Monthly Action Plan

05 Monthly Action Plan

This calendar focuses on the months leading directly into application deadlines. The goal is to complete and present your architecture work clearly, translate your design-build experience into strong essays, and ensure that each application component—including portfolios—meets the technical expectations of Rice University, The University of Texas at Austin, and Texas A&M University–College Station.

Month Priority Actions Target Outcome
August
  • Begin organizing materials for your architecture portfolio, focusing first on the pavilion project documentation. Assemble concept sketches, development drawings, model photos, and construction documentation.
  • Outline one additional architecture design project that demonstrates site analysis, plans, sections, and design iteration. Begin early sketches and layout studies.
  • Review the portfolio submission guidelines for Rice, UT Austin, and Texas A&M architecture programs so your documentation format aligns from the beginning.
 Clear portfolio structure established and second design project started.
September
  • Finalize and refine pavilion project documentation so the progression from concept to built structure is easy for reviewers to follow.
  • Continue developing the additional architecture design project, producing site analysis diagrams, floor plans, and section drawings.
  • Begin identifying recognized architecture or design competitions that accept high school submissions and confirm eligibility requirements and deadlines.
 Pavilion project near completion for portfolio use and second design project substantially developed.
October
  • Complete the additional architecture design project, including clear presentation pages showing site analysis, plans, sections, and iterative model development.
  • Submit one portfolio piece or project to a recognized architecture or design competition to gain external validation of your work.
  • Draft application essays that connect your design-build experiences to the architecture programs at Rice, UT Austin, and Texas A&M (see §06 Essay Strategy for approach).
 Second project complete, competition submission finalized, and essay drafts underway.
November
  • Finalize all essays, ensuring each one clearly connects your hands-on design experience with the resources and learning environments of each architecture program.
  • Complete portfolio layout and sequencing so your strongest work appears first and each project has concise explanatory captions.
  • Prepare all application materials for submission windows, including transcripts and any technical coursework listings requested by architecture programs.
 Essays polished and complete portfolio ready for submission formatting.
December
  • Verify that portfolio formatting, file sizes, image resolution, and labeling meet each school's submission requirements.
  • Double-check that all application components—portfolio uploads, coursework listings, essays, and supporting documents—are correctly attached to each application.
  • Submit remaining applications before deadlines and confirm that each university portal shows all materials received.
 All applications submitted with correctly formatted portfolios and verified supporting materials.
January
  • Monitor each university's applicant portal for missing materials or additional portfolio requests.
  • Prepare to respond quickly if architecture programs request supplemental work or clarification about portfolio pieces.
  • Keep copies of all portfolio files and documentation in case revisions or re-uploads are requested.
 Applications fully complete with no missing materials during the review period.

Following this schedule ensures your strongest architectural work is fully documented, externally validated through competition submission, and clearly presented within each university's application system before deadlines.

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