Architecture is a unique industry. In my world, Architects are gods. 500 word application essay.

Tell us about your path to business school and your future plans. How will Berkeley-Haas experience help you along this journey? (500 words)

Let me first start by stating the obvious. I do not have a traditional business education and I stand very aware of the fact that I may likely be in the 'other' category as the small percentage of Architects that are applying to Business School.

Architecture is a unique industry. In my world, Architects are gods. We are drunk with our ability to create, meticulously painting our imaginations in the urban fabric. We spend our time obsessing over designs and resolving complex issues that take place from the city block to the nails that hold our materials together. Architecture is my first love. However through the years of practicing, I believe I have gained a clarity about the Architecture and Design industry. Those who practice Architecture are notorious for being underpaid, overworked, and business and employee value are frequently a low priority. Architects additionally often have a superiority complex that results in difficulty in dealing with clients and consultants alike. In the famous words of 'starchitect' Frank Gehry, "I don't know why people hire architects to tell them what to do". Although Architecture is an exciting venture, I have found through my years of practicing that our world is far too focused and stands for significant change.

In the business world, Gehry's statement would never realize. Business concerns are about growth and the strategies for profitability and overall sustainability. I believe that designers are far too interested in the end product rather than the interrelated strategy. This neglect I believe is a major cause to the degradation of Architects in the market.

That being said, I believe from this divide is why I need to be in Business School and why Berkeley-Haas is the place to be. I believe that designers like myself can learn from understanding business driven design rather than design driven business. Additionally, I feel strongly that it is time that the Design industry stand for a significant change and it should first start with individual project management. My hope for business school is to learn the skills that will pronounce me as a better leader that will help me challenge the practice of Architecture to better evolve in the changing world.As someone that comes from the largest architecture firm in the world, which in turns have the biggest impact on our built environment, I believe it's even more important to integrate evolving strategies to benefit our industry.

In an article from Kholsa Ventures to Haas back in 2013, he stood out say that people should not be afraid to challenge the status quo and although Architects certainly do challenge the status quo in their work, they rarely challenge it within their offices. Architecture is a traditional apprenticeship based profession and therefore not much has changed in the industry. I need to be in a school that says questioning traditions is a priority and with UC Berkeley having one of the best architecture and business schools in the country, in addition to working closely with design strategy firms, I believe this goal can be realized.

Anita, would you like to give some thought to the possibility of alterinmg your essay to deliver a more personal approach to the reasons for your interest in business school instead of the current generic feeling reasons that you are giving in the essay? The essay prompt is looking for a truly interesting personal reason for your desire to alter your career from architecture to business. In this case, I believe that the essay will benefit from a redirection of the focus from your simply wanting to be a business leader to becoming someone who focuses on the whole industry in relation to her own future prospects.

My idea, is that we focus your desire to attend business school by highlighting your career advancement as an architect. I am guessing that the real reason that you are interested in business school is because of your desire to own an architectural firm and finally begin working for yourself. As such, that should be the concentration of the essay. While your line of reason that indicates :

I believe that designers like myself can learn from understanding business driven design rather than design driven business. Additionally, I feel strongly that it is time that the Design industry stand for a significant change and it should first start with individual project management. My hope for business school is to learn the skills that will pronounce me as a better leader that will help me challenge the practice of Architecture to better evolve in the changing world.

The bottom line for your application should still relate to your personal career advancement as the main reason for your interest in business school. It will be hard for any reviewer to believe that you do not want to work for yourself, cut out the middle man, so to speak, as you indicate your desires for attending business school. In fact, I can sense it within your essay. I also notice that you are trying not to mention that as one of your reasons. Don't do that. It is alright for you to want to advance yourself professionally and strike out on your own, without an architecture firm backing you. In fact, I believe that reviewers will be more receptive to such ambition as a reason for attending business school.

While your essay is alright, it does not really pop in the sense of calling attention to your desires to attend business school. If you opt to redirect the essay, you will be able to present more personally connected reasons for attending business school and how the Berkeley-Hass experience can relate to it.

Anita, as much we would like to be personal on our writing pieces, I don't agree on your approach of this letter.

You started it with admitting your weakness, which is ok but not ideal when your aim is to prove your capability in studying this subject and make it a profession.

Remember, what you are in this essay is what you will present to the admission panel and you don't want them to see your weakness, I mean I don't want you to pretend that you don't have any weakness at all, but maybe we can incorporate that in the body of the letter and not in the beginning.

It's not ideal to start on the negative side of things, more so, you do have a pretty good knowledge about the architecture industry so build up from this and point out the strength and your capacity in learning this subject.

Leaning towards the end of the essay, this is are my thoughts.

- he stoodpointed out say that people should
- not be afraid to challenge the status quo and although Architects certainly do challenge the status quo in their work ,
- they rarely challenge it within their offices.( this phrase is not necessary )
- Architecture is a traditional apprenticeship based on profession

I hope my remarks helped.

Thanks for your comments everyone! Extremely helpful.

Any suggestions on making the essay pop? Is there an example of an essay that you can reference me to?

Thanks!

Anita, the way to make your essay pop is actually included in the prompt of the essay. Talk in depth about your future plans for your career. For example, talk about how you are planning to remain an architect by profession but you plan on using your degree in business to create a different kind of architecture firm for yourself in the future.

Discuss the ways that you see this business degree working hand in hand with your plans for your profession. Maybe explain how you feel that by being a business minded architect, you will be able to provide a unique kind of service to your clients. One that combines the practicality of the business side with the unique designs you have to offer them at affordable costs. Perhaps delve on the fact that as an architect who understands the true cost of doing business, you will be in a unique position to increase your advantages in contract negotiations, project estimations, etc.

Information like that, data about how you can combine the unique traits of the two professions will make the essay unique and definitely make the essay pop, be memorable for the reviewer when he reads it. As for example essays here at the forum, I am not sure if we have one specifically based on your requirements, but I am sure that you can read the other essays here and find some way to use their inspiration in writing your original essay :-)

Good luck with your revisions. We will always be here ready to assist you :-)