On May 21, CheersYou invited a senior alumnus who completed his undergraduate studies at Tianjin University and earned his master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He shared his experience applying to Harvard with students from Tianjin University’s Department of Architecture, offered advice on professional practice for architecture students, and Eric, currently pursuing his graduate studies in the US, also shared tips on how to apply to your target schools.
This article mainly consists of two parts:
1. Application advice from Eric: How to get into your dream school
2. Insights from the Harvard alumnus: Experiences regarding architecture, applying to Harvard, and working in the architecture industry
How to Get Into Your Dream School
Strategic Planning + Perfect Presentation:
One of the most common remarks from admissions officers is, "Why are we seeing another application like this?" Submitting generic application materials without targeting specific programs, or failing to highlight key strengths in your portfolio, can directly lead to rejection.
Understanding foreign universities and professors' styles, analyzing creative elements to incorporate into your portfolio, optimizing the final presentation based on institutional preferences and guidance from professional art mentors—this is what an excellent applicant should do. Only in this way can you fully demonstrate your abilities to admissions officers and convince them that you are a student with great potential.
Your work needs to be clean and organized. A messy, themeless portfolio will diminish its overall impact. Additionally, your work should showcase your foundational skills.
You must demonstrate originality and critical thinking:
For design students, strong drawing skills are a fundamental requirement. One student who successfully applied to Columbia University attributed his admission to his excellent drawing skills and inspiration accumulated through daily practice. Therefore, while showcasing your technical skills, it is recommended to present the process of bringing your ideas to life to admissions officers, accompanied by corresponding descriptions. Foreign universities are keen to see where your ideas originate, how they develop, how you overcome challenges to form a framework, and how you refine and polish them to achieve success.
Showcase other artistic abilities if you have them:
However, ensure you present them logically, paying attention to sequence, space, and composition, avoiding repetition and clutter.
Design students should not neglect the use of English and specialized terminology
Although there may be very little text in your portfolio, the limited words used need to be concise and accurate, serving as the finishing touch to your work.
Common Misconceptions in Portfolio Creation:
Misconception 1: A portfolio is not just submitting homework for an exam; it should showcase your abilities from multiple perspectives.
Misconception 2: Presenting only the final result without showing the process.
Misconception 3: Preparing for language tests first, then working on the portfolio.
Since some students have had to take a gap year due to mistakes in portfolio preparation, it is crucial to prioritize your portfolio.
About Studying Abroad, Harvard, and Career
Our guest speaker has worked in the field of architectural design for 20 years since graduating from Harvard, achieving significant accomplishments and accumulating valuable experience worth referencing. This lecture mainly covered the following aspects:
About Architecture:
What are the differences between architectural education in the US and China?
How to create a strong portfolio?
How to integrate fundamental architectural issues with design concepts?
How to handle the relationship between site and building?
What are the methods for spatial organization?
How is form generated?
About Harvard:
What kind of school is Harvard?
What changes did you experience after studying there?
What efforts are required to apply to Harvard?
About Work:
What are the differences between real-world projects and academic designs?
What is the professional reality for architects?
How to plan an architect's career path?
