I can't access my mailbox (international), because I'm traveling, so I'll just harass every remaining admissions office over the phone today, starting with Harvard and MIT. I need clarity and closure.

For those of you who are thinking about applying to graduate school (again), there are really promising leads on here you can learn from and then there are things on here that aren't so helpful, like the whining and hating that goes on (won't mention any names). So you really need to be a good bull shit detector to help you find those posts that are useful for your application.

There are things you can't really do anything about like your GPA, because that's already done and you can't go back in time and change it if you don't already have a good GPA (unless you can hack the school's computer--an architect hack a school's computer, unlikely). Things that you can do to improve your application is to get a high GRE score, get excellent recommendations, and improve your portfolio. And from what I hear, portfolio is by far the most important (and there are a lot of excellent examples here. Yunez's for one). A lot of the portfolios on ISSU are just plain nauseating, so don't follow those examples. These people don't understand color and don't understand composition; if you happen to be a color blind person, just do your portfolio in black and white. You should have a fairly good chance of getting in just by making your portfolio better, scoring within range on the GRE, and getting excellent recommendations. People who got in sans meeting requirements are the exception not the rule, so don't kid yourself. As for these happy jolly posts, if you didn't get in, they probably want to make you vomit and the jokes on here are just not funny. And those of us who didn't get in, we probably just didn't try our best or were not totally motivated. Get pumped if you want to get in.

I am disappointed in my results, but going back to school is a lot of commitment and this is probably not something I am doing because I enjoy stress and working up till the wee hours of the morning working in sweat shop conditions? I, probably won't be able to afford what I design, so this really isn't for me. And what about my job prospects after graduation? Granted, if you want to make a lot of money, become a lawyer or go into finance. So, if you didn't get in, I don't feel for you: you still have potential to do something interesting with your life--just start figuring that out.

Pythagoras & sweetpotato: I think that I am leaning closer to east coast schools - gsd / gsapp / cornell since they are the schools that I would be applying again next year. Read Sbeth85's thread about Sci-arc and it sounds pretty good too.

How about you, Pythagoras, since Sweetpotato is leaning towards Sci-arc.

hw10, your thoughts echo mine. I totally wasn't expecting to get into any schools I applied to. I wasn't really motivated enough to study architecture to apply to a second-rate school, but at the same time realized that my chances of getting accepted to top architecture schools were slim to none due to my background. And even if I was accepted, I'm not so sure I would be up for the intense workload, especially in a subject I've had little experience with and that has questionable monetary returns. For that reason, I would not mind at all being rejected. (I just want some god damn news asap so I can allocate the entirety of my resources to a non-architecture career, lol.) Fortunately, most people in a situation similar to that of hw10's or mine have something else to fall back on, and something that typically yields higher returns (if not, then maybe start thinking about taking that route).

alex11

I'm waiting on Berk & GSD as well. Their open houses are most likely the same day as other post-prof programs.

I'm debating whether or not to do GSAPP's open house because I went to the one in November.

Greg. and HW10-

I've posted something before on the boards about feeling like I'm walking into a Black Hole, what with the recession and the general end of the age of decadence- who will be able to afford the buildings we'll be taught to design?

But at the end of the day, I don't know anything else I'd rather do. YES I absolutely hate the technical parts that make you sit on your butt for hours on AutoCad. But the creative stuff, mixed with the logical bits, and the theory... :sighs in bliss:

I was pre-med, I had good MCAT scores, grades, and letters of rec. I don't doubt I could've gone in. But spend the next 8 years stuck in school, then a lifetime after that stuck in horrible hospitals and labs, seeing 10 patients an hour...? That's even less desirable, no matter how much better paying it is.

But I am sure I'm fooling myself. I will probably look back after all this time/effort/debt and be like "WTF were you thinking?" But at least I'm walking in, eyes wide open.

Anyways, as I've been rejected from GSAPP, Waitlisted at Rice, and no word from UCLA, I am probably in the same boat as y'all- who knows if I'll be going anywhere next year.

mitboi-

also make sure to check the comments at the bottom of my thread, I think they clarify a lot of what I was trying to say.

Hello all. Short-time lurker, first time poster. Congrats to all the admits!

Here are my results so far:

Yale - Out
Virginia - Out
Cincinnati - In $
Michigan - In $$$
Rice - In $
Oregon - In

Berkeley - ? (assuming out)
Colorado - Denver - ?

Background:

26 m
3.6 GPA undergrad Bachelor's Econ
1420 GRE
4 years work

Quick questions for the group:

Michigan vs. UC or Rice?
Anyone get financial support with their Oregon admission?
Berkeley admits still lingering or finished?
Thoughts on dual degrees (MBA/M.Arch)?

Thanks for the thoughts!

@hw10, well said. did you end up getting into GSD? there is a lot to life than just school. for those who didn't make it, take the positive side of it and improve for next year.

@Sbeth85, will do, thanks again. Everyone on this forum is just unbelievably helpful. :)

Regarding what holds the most weight on your application: I had an undergrad professor who helped organize the application materials when he was at the GSD and this is what he said...

Portfolio - This is all they look at in the first round. They use this to narrow the field from 1000 applicants to under 100.

Letters or Rec - They will use these to help form an opinion of you outside of your portfolio (like are you a hard worker, are you eager to learn...) Also, they take note if you have any letters from alumni or starchitects.

Statement of Intent - They only use this to make sure you want to learn what they have to offer. They also want to know what makes your interest unique from other students.

Transcript (GPA) - Apparently some schools are concerned with where you are coming from and how you did there. If your undergrad school has a good record of sending outstanding students to this grad school, then that will be in your favor. (also, your letter writer can say: John Doe has performed as well as ___ (who was accepted to the grad school the year before...)) - hope that makes sense.

GRE - I was told this is like the 3 way tie-breaker for the last spot on the waitlist.

Oh, and all of this stuff was for the MArch2 students. Hope this helps. I had an average GPA (3.5) and crummy GRE (1100 and 4.0). Many of the schools I applied to didn't even require the GRE scores, so I didn't include them.

sweetpotato,

I feel like you and me are the youngest female applicants here - you're 22 and I'm....20. I haven't got any acceptance yet, trying not to loose hope. BTW I was also thinking about jewelry-making)
Wish you good luck!

@passerby1ce:

repost - I'm non.arch background from NYU with B.A. in politics and a minor in architecture history. I did the summer Intro to Arch program at GSAPP (amazing).

GPA: 3.92
GRE: 580 Verbal, 630 Quant (something like that.. don't have the scores next to me to look up)

yay for us non.arch backgrounders! here's my portfolio:

http://issuu.com/sixtrain/docs/design_portfolio

---school update

Yale - waitlist
Princeton - rejected
MIT - probably rejected
UCLA - probably rejected
GSD - eternal mystery
Penn - mystery ends Monday at noon

GSAPP - admitted + $$
Berkeley - admitted ($?)
UT Austin - admitted ($?)




**And you know you've been in this admissions/portfolio process for too long when you see "March" and all you can think is M.Arch. :P

sixtrain - your portfolio rocks!! I love the process and documentation. I think this is an ideal portfolio for someone with an non.arch background!

Your first project really sparked my interest and showed your creative (spatial/systems) thinking and the NYC - London parallel sold me on you analytical abilities!

I think you'll get in at GSD and I think GSAPP should beg you to stay in NYC! Great job.

hmm, that's interesting, praxis. i guess they just defaulted all the dates on the letters.

Greg.
I was expecting to get into the schools I applied to, given my background, which is why I was disappointed; but I also remember the sleepless nights in architecture school and the low yield after graduation. So, you have to love the field; don't go in to architecture expecting to make money. I really didn't take the advice of professors and professionals seriously when they expressed dissatisfaction with the profession; I can see where they coming from now. This really isn't a stable profession, so you really have to graduate from a top school just to make it. And if I've learned anything from the recession, it's that even the key people in firms like Frank Gehry's office were let go like they were disposable. So, forget about job security, but I think in a few years, the profession will have shed so many people that there will be a shortage of architects. I think this is a great time to be in school and come out when there's a shortage of manpower.

I'm probably going to have a great year even if I don't go to grad school, so there's no reason for me to have any regrets. Initially, I was torn between going to grad school and doing my thing, so this will clarify things for me. Getting into grad school will complicated things.

OH yeah sixtrain, now I remember your portfolio!! The hand drawn hands. Great job!

Sbeth..I had similiar sentiments actually, delving into the black hole. I even thought that if I get rejected this time around maybe it'll be a god send in disguise, saving me from jumping onto the titanic, a sinking ship. I was going into medicine instead if I didn't get in, since that was my other career choice when I graduated high school. And the debt to salary ratio doesn't add up for architects.

But I got accepted so I'm jumping with both feet and not looking back. Which is what I promised myself I would do. And to be honest, if I were asked that question they ask you in career guidance, if you won the lottery what would you do? i'd say architecture. Even though I do like learning the human body, architecture allows you to learn so many differenct things unlike medicine. Which is good for a voracious learner like me.

I'm wondering what your stats are? like age, portfolio, bachelors in...? if you don't mind sharing.

Hello,
I applied to the GSD for the MDesS and still haven't heard from them...
Did anyone apply to this program? Have you gotten your letter?

hw10 - Ah, I see. Your points make sense, and I agree with you that regret is unreasonable. Good luck with your endeavors. :)

when is UofT going to release their admissions! i'm so bother by waiting.

another first time poster. I'm guessing all the admission decisions are set in stone, so I might as well share my details:

BA in Economics from Stanford '08, gpa 3.3
worked in corporate finance before I ran off to pursue this madness
Columbia Intro and NYP in 2009
GRE 600v, 740a, 4.0w
citizen of a remote country, vegetarian, unsurpassed knowledge of popular culture, allergic to penicillin, very fond of manatees.

good news:
Columbia
Cornell
Yale

bad news:
Princeton

limbo:
Harvard
MIT

Overall, very happy with the results. I'm coming to all relevant open houses, so see you there!

passerby-
I know what you mean, the arch vs medicine thing :)

I guess I should do this, since I haven't yet:

My stats:

24/ Female
Graduated in 2007
BA in European Cultural Studies, Minor in Theatre
Pre-Med, had my MCATs done and was on my way to med school
Study Abroad- Israel and Italy, 1 semester auditing art school
GPA: 3.699
GRE: V 570, Q 690, AW 5.0

Since 2007, been living in Jerusalem, Israel
Currently in an arch program (technical certificate, but it's 3 years)
Did Making + Meaning Summer 2009

I'm too embarrassed to post my port, let's just say it was horrible. I never learnt InDesign or any of that stuff. Port had Making and Meaning in it, plus 2 projects from school, plus artwork since High School and beyond.

GSAPP- Rejected
Rice- Waitlisted
UCLA- ????


-

And with that, I'm off for the weekend... no more plaguing y'all. :)

although,

Nice job despite your relatively low GPA/GRE for these schools. Just to confirm, by Columbia Intro you're referring to their Intro to Architecture program?

It seems most people here who take a summer arch program have good results admissions-wise. It seems that a summer program really does help, both portfolio-wise and as a demonstration of one's commitment.

sixtrain, excellent non-arch portfolio. A good example for all non-archers.

wow it took me a while but i just realized most of you guys are non Arch Majors in undergrad. I was kinda freaking out cuz all your portfolios are so different from mine. I guess a lot of school really like your diversity in your backgrounds. are there any arch majors out there? if so what schools have you gotten in to. It seems that most school are letting the non arch majors know first because most have to start this summer.

So, everyone has been posting their portfolios.

But the personal statement comes up close as another very important factor.

Would anyone be willing to share their personal statement?

Greg.
Don't take me seriously, I don't know what I'm talking about. Alright, time for a soak in the tub.

@chuko10- I'm an 'arch-ie'

so far i'm in @: rice, gsapp, mich, cornell, maryland, ucla and waitlisted at mit.

@e4d1c: maybe you can try giving Lucy a call and let us know the results. :)

chuko10 -
I'm an Arch Major and yes it is annoying that all the MArch1 students are finding out first!

Here's my stats:
Male, 24, BArch & BIarch (interior architecture) from Auburn.
GPA 3.5, GRE 1100.

GSD - ?
AA_DRL - In
GSAPP - In
MIT - ?
UT Austin - In
UPenn - ?

you can find my portfolio here
good luck!

So what's the general consensus of people in the industry about people graduating from Canadian Schools? How do Universities like UBC and U of T stack up against the "top" schools in the US?

Anybody know when UPenn's open house will be?

tyMArchII thank for sharing, your portfolio looks great. good luck with the rest of the schools. at least you have 3 good school so far to choose from, i still only have one response out of 6, dont know what to make of it

tyMArchII I think i remember reading somewhere that it's on the 15th April, but double-check to make sure.

Waiting to hear back for M.Arch II for UW, Maryland, and USC. USC is my top pick, it's close to home. What's the deal with these schools?

Hey All,

I'm a first-time poster, looooong-time lurker. I thought I'd throw some stuff into the mix. I'd love your thoughts/comments on my portfolio. Here's a little bit about me:

24 years old
B.A. Art History, French (2007) - Colby College
GPA 3.45 GRE 600 V, 650 Q, 4.5 W

It seems like I made the mistake of applying to too many reach schools, and too few 'range' schools. Ha, I should've thought that one through a bit more, but I guess it's a bit too late now. You all are such qualified applicants! I had no idea.

So my portfolio is mostly photography, because that's what I do. I keep myself sane by developing negatives in the bathroom (something my cat doesn't appreciate). I attended Harvard C-Disco in 2006 (everything was hand-drawn back then). Thing is, I was not mentally prepared for the workload, and my work reflects that, unfortunately. So I chose to include just the one project on the Carpenter Center.

Hmm, now noticing that issuu didn't properly convert the document. Those gray text bubbles should be nice clean boxes. Oy!

In any case, your thoughts are appreciated, here's where I'm at so far:

RPI - in
UVA - out
GSAPP - out
Cal - ?
UW - ?
UNM - ?

portfolio : http://issuu.com/jgerbs38/docs/portfoliojoshuagerber

photos if you're interested: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theweekendwarrior/

Congrats on all your acceptances!

how can it be the 15th of april if that's when they want to responses back by?


I am an archie undergrad. my stats and junk were posted a couple pages back. Page 35, maybe?

Speaking, of the 15th of april, i hate taxes!!

i need to re-read Eats Shoots & Leaves again. I overused my commas.

hate taxes or texas? i hate both.

yeah man. wtf is up with texas...still silence :(

i hate taxes. can't say i know much about texas.

For the person asking about UW--

I received a phone call on Tuesday and then a big envelope (via the post office) on Thursday.

I haven't heard about money from anyone yet, but here are my schools:

UW- In ($?) Top choice!
UT Austin- In ($?)
U of O- In ($?)
CCA- In ($?)

Harvard?
MIT-?
RISD-?
UCLA-?
Berkeley-?

And my stats:
32 year old female (I think I'm the grandma on the thread!!)
10 years of work experience in seemingly unrelated areas
BA in Art History
3.7 GPA
1170 GRE
Portfolio: Included some architectural drawings (from community college classes) but mostly printmaking, drawing, some hand-made jewelry, and sculpture.

Good luck to all who haven't heard yet!

Hellas, I also think we should have received something by now, but there still seem to be very few acceptances posted on gradcafe and archinect (fewer than 10 on each), so it seems like some letters have yet to arrive.

P.S. I'm applying from Nicaragua.

Still only heard from one school.....

It baffles me that the ivy schools can get through 1000 apps and send out notifications as early as two weeks ago, but here we are in late March and my (potential) schools haven't reached a decision on 250-300 applications.

I will give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they're doing the best they can, but the waiting is getting old.

And for what it's worth [since I seem to be the old one of the group, not sure if that makes me wise :) ]...

My advice to those you haven't been accepted-- keep trying. Get some work experience in the next year or two or three, take some more classes. I applied to graduate school when I first received my BA and was rejected by all the schools I applied to. Now, I am so thankful that I didn't get in because I realized that it wasn't what I really wanted to do with my life. Everything happens for a reason!

Oh, and if you REALLY want to be an architect, apply to more than just the Ivies!!! In addition to being difficult to get into, they also might not offer you the best quality of life as a student. I would recommend mixing it up a little. There are GREAT programs hiding in the background out there.

@ Greg - would you consider attending a summer program as well? I think it does make a huge difference between a rejection and acceptance. Not surprising especially since you get to meet with the faculty and have a first hand understanding of the sch and its program (which will therefore be reflected in your personal statement ). Plus, the faculty members get to know you and observe for themselves how suitable you are for their schools.

I agree with tyMarchII's comments on the order at which the Ad Comms review the apps. Portfolio is the make-break factor. I remember there's a discussion somewhere which says that some students with non-arch bkgrd got in with an essay portfolio. In retrospect, I say that's just bs. They probably have other means of securing a spot in the schools. The admissions process is just not transparent enough for us to know which other factors come into play.

@ hw10, SBeth85 - yes, totally with you on the low returns relative to the high opportunity costs of a grad M.Arch education. I had this struggle initially, and was wondering if I should go, if I were offered a place. And I came to the conclusion that I will, on the condition that I get a full ride, either from the schools or other external organizations. While life's not entirely about making $$$, I think it's myopic not to consider the impact of a $100k loan on the rest of your life. Afterall, we chase our dreams to be an architect, just so that we will have no regrets and be happy in life. But if we find ourselves slogging day & night in a dream job that unfortunately pays only enough for us to service our debts, with little left for ourselves, where's the joy in this pursuit? Growing up with little $, I had a tough struggle, and can honestly tell anyone that it's really an experience you'd rather not go through. Just some sharing here.

@ mitboi - Im keen on SCI-Arc too ! Would love to find out how living on the west coast is like, though NYC has its appeal. By the way, do you know that UT Austin has a much cheaper summer program? Check it out at :

http://soa.utexas.edu/summeracademy/

Tuition fees at $1300 !
I haven't seen any successful examples of any archinecters who attended UT Austin's summer program. I may be wrong though.

hi guys, I am wondering if anyone hear from UIUC (March limited standing)? This is the only program I applied to. I wrote to inquiry but got no response. thanks.

but speaking of texas as well, I know someone named Dallas Austin.

Anyone know how many people get accepted to GSAPP's MSAAD? I see that they have 10 studio options this summer. Do MArch students take summer studios as well?

Hmm...

Very few GSD acceptances posted. How very odd.

An internet-savviless bunch? Or evidence that letters have yet to arrive?