Admissions

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions regulates all undergraduate admissions to the University and any student admitted as an undergraduate to the University of Notre Dame may declare an architecture major. Freshmen are encouraged to enter our five-year program to begin the challenging curriculum as early as possible.

First Year Curriculum Apply to Notre Dame

Optional Portfolio Submission

The School of Architecture’s admissions involvement is limited to the evaluation of the portfolio if an applicant chooses to submit one. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is looking primarily at the overall excellence of the prospective student, not at specialized preparation for a particular major. Admission with a stated intent does not require students to follow that major.

The First Year of Studies program allows students to explore academic possibilities and make an informed major choice. Accordingly, a portfolio is less important at Notre Dame than it might be at a university which admits its students to a particular division of the university.

However, a strong portfolio evaluation by the School of Architecture can be the deciding factor in a “close call” application; but a strong portfolio will not help a weak application, and the absence of a portfolio will not hurt a strong application, even if the student declares architecture as an intended major.

Portfolio Content

Free hand drawing and painting are the skills we look for the most, but photography, sculpture, ceramics, woodworking, and model-building can all provide evidence of skill as well. Drafting, by hand or computer, is especially helpful, as it shows an understanding of architectural drawing conventions.

Notre Dame accepts portfolios only by electronic submission. The Undergraduate Admissions website gives access to the application and the link to submit portfolios via SlideRoom. The portfolios are limited to 12 images. Breadth of subject and media strengthens a portfolio. Applicants can receive a strong evaluation by only submitting still life sketches in pencil, but their portfolio will be stronger if some of their work is in color and stronger still if other subjects are shown: landscape, buildings, portraits.

Provide a brief caption for each piece stating:

• The title (if any)
• The medium
• The original size
• The date (either the calendar date “March 2012,” or the year of school, "Freshman Year," etc.)
• Conditions of drawing: "drawn from life," "drawn from a photograph," "drawn from imagination," etc.