does anyone know when Berkeley's open house is (MUD)?

alex11
i just spent a lot of money too on a plane ticket to boston - i really hope its worth it

excited to see everyone at the open house though :)

btw waqas - am excited about the kilo reunion too!

now i have to bring the saumur champigny :)

IF ANY INTERNATIONALS OVERSEAS GET ACCEPTED TO HARVARD GSD M.ARCH I THIS WEEK (VIA MAIL POSTMARKED 15TH OR LATER) PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHEN YOU RECEIVED THE PARCEL. THANKS.

Hey hellraiser, I've applied to the GSD from London-still no word, though I really am starting to lose hope. I think Greg on this forum may also be an international applicant, but not sure. I will definitley post if i receive anything...but I reckon we should have received something by now...

p.s. where are you applying from?

actually.. i just noticed a disconnect

my letter from the directors of admission is dated the 12th

i received my fredex package on the 15th, postmared 10th in france

hmmm