One hundred and twenty-five years ago Andrew Dickson White, the first president of Cornell University, challenged the Board of Trustees to establish a new program to provide formal academic training in architecture. White combined a fascination with architecture with a sense of its importance to cultural history. While still a young man he had begun collecting architectural books and journals. He offered his collection, possibly the best in the U.S. at the time, to the University. In return, the Trustees agreed to found a School of Architecture. Providing the first four-year course in architecture in an American university, it presented an alternative to apprenticeship programs or to study in Europe. Charles Babcock was named professor of architecture, the first such appointment in the country. By 1896 the College of Architecture also offered classes in drawing, painting, and sculpture, and a department of art was formally added in 1921. A City and Regional Planning program began in 1935, and in 1967 the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning officially acquired its current name.

What makes your school’s art & design programs different & unique from other art & design school programs? What are the top 3 program features that make your program stand out?

Cornell University offers a unique opportunity for the serious pursuit of studio arts and architecture in a rigorous academic environment. We expect our students to become the cultural mark-makers of their generation, and therefore it is crucial that they are informed and educated world citizens, as well as excellent visual artists and designers. Our facilities are phenomenal, especially given the small size of our programs. Students also have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad or away through our Cornell in Rome or AAP NYC programs.

Can students take courses in other schools?

Yes, students can and must take classes outside of their major department. In addition to general distribution requirements (such as humanities, math/science, etc.) there is a generous provision for academic electives.

What steps do you take to evaluate a student’s candidacy, apart from reviewing their creative portfolio?

Applicants must be academically competitive in order to be eligible for any Cornell program. While there is no GPA or SAT minimum, our admitted students have strong grades (As and some Bs) and average SAT critical reading and math scores in the high 600s or low 700s. However, the whole of the application is greater than the sum of its parts: we are looking for, creativity, ideas, individual voice, fit for both the AAP program of choice and the university, and the kind of student that is going to both thrive and be happy here. 

What does your program look for most in the creative portfolio during admissions? What do you think makes an A+ portfolio? 


There is no one perfect kind of portfolio. We value student-driven work (vs. assignment-driven) and the pursuit of ideas within the work. Students should not try to put together a portfolio of what they think we want to see — we are much more interested in the unique story the portfolio tells about any given applicant. We do require a few observational drawings, and we like to see breadth of media but not at the expense of quality.

How are new technologies affecting students’ curriculums and/or ways of learning/collaborating at your school? 


New technologies are being introduced to the art and design world all the time, and at Cornell students have the opportunity to explore new media in formal and informal ways. For more information about our fabrication and studio facilities, please visit http://aap.cornell.edu/resources/fabrication-shop or http://aap.cornell.edu/resources/art-studios.

How does your program help graduating students with internships or jobs? Can students expect job placement more at your program than in others? If so, how or why? What kinds of job opportunities have you seen students take once they completed their degrees?

Our B.Arch. graduates typically pursue professional employment in the field of architecture immediately after graduation. BFA graduates go on to pursue many different art-related career paths, including art education, art therapy, curating/museum studies, publication, design, etc. We also have a comparatively high number of graduates who support themselves as working studio artists. Students take advantage of our excellent career services and internship office AAP Connect in order to prepare themselves professionally for their field. Please visit http://aap.cornell.edu/resources/jobs-internships for more information.

Are there any exciting developments for your programs that students should know about?

For the most up-to-date information about our programs, please visit our website http://aap.cornell.edu/. There you will find news about faculty accomplishments and research, student awards and studio work, alumni updates, as well as on-campus events presented by AAP.

What is the most distinguished feature at your school?

The B.Arch. program is the #1 undergraduate architecture program in the US as rated by DesignIntelligence again this year. The BFA program offers the only opportunity we are aware of to pursue two separate undergraduate degrees (BFA and something else entirely) at the same time, within the
same institution. 

What is the best advice you have for students entering the art, design & architecture field? What role does the artist play today?

The best advice I can offer is that students should NOT focus entirely on rankings of programs or the reputation of the university. Students should be looking for a school that feels like the right fit — philosophically, physically, and socially. If the school is the right fit, a student will be happy and thrive in the program. It is much better to thrive than to just get by in a program that isn’t a good fit and doesn’t make you happy. Also, be prepared to challenge yourself and your ideas about what art and design really are, on a daily basis. College is supposed to be hard, supposed to push you in ways you aren’t familiar with yet. Embrace that, be open to new ideas, work hard.

Interviewed by Maureen Caroll, Director of Admissions, College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Common Application

PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS

ARCHITECTURE 
SlideRoom 15-20 pieces 

ART
SlideRoom 18-20 pieces
*At least 4 freehand observational drawings
*The portfolio should contain examples of work from at least three of the department’s studio practice areas: drawing, digital media, painting, photography, print media, and sculpture.

WRITING SAMPLE

Online Essay

TRANSCRIPTS

Required

INTERVIEWS

ARCHITECTURE
required 

ART
Interview Not Required, strongly recommended 

RECOMMENDATION LETTERS

1 Counselor 
2 Teacher 

APPLICATIONS DEADLINES

Early Decision: Nov 1
*Dec 1 - for scholarship consideration

Regular Decision: Jan 3

FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

TOEFL: 100(iBT) or 600(paper exam)
IELTS: 7.0

ALUMNI

John Ahearn, Sculptor
Jeff Budsberg, Effects supervisor 
Maria Calandra, Artist
Joel Carreiro, Artist
Hansen Clarke, Former U.S. Congressman
Erik den Breejen, Artist
Judith Eisler, Photographer
Peter D. Gerakaris, Artist
Mark Gibian, Sculptor
Sam Jury, Artist
Pat Lipsky, Artist
Josh Owen, Industrial designer
Mark Parsons, Faculty at Pratt Institute
Seth Sgorbati, Founder of Sgorbati Projects
James Siena, Artist
Mustafa K. Abadan, Architect
Bruce Abbey, Architect
Peter Choi, Architect
Peter Eisenman, Architect and educator
M. Arthur Gensler, Architect
Andre Guimond, Architect
Robert Joy, Architect
Dan Kaplan, Architect
Jeff Kovel, Architect
David J. Lewis, Architect
William Lim, Interior architect
Bryant Lu, Architect
Amanda Martocchio, Architect
Richard Meier, Architect
Enrique Norten, Architect
Chad Oppenheim, Architect
Mark Pasnik, Architect
Garth Rockcastle, Architect
Scott Rodwin, Architect
Alison Spear, Architect and Interior designer
Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons
Timothy W. Ventimiglia, Museum planner and exhibition designer
Ricardo Zurita, Architect

DID YOU KNOW?

For nearly 30 years, AAP’s Cornell in Rome international education program has been a transformative experience for talented undergraduate artists, architecture students, and urbanists. With a maximum enrollment of 60 students each semester, students benefit from an intimate environment that gives ample opportunity to get to know one another and their instructors.

ADMISSIONS OFFICE

Cornell University, College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
235 Sibley Dome
Ithaca, NY 14853

+1 (607)-255-5241