Undergraduate Admissions: Architecture

Architecture is a broad, dynamic, and continuously evolving discipline that includes research and creative practice drawing from design, history, theory, technology, fabrication, sustainability, social justice, community engagement, spatial policy, building construction, architectural practice, representation, urbanism, landscape design, and ecology. The Cornell architecture faculty is characterized by their wide range of disciplinary research interests and expertise, often collaboratively working across disciplines with other researchers, community partners, clients, or policymakers. Cornell architecture faculty also represent a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, careers, degrees, areas of expertise, and geographies. Our students are equally diverse in their personal backgrounds, educational experiences, research interests, and their attitudes toward architecture.

The B.Arch. program at Cornell combines the intensity and rigor of a five-year professional education with access to the resources and breadth of a renowned research university. In our applicants, we value and are looking for one or more of the following attributes:

• Expressive Designers: Convey legible design intent through the synthesis of diverse inputs.
• Creative Thinkers: Articulate and give form to innovative ideas and concepts.
• Spatial Changemakers: Critically and passionately challenge the status quo of buildings and cities. 
• Cultural Innovators: Seek new forms of individual or collective design.
• Rigorous Makers: Proactively develop and refine thorough technical and creative abilities. 
• Empathic Individuals: Care to co-create a just, sustainable, and resilient built environment. 
• Broad Thinkers: Interests span from the sciences to the humanities and beyond.  

In addition to the general requirements for applying to Cornell University, admissions requirements for the five-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) program reflect the focused, professional nature of the curriculum. Applicants should present evidence of creative ability and commitment to the field of architecture in addition to having strong academic credentials. Portfolio requirements help faculty assess strengths in these more subjective areas. All portfolio requirements must be met for the application to be considered.

Portfolio Submission Deadlines

Applicants to the B.Arch. program must submit a portfolio and video interview as part of their application.

Applicants are responsible for creating SlideRoom accounts and submitting their portfolios through Cornell AAP SlideRoom by the deadlines below. Please note that the deadlines for portfolio submission are earlier than the deadlines for the CommonApp submission. The deadlines for portfolio submissions are:

• Early decision first-year applicants: November 1 
• Regular decision first-year applicants: January 2
• Fall transfer applicants: March 1

We will not accept any portfolios submitted after these deadlines. Find step-by-step instructions on the Cornell AAP SlideRoom website.

AAP Admissions does not accept portfolio submissions by means other than SlideRoom. If you have trouble uploading your portfolio, please email aap-admissions@cornell.edu for help. You may also email SlideRoom technical support at support@slideroom.com.

Portfolio Requirements

What to include in your portfolio:

• 15-20 slides, with no more than two per project. 
• A video interview (see details below).

What kind of images should you include?

Your images should showcase your skills and point of view as a prospective architecture student.

Showcase freehand drawings, including sketches as well as fully-developed work, and a range of artistic media such as:

• Painting
• Constructed drawing
• Design work
• Sculpture
• Video
• Photography
• Woodworking
• Other crafts that convey artistic experience and aptitude.

Focus on work that best reflect your skills and creative passion.

Video Interview

In addition to the 15-20 images of your work, you must upload a short video of you responding to all three of the prompts below:

1. How do you express your creativity?
2. Describe the design process and impact of one of your creative projects in art, design, architecture, or activism.
3. Why do you want to study architecture?

Video interview guidelines:

• The video should be continuous filming of you responding to the questions.
• The video should not exceed three minutes total.
• Do not edit the video or include content other than you responding to the three prompts.

AAP Admissions does not accept portfolio submissions by means other than SlideRoom. If you have trouble uploading your portfolio, please email aap-admissions@cornell.edu for help. You may also email SlideRoom technical support at support@slideroom.com.

Additional portfolio guidelines:

• Use clear images with no text unless it is part of the artwork. 
• We recommend image descriptions be no more than 50 words that explain intent, process, and outcome.
• Include a note listing size, medium, and whether each piece was done in class, in a portfolio workshop, or independently.
• Do not outsource your portfolio to a third party. This includes AI-generated images.
• For group projects, credit collaborators and specify your role. 

File types you can upload:

• Images: JPG, PNG, GIF
• Videos: MOV, WMV, FLV, MP4