Applying to college architecture programs

Do you routinely catch yourself checking out interesting buildings? Do you want a career that is constantly evolving? Do you like expressing your artistic side? Do you hope to make a positive impact on people’s lives? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be interested in a career in architecture! Architecture is a difficult — but rewarding and exciting — field to get into, and it typically begins with a strong undergraduate architecture program. If you are thinking that an architecture school might be right for you, read on.

Some of the best architecture programs are at Ivy League schools. Yale, Penn, and Princeton all have strong undergraduate programs, while Harvard and Columbia have top-notch graduate-level programs. Other great private architecture schools include Syracuse, Washington University in St. Louis, MIT, RISD, Rice, and Carnegie Mellon, while several public universities also boast top programs: University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, Auburn, Berkeley, and Iowa State, to name a few.

Some universities, like Cornell and Rice, offer a bachelor of architecture (B. Arch.) five-year program — a professional degree. A portfolio is usually required for admission. Others offer a four year bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree; students with a B.A. will typically enter Master of Architecture graduate programs for professional accreditation. Note that these undergraduate programs typically do not have a portfolio requirement.

You may want to target these great architecture programs, but it is imperative that you build a strong background in high school if you want to get accepted. Be sure to focus on the physical sciences, especially physics, and take rigorous courses in geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. While it is not usually required, consider courses in design or freehand drawing, as creative skills are a major plus for the admissions officers reviewing your applications. You might also want to consider taking art or architecture classes outside of school to build a portfolio. If you’re able to land an internship in an architecture firm for the summer, even better. Finally, look into summer programs for high school students, like the one at Boston Architectural College.

Being an architect is a lot of work, but it is a very desirable career that is intellectually and artistically stimulating and rewarding.