My application is being processed these days, and due to some bad communication, only a couple of weeks ago it reached the desired program. This is why I submitted a not appropriate letter in the first place, and they asked me to send a new one, by Monday, through email, just 2 days ago.
The lady wrote in the email:
"A new statement of objectives indicating the option you are interested in applying to: Cultural Mediations and Technology and the reasons for your choice will be required. You will also need to indicate and the professor whom you would like to have as your supervisor. "
On the website it says:
Statement or research proposal
A one-page statement of objectives indicating the option chosen and the reasons for that choice. Applicants should include a clear description of their research topic, as well as a detailed explanation of why they wish to study at McGill University's School of Architecture.
So it differs what she asks and what is on the website, and I am not sure which to follow. I am also bad to argument why McGill (it is basically because I'm gonna live in Montreal starting this summer) and why cultural mediation (it's because I am not interested in their other programs like history or urban design, also the professor I want as a supervisor is teaching at this master program). And I also want to experience the Canadian education system for better integration and gather more specialization.
Also, this program is a new one and not even the lady there could explain to me what "Cultural Mediations and Technology" means or studies. I have a vague idea. The thing is, it is the most close to the field of architecture itself, unlike history of architecture (which is more theory then designing) or urban design; it is more suitable for hospital design research, that I have always found very interesting.
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Over the past six years of my university studies, I have explored the most important subjects in the field of architecture and learned how diverse it can be. I have concluded that some of the most important domains, in terms of impact on social life and humanity, are urban spaces and public buildings, with health-care facilities in particular. During my research about hospitals I have found Annmarie Adams study "Medicine by design" and read about her research in this field. This is a strong reason why I wish to study at McGill University. I would like Mrs. Adams to supervise my research in hospital design on the topic of future possible typology for medical decentralized structures.
Brought up in a developing nation like Romania has made me conscious of the issues that the late 1960s "super-hospitals", of Russian influence, arise in our time with their lack of sustainability and response to the people's needs in today's social context. This complex issue piqued my interest in studying the new solutions that are emerging over the last decade in the developed countries and how important these efforts are for the society. It is known that designing and building a hospital, with all the efforts, takes more time then for a normal building due to the complex combination of political, civic and economical aspects that must be considered along with the always new medical technology versus architecture. The hospital is also a clear representative of the cultural dimension of a society and the evolution of the relation to it in time. Therefore, constant research, sometimes looking far into the future, is a real need in health-care design.
I am interested in researching the question how the health-care setting can be integrated in urban space without intruding or creating more clutter. Although not a novel idea by any means, the deconstructed health-care space coupled with re-appropriation of existing buildings has been hardly explored. In today's world, where space is so scarce, we do not always have the luxury of building new structures inside city limits, where as, at the same time, medical services with their facilities still have to be accessible to the people in need. I would like to look into the idea of medical facilities, not as big multifunctional giants, but as small satellite structures spread throughout the city. Such structures could emerge from re-purposing existing buildings into medical facilities. I would like to explore what is the criteria that a new volume or an existing one needs to meet in order to be feasible to its function, considering that modern communication technologies can make it much easier to decentralize it. What key elements a small structure should possess for immediate and quality response to the constant changing society?
I am eager to expand my horizons, to pursue an international education in the subject of my interest of health-care design and to gather more experience, knowledge, interaction and better prospect. In my opinion, McGill University combines the experience with political context in a way that I consider to be very suitable for my study. The goal of this research is to make a step forward, experience hospital requirements in the future and provide new insights of this architectural program.
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I hope somebody will have the patience to read and respond. Thank you for that.
I am not sure which to follow.
Do all of it! Give a paragraph for the reasons for your choice, another paragraph for indicating the professor whom you would like to have as your supervisor, another paragraph for a description of the research topic, and another paragraph to tell why this school will be better than another school.
Add three more sentences to
the end of that (too short) intro paragraph. In those three sentences, name the supervisor, the research topic, and a reason why this school is better than others.
I am particularly interested in
researching the question of how the health-care setting can be...
I would like to look into the idea of medical facilities, not as big multifunctional giants, but as small satellite structures spread throughout the city.---- wow, you write very well-structured sentences.
Lets see some more paragraph so you can over each of those 4 topics I listed above! :-D I really hope you have good luck!!!!!!!!
If her name is "Adams" is it correct to write "Mrs Adam' study" ?
Also, is this correct: "people's needs" ?
it has to be 1 page, so i tried to integrate all the 4 main topics. Is it one of them too short still or too long? Do all the phrases make sense? Please let me know if i overlooked something. Thank you.
If her name is "Adams" is it correct to write "Mrs Adam' study" ?
If her name Adams, you have to write "Mrs. Adams' study" or Ms. Adams' study"
It seems like the order of words should be this way (below):
...future possible typology for decentralized medical structures.
What key elements should a small structure
should possess for immediate and quality response to the constant changing society?
:-)
i sent the letter and now i'm waiting for their answer that should come very soon. i will come back with updates.
thank you very much, kevin, for your help. i admire your work here on this forum.
I just got an email from mcgill saying:
"I am happy to inform you... bla bla
Congratulations on being selected by the School of Architecture for acceptance."
It's only an email from the lady at the office, and I will receive the confirmation tomorrow and the final result in 3-4 weeks.
So I got accepted :D I'm so happy! This will so help me in my career goals.
I can't thank you enough Kevin. This forum is real gold and I will certainly use it in the future! I'm sure that the letter made 50% of their decision, but I also had a gpa of 3.64 (if this information helps someone).
hugs
haha totally! i gave myself 40% chances to get in because of the competition maybe (there are only 30spots or something like that, 10 for each of the 3 master programs) and architecture is becoming very trendy among students.
how can one not doubt about it? being from 'outside', not knowing how things go there and what they are really looking for..
is there something i don't know? please, do tell me
Nope, there is nothing you don't know, :-)
Good luck, I hope you have a great experience waiting for you there.
