Eligibility
MLA I AP applicants must have a strong portfolio and have completed or be in the process of completing one of the following:
- An accredited professional degree in architecture
- A design-intensive, studio-focused, pre-professional undergraduate degree in landscape architecture or architecture
Note that program placement is at the discretion of the admissions committee.
Transcripts from Prior Institutions
Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities from which you have earned credit or have received a degree and should include your name, the school name, degree, major, degree date if awarded, and a semester-by-semester course breakdown with corresponding grades. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. All transcripts must be uploaded directly into the application.
Letters of Recommendation
Applicants are required to obtain three letters of recommendation, ideally at least two from college or university instructors. If you have been out of school for several years, you may request letters from employers or other persons in a position to evaluate your professional abilities and academic potential.
Essays
Applicants must submit responses to both the general GSD community essay and any required program-specific essays. Essay prompts vary by program and are only available in the graduate application.
Portfolio
Particular importance is placed on portfolio review for MLA I AP. Applicants are expected to submit examples of work documenting design projects, particularly from advanced studios. Complete documentation should include two-dimensional drawings and three-dimensional views, including hand drawings, computer renderings, and models. Conceptual clarity at each scale of a design proposal is an important goal of the graphic layout. Any professional projects should be labeled clearly, and the applicant’s role in collaborative projects precisely described.
Resume
Upload a resume or CV that includes full and part-time employment, education, fellowships, extra-curricular university activities, community service, honors, awards, professional registration and societies, publications, avocations, hobbies, and travel. If you served in the military, indicate rank on entry and rank on separation. Please provide a complete employment and educational history, including information about any gaps. While brevity is valued, please do not feel limited to one page.
GRE (optional)
GRE scores are optional for MLA I AP applicants. If you have not taken the GRE and have not submitted scores, the weight of other components of your application will be spread across your materials during the review process. Your application will not be disadvantaged if you choose not to submit GRE scores.
We recommend considering how GRE scores may be of benefit to your application. For example, they can be used to balance a lower than average GPA or to demonstrate competency in a particular area such as mathematics.
Prerequisite Courses
MLA I AP applicants are required to complete several prerequisite courses at the college level, for credit, and must earn a minimum grade of a B-.
Required courses include:
- One semester of environmental science typically satisfied by a college level course environmental science, ecology, geology, or botany.
- One semester of history of the built environment typically satisfied by a college-level course in the history of architecture (preferred), the history of gardens and designed landscapes, environmental history, or urban history.
- One semester of visual arts typically satisfied by a college-level drawing class (preferred), painting, sculpture, or graphics.
Applicants are not required to complete all prerequisites at the time of application, but it can strengthen an application to have completed or be in the process of completing as many prerequisite courses as possible.
TOEFL
International students, except those with citizenship from a country where English is the native language, must take the TOEFL test and submit official scores to the GSD. Official TOEFL scores are due by the application deadline. Appropriate English proficiency is incredibly important for success at the GSD, and so we encourage applicants to diligently prepare for the TOEFL to achieve your highest possible score.
Preferred Score
104 overall with a 26 in each section
Minimum Score
92 overall with a 23 in each section
