Advising

Graduate school is a big commitment of time and money. Make sure you are going to graduate school with a clear goal and purpose.

There are good reasons to go straight to graduate school after your undergraduate studies. You may have less family responsibilities and you’re still in study mode from your undergraduate work. You may know that you want to be a licensed architect and require that graduate degree to obtain your license.

There are also good reasons to wait. Working first may help you clarify your career aspirations, and give you experience to apply to your graduate studies. Some schools offer assistance-ships and you may be more eligible if you bring skills from work experience. Graduate school is demanding – if you’re exhausted from your undergraduate studies, it may be worth taking time out and getting “hungry” for more time in school.

Graduate deadlines for fall admissions typically start mid-December through mid-February. Start the process the year before so you are in good shape for deadlines. All times are approximate and vary by particular school.

Summer (1 year before you plan to start)

• Research schools. Contact alumni to find out about their experiences.
• Review application deadlines.
• Review application requirements including portfolio formatting.
• Gather portfolio materials.
• Begin studying for standardized tests.

September / October

• Ask faculty and employers to serve as recommenders. Discuss your plans with them and ask if they have any internal deadlines for letter-writing.
• Begin writing your personal statements. Review with the writing center.
• Register for and take standardized tests.
• Begin Application Forms.
• Begin Portfolio – pay attention to different schools requirements for number of pages and whether they require digital or print portfolio.

November / December / January / February

• Attend open houses for programs.
• Finalize and send applications.
• Check in with recommenders on all deadlines.
• Check to make sure all materials have been received.
• Send thank you note to recommenders.

February / March / April

• Responses typically received from programs
• Visit for accepted students’ open house or arrange for a personal visit.
• Notify schools and recommenders of your decision.
• Send final transcripts at the end of the semester.

Evaluating Programs

Architecture students enrolled in the undergraduate program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst need to pursue a professional program, usually the Master of Architecture, to receive an accredited degree and be eligible for a professional architecture license. Many students pursue other career paths and continue onto accredited interior architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, urban design or regional planning programs. Some also pursue more flexible MS Design programs or more academic MA programs in order to continue on for a PhD.

Architecture Program Options: Two-Year vs Three-Year programs

Graduate school programs vary in length from two years to three and a half years. Depending on the courses taken and the strength of the portfolio, some students who complete the undergraduate program at UMass Amherst may be eligible for two-year professional programs. Other students will be eligible for the three to three + year programs. This will vary by school and by student.

When researching graduate programs, be aware that some graduate programs may be confused about our undergraduate degree because it is called a BFA Architecture as contrasted with the more common BS Architecture, or BS Design. Some admissions offices may tell our students that they must apply for the longer three-year program. Students must advocate for themselves by indicating that their undergraduate degree is the "4 year part of a 6 year NAAB accredited program". Still...it's ultimately up to each program to admit students into the track that it deems most appropriate.

Speaking with recent alumni who have similar academic backgrounds about their experiences will be helpful.

Resources:

ArchCareers.org:

• http://www.archcareers.org/website/article.asp?id=10&navitemid=16&linkid=33

Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture:

• http://www.acsa-arch.org/schools/guide-to-architecture-schools/search-the-guide

Check accreditation status at the National Architectural Accrediting Board:

• http://www.naab.org/architecture_programs/home

Questions to ask

Start with school websites and request application materials if they are not available online. Some methods to get started include checking school rankings and reading the schools’ websites and blogs. Identify factors that are most important to you in terms of location, cost, program size, and type of university. Be sure to ask current UMass grad students who have come from undergraduate programs at schools you are considering about their experiences. Find out where recent UMass alums are attending.

The American Institute of Architecture Students and the ACSA have some great lists of questions to ask schools of architecture as well as things to ask yourself:

• https://www.aias.org/website/article.asp?id=1603
• https://www.acsa-arch.org/schools/guide-to-architectural-education/overview/faq

Narrowing your list

Once you have a list of possible schools, narrow it down to a manageable number. Applying to graduate school is time consuming. Researching and maintaining a spreadsheet with deadlines, application requirements, portfolio formatting, and other important information will help you keep track of items as you submit them.

Most programs require at least three letters of recommendation. Be thoughtful about choosing recommenders – choose faculty and employers who know your work well. Ask the recommender if they would feel comfortable making a strong recommendation.

To assist your recommenders, ask if they would like a copy of your resume, a draft of your personal statement, and an updated portfolio. Verify your recommenders’ requirements. Be careful about deadlines – while you may be willing to submit things at the last minute, your recommenders may have vacation and work plans that will make them unavailable if you don’t have your materials ready in time.

Most recommendations are now submitted online, similar to the applications. Each form, website and password may be different. Fill out the forms to the fullest extent possible for your recommender including their name, position, contact information, etc. This way they can focus on your letter and not spend time filling in forms.

To streamline the process, seek the minimum number of letters and do not ask any faculty member for more than five letters. Finally, be sure to waive your right to see the letter.

Most architecture students obsess over their portfolio. Don’t forget about your statement!

Never start with your portfolio. Always start with the first draft of your essay. Begin by addressing several issues:

• Who you are.
• Why are you interested in this field of study?
• What skills and experience support this interest and prove your abilities?
• Who/ what do you want to become – what are your specific research interests and / or career goals?
• How will an architecture degree help you get there?
• How will this SPECIFIC architecture school help you achieve your goal?

Additionally:

• Be sure to answer the questions that are asked in the application.
• Don’t be general, use specific examples to get your point across.
• Don’t simply re-list everything on your resume. This is your opportunity to provide more depth and nuance, to share your passion and intellect, and to make it personal.
• Check spelling!

This is a good writing resource:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/01/

Examples:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/02/

Portfolio advice

Once you have a draft of your statement, then build your portfolio to support your statement.

Make sure they are not at odds with each other.

• Portfolio design is mostly a process of editing and clarifying.
• First put all your materials in the document.
• Sequence the book using a common organization device, such as a scale of project (small to large, large to small) or time (most recent to oldest) with something that’s very vivid at the end.
• Show a range of projects, types of process, and output (digital, manual, 2d, 3d).
• Be ruthless. A book is only as good as it weakest image.
• Use a simple grid to align all elements on the spread.
• Be consistent to impart quality and thoughtfulness.
• Use the white space – clean organization is more important than clutter.
• Use one typeface: a classic sans-serif is best.
• Use only 3-4 type sizes for hierarchy.
• Start with titles (18 pt), body text (9 pt), captions (7 pt) and adjust to work with your page size.
• Use clear and concise labels explaining the project.
• Spell check!
• Keep the cover simple.
• First and last impressions are most important!

Some programs use slideroom or similar online uploads, some require CDs, and some require physical portfolios. Pay particular attention to the required formatting when planning your portfolio. Follow directions regarding formatting, file naming conventions, and number of pages or images.

Never apply to a school that doesn't require a portfolio.

Good luck!