Resources
Helpful information and tips for your Architectural journey
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Portfolio
A visual portfolio is a critically important part of the application. Almost all Architecture programs throughout the U.S will require a portfolio as part of the application materials.
Schools will often require that a portfolio be composed of any of the following although specific requirements differ by school:
Examples of freehand drawings, including sketches as well as fully developed work
A range of artistic media
Painting
Printmaking
Sculpture
Photography
Video
Woodwork
And other crafts that convey artistic experience and aptitude
Most importantly, a portfolio is a space where a School seeks not only artistic skill in an applicant, but also how their identity or character come through creative expression.
In essence, a portfolio should show who you are as a creative individual. I help students find their creative strengths and to develop that strength through a process of reflection and inquiry.
Written Work
A personal statement essay and any other supplemental essays. Paired with the portfolio, your written work helps convey who you are as a person.
Your statement of purpose or essay should tell a story of who you are.
Here are some questions to think through as you craft your essay.
Why do you want to study architecture?
How does your creative project characterize your value or belief? Through its medium? design process? or visualization?
How does your work articulate and give form to innovative ideas?
How are you able to develop a concept idea to fruition? How are you able to proactively develop and refine through creative abilities?
How does your work critically challenge the status quo of spatial experiences?
How are you able to materialize and visualize your interests that may span from the humanities to the sciences?
How are you dedicated to co-create a sustainable environment?
Interview
Get ready to verbally describe yourself in the admissions interview and add any other supplemental information that help create a picture of who you are.
It is easy to get intimidated during an admissions interview. But if you have made it this far in the admissions process, you are very close to entering the gate of your applied school! You are almost there.
In the interview, take what you have in your visual portfolio and your written work and be ready to explain through your work to talk about your ambition.
How does the school that you’re applying to support that ambition?
Do some research on the school and be ready to talk about it. This shows that you’re not only interested in the school and have done your homework, but you also have taken the time to think through how your interests align with the school’s resources.
The best way to prepare for an interview is to list a series of questions and practice verbally answering through those questions.
We’ll run through some practice questions with you and make recommendations on things to improve upon. Get started by signing up via the contact form below!
What is a NAAB-accredited architecture program?
When searching for architecture colleges to apply to, you’ll notice that some offer 4-year degrees and others offer 5-year degrees. Also, some say that they offer an accredited program while others don’t. It is important to understand how your choice to attend an accredited or unaccredited school may affect your future architectural career.
The profession of Architecture relies on licensed architects. In order to get licensed, most of the 55 U.S. licensing boards require that architects hold a degree from a NAAB-accredited program. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) is “an agency that evaluates architecture programs in the U.S. to ensure that graduates are appropriately prepared to enter the profession.” Feel free to read more upon licensure via link provided below.
What does this mean for you?
If you want to become a licensed architect in the U.S., you need to go to a NAAB-accredited school where you become eligible to take the licensure exams. These accredited schools offer what we call a ‘professional degree’ which includes Bachelors of Architecture, Masters of Architecture, and Doctor of Architecture programs.
A professional, NAAB-accredited Bachelors of Architecture, for example, is typically a 5-year program. So be prepared to go to college for five years and graduate ready to become licensed. You may need to talk to your parents about tuition and the financial picture of funding an extra year of undergraduate studies.
Unlike other professions like medicine or law, an architectural license is not required in order to practice architectural design in the U.S. - though one without an architectural license may not hold the responsibilities as well as the privileges that come with licensure. You may not claim the title ‘architect’ without an architectural license, but may still practice architectural design with some limitations as a designer under someone who is licensed.
So if you are unsure about getting licensed or are not ready to commit to an extra year of college, a 4-year architecture degree is a good way to still study architecture and get a head start in getting work experience. A 4-year degree will typically include - Bachelors of Arts in Architecture, Bachelors of Science in Architecture, or Bachelors of Architectural Studies.
Just remember, most four-year degree programs are not NAAB-accredited so if you want to become licensed in the U.S. one day, you will have to attend an accredited program - whether it is by transferring schools as an undergraduate, or going to graduate school to get an accredited Masters of Architecture degree.
What if I only want to go to college for four years?
What if I want to go to a five-year accredited program, get my accredited degree, and then obtain my Masters in Architecture at an accredited program as well?
That is a path that many take, including myself. It can help place your foot forward in a competitive job market. Also, schools have different styles of teaching so it helps to diversify your portfolio and learn from different schools of thought. Not to mention broadening your academic network! If you’ve already received a professional undergraduate degree, you’ll apply to a post-professional M.Arch degree which is usually shorter for those who have already graduated from an accredited program.
Learn more about NAAB accreditation at this link below:
https://www.ncarb.org/earn-a-degree/study-architecture/accredited-programs
So, how does the Architecture Admissions process work? And what do they look for?
While general admissions applicants are typically reviewed based on GPA, SAT or GRE scores, extracurriculars, and recommendations, etc., architecture applicants typically go through an additional or, sometimes, separate process of review. In the admissions cycle, portfolios are reviewed by an architecture portfolio committee that assesses the creative aptitude and potential of a student’s work.
The committee will often seek candidates who can not only make an exquisite piece of artwork such as a drawing or painting, but also able to demonstrate an interest and curiosity towards spatial matter. After all, Architecture is a study of spatial experiences. Yes, architects design mostly buildings. And in the process of design, architecture calls for the study of site, landscape, climate, materials, culture, etc. No building stands in a void. There is always a context in place. Even if something gets designed in the middle of a desert, there are textures, temperatures, sun patterns, and a spatial context that comes into play when designing.
That means that even if you’re drawing a still life drawing of an apple, for example, the consideration of the background of that drawing will matter. How does the apple sit on the table? How does lighting or shadow work with the surface of the apple? And lastly, how do you portray the surrounding context around that apple? How does the apple still-life compose a spatial experience?
Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Hand-sketch of Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Center. 1998.
Peter Eisenman House Studies IV. 1971.
Architecture is also a field of study that explores spatial qualities. Studies of form and how one experiences that form is at the core of architectural study. What does ‘studies of form’ mean? It could mean how a wall meets a ceiling - does it allow skylight, or is there a balcony, etc. In a more conceptual sense, the study of form could also mean how a two-dimensional plane meets another plane - how space gets composed through the addition or deletion of planes, or other means of creating a voluminous space.
Whether through a still-life drawing of an apple or a three-dimensional physical model, your portfolio ideally wants to show curiosity, a potential, and a certain skill level towards designing and experiencing spatial matter.
Each architecture program has its own school of thought, its own personality, and it’s important to understand those differences when preparing to apply to a program. That is probably why you’ll often hear people recommend going to a different Master’s program - to experience different schools of thought. For example, a school that values design development will seek applications that demonstrate development of a project from concept to its final stages of design. A different school that values technological saviness and digital media will want to see applications that show an aptitude towards the digital. The portfolio is the place to show such characteristics - what you like to make, what you’re good at, and most importantly, who you are.
This means that the portfolio that you submit is a critical piece in the application package. It can mean that someone with a spectacular portfolio can potentially be considered for admission albeit a lower GPA or SAT score. In the Architectural admissions process, the portfolio is no doubt the single most important piece of your application package. So get guidance to create your best portfolio.
How can I prepare for Architectural study as a high school student?
If you’re a high school student who is seeking to study architecture in college, this is for you. Here are recommended coursework, extracurricular activities, as well as things beyond school that you might want to work on.
Recommended Coursework
Many people say that Architecture is a field of study that merges the disciplines of the fine arts and engineering. And there is some truth to that. In many colleges’ architectural programs, you’ll learn how to draw and sketch. You’ll find yourself in field trips and site visits, learning how to see things spatially and to sketch what you see. In other courses, you’ll learn how building elements are put together. Structures and building construction courses teach the so-called engineering side of architecture; how different structural loads interact with each other and how that affects design. So to prepare, I often encourage high school students to study Physics as well as take Art courses that are offered at their schools. If your school offers courses in Physics and Studio Art, Great! Take them, and do well in them. Your academic standing in those areas will stand out to the admissions counselor.
If your school does not offer studio art or physics, or if you do not have space in your academic curriculum to add those courses, do not fret. I will talk about ways to add those areas of study in your academic journey in the next few paragraphs.
Extracurricular Activities - The Portfolio
There are many other ways to supplement learning that may or may not be offered at school. To start, let’s talk about Art. As you may already know, the portfolio is a piece of the college application that is integral to show your interest in studying architecture. The portfolio single-handed demonstrates your skills, interests, and furthermore, your potential as an applicant to grow as an emerging architect.
There are two parts of the portfolio - one, building the creative projects that go into the portfolio. These are drawings, paintings, sculpture, etc., that you build. It is good to show that you are a multi-dimensional person; instead of showing mostly drawing and painting, make sure that you have a well-rounded array of media to demonstrate that you’ve tested your creative outlets in different media and dimensions. If you only have drawings and sketches so far, explore making a painting and sculpture, and even mixed media.
Two, the second part of building a strong portfolio relies on the curation of the projects that you’ve made. A good portfolio works like a visual narrative or a creative essay. You want to make sure that your portfolio has a strong start and ends with a lasting impression. In my classes, I work with students to curate which projects go into the portfolio, which one should come first, second, and last, and most importantly, how to cater each portfolio to different schools. Each architectural program has its own personality; some schools value spatial form and seek candidates who show a strong potential in spatial making, while others are more technically driven and seek candidates who display a curiosity towards the digital. Depending on the college that you are applying to, each portfolio will need to bring in and tell a story of who you are with the projects and artwork that you’ve made. In addition to curation, there’s layout, composition, and a lot that goes into constructing a strong portfolio. I’ll get into those details in another post.
Go see & Draw
So to start, if you’re a freshman, sophomore, or even a junior in high school and have some time to build your creative projects, here are some things to work on: go see a lot of art museum exhibits, notable pieces of architecture, and draw what you see as much as you can. Buy a sketchbook, a pencil, and really study what you see. How is it put together? What is it made of? How does it compose an appealing space? Think of these questions as you draw. And as I said earlier, test out different materials - paper, wood, cardboard, etc. - and experiment making sculpture, woodwork, even small pieces of furniture!
Build
Building a piece of furniture, for example, oftentimes one how the laws of physics come into play. How do the legs of a chair support a person’s weight, and how does that load get supported? Even if you do not have a strong grasp of physics, or if your school does not offer AP Physics, you can still test out your understanding in forces and loads by building furniture and sculpture. Get some cardboard, pieces of wood, or even paper cups and try building a chair, a piece of sculpture, or something spatial.
Thinking by Doing
Architecture is a spatial field of study. In college, you’ll build physical models, at varying scales, sizes, and materials. So get comfortable using your hands and test out how to make things. It may be conceptual, not yet a building; it may be more artistic and deviate from what you originally had in mind. Play out how design works, how it develops. You might find that design is often not a linear process. Get comfortable thinking by making. Keep an open mind and be flexible in seeing how the thing that you’re building can guide the process. Remember to always take a step back, look at what you made, and go back to add, take out, or edit parts that the project needs.
Check Out Art Museums, Exhibits, Lectures, & Pieces of Architecture
If you’re not sure where to start, go to local art museums, exhibits, notable pieces of architecture, and get inspired. If you live in a city or town where there is an architectural college near you, go see what their students make. The time to go is typically at the end of the semester, around early to mid December for the fall semesters and early to mid May in the spring semesters. Most schools put on a public exhibit of their exemplary students’ work at the end of the year. There may even be public lectures that are offered, which are great ways to get your feet warmed up to college lectures. Don’t worry if you are not blown away on your first visit; Architecture is like learning a language. You may not understand everything the first time. But try going once more, perhaps even twice more. And you’ll slowly discover things that you didn’t notice in the first round.
Readings
Last but not least, grow your interest in Architecture by reading. There is a plethora of great websites to learn about the latest news and discussions in architecture - such as Archinect, ArchDaily, Places Journal, etc. Also, there are plenty of books that are great first-reads if you’re getting into Architecture. I’ll share my recommended book list in the resources page.
To prepare for writing your personal essays, I also highly suggest reading books, especially memoirs. A well-written application essay is like reading a mini-memoir. There is a lot to learn from the way an author unfold a narrative of their life. Reading memoirs is a great way to get warmed up before writing your own personal essay. So if you have time, grab some books, get comfy, and get reading.
All in all, use your time wisely to prepare for not only college, but also life after college. Look at the long-term game, although it is easy to get sucked into a tunnel mindset. If you’re a junior, get ready to take those ACTs and SATs if you haven’t taken them already. You want to make sure you pace yourself so that you’re not pulling out your hair when deadlines hit. (Trust me, I’ve seen too much of that.) Map out what you have already one, what you need to work on, and the general timeline to accomplish what is needed. Keep a steady pace, and soon enough, you’ll realize how much you’ve done.
Ask yourself - why do I want to study architecture? What is it about architecture that interests me? And let that guide what kind of creative projects you want to make. There is no answer in Architecture. Studying Architecture is quite different from, let’s say, studying math where one plus one equals two. You need to search for your own answers, and oftentimes persuade other people how you came up with a certain design or idea. So take the time now to explore what you like to do/make/draw. And get ready to study one of the most exciting and fun fields of study! As always, I’m here to help if you have any questions.
Do I need to know how to CAD or draw technically?
I get this question at least once a year from high school students and parents. They ask whether it is important to show a certain type of technical saviness, or even skillfulness in working with architectural software in the undergraduate application portfolio. And the short answer is generally, no. As a high school student applying to an undergraduate degree in Architecture, you do not have to show a level of skillfulness in dealing with CAD software nor technical drawings. In fact, many colleges will explicitly state in their admission requirements not to include any technical drawings. And here is the reason why.
Architecture programs want to see your potential. Technical drawings, as the term suggests, are technical. They can be taught. Architecture programs will train you to draw and build drawing sets, among other lessons. Trust me, you’ll get to learn all the digital software out there that you need to learn. Instead of coming in with technical drawings, it is more important to show your strengths in drawings, painting, sculpture that talk about your potential. You want to show that you come in with a solid background that enables colleges to teach you not only how to draw technical drawings, but also various soft and hard skills that go into becoming an emerging architect. In the admissions process, it is much more interesting to find students with artwork that carry spatial curiosities than seeing those who come in with technical drawings that may not be so technical after all. Unless you’re applying to a concurrent degree with Engineering at a Tech school, you will rarely be at a disadvantage by not showing technical drawings when applying to an undergraduate architecture program.
Now, if you have already learned how to use technical design software, is it bad to show those qualities in a portfolio? No, but make sure that you use those skills to show how you’ve developed an idea to final design. Instead of showing ‘here I can CAD and here is my technical drawing’, show how you can use CAD to develop design and show process work - sketches, process models, and images of the final built design. As I explained in one of my earlier posts, a good portfolio is like a visual essay - it tells a story of who you are, what you are good at, and what you’re interested in. When you write an essay, you want to narrate the essential points instead of displaying all of your edited drafts. Show the essential processes of work using your toolsets and skillsets.
All in all, don’t worry if you think your portfolio lacks technical drawings. ‘Technical’ and ‘architectural’ do not go hand-in-hand. But make sure you have pieces of work that are spatial, if not architectural. Check out the other posts in this resources page to find out how you can start building your portfolio. I’m always here to answer questions too.
Additional Helpful Resources to Get Your Feet Warmed up in Architecture
Here are helpful architectural resources to check out. From organizations, journals, blogs, to podcasts, I’ve listed specific items that may be particularly useful for students in high school who are preparing to study architecture - in alphabetical order.
American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)
www.aias.org
The AIAS is a nonprofit, student-run organization dedicated to advancing leadership, design, and service among architecture students. AIAS membership is free for high school students, with many high school chapters across the states. Find resources on events, competitions, and careers. AIAS also puts together a journal, CRIT, which touches upon topics related to the study of architecture.
ArchDaily
www.archdaily.com
ArchDaily broadcasts the latest news in the field of architecture. They share news of new and recognized architectural projects, so it’s a great way to get to know what’s happening in the field.
Archinect
www.archinect.com
Archinect shares articles, projects, and discussions on topics related to architecture and adjacent disciplines. Read through their “Editorial & News” to become well-versed in the architectural dialogue. Their “School Blogs” is also a great way to get to know current happenings across architectural programs.
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
www.ncarb.org
If you’re seeking to become a licensed architect one day, it doesn’t hurt to get acquainted with NCARB now. NCARB is a nonprofit organization that facilitates architectural licensure. Get to know the steps to become a licensed architect at their website. It may affect how your application school selection.
The Second Studio
www.secondstudiopod.com
If you’re less of a reader and more of a listener who enjoys youtube and podcasts, tune into secondstudio, which talks about everything related to architecture. From tips and strategies for designers to reviews of buildings, secondstudio is a fun way to get your feet warmed up in architecture.
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