How will I know that I have been accepted into the College of Design?
Applicants must first apply to NC State and, based on certain admissions criteria, may be referred to Design for admissions consideration. The College of Design will review the student's application and either deny admittance or recommend acceptance to the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Official acceptance letters for rising first-year fall students will be sent in March from the Undergraduate Admissions Office and the College of Design simultaneously.
How do I select a first-choice major?
Design applicants have the option of applying to one of the following College of Design studio-based majors as a first-choice major: Environmental Design in Architecture, Art + Design, Graphic Design, or Industrial Design. All of these studio-based majors require an electronic portfolio and essay. Or, applicants may choose to apply to the Design Studies curriculum, which is a new, non-studio-based major in the College of Design.
Applicants may choose a studio-based major as their first choice and Design Studies as a second choice. However, admission to Design Studies does not offer transfer advantages to students and will not be used as a back-door entry into studio-based majors. Design Studies students wishing to change majors compete with all other transfer applicants for spot.
What should I choose as a second-choice major?
To determine a second major, choose something you are passionate about studying in the event you are not admitted to Design. While a few denied applicants reapply and are admitted to Design after their freshman year, many others are not. Denied applicants may reapply multiple times, however we do not recommend considering transferring after the sophomore year due to the number of hours required for Design programs.
I am interested in design, but I do not know which program would be best for me. What should I do?
As admission to the college is very competitive, we recommend strongly that applicants research and investigate all of our programs thoroughly before applying. Apply to the program in which you are most interested and one in which you can be satisfied. Only a limited number of internal transfers are admitted annually to other Design majors at the end of the freshman year. Internal transfers are possible only if there are vacant seats, but internal and lateral transfers compete in the same applicant pool.
May I speak to a Course Adviser?
The College of Design provides advisers only to enrolled Design students. If you are a freshman or off-campus transfer applicant, we suggest contacting the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to speak to an admissions counselor. If you are an on-campus transfer applicant, please contact your current adviser for advice.
Where can I locate curricula for your undergraduate programs?
http://www.ncsu.edu/registrar/curricula/design
When will I hear if I have been invited to an Admissions Review?
Applicants are notified by email beginning about a week before Christmas as to whether they will be invited to an Admissions Review, which are held the last Saturday in January for freshmen and the first Saturday in February for transfer applicants. Therefore, email addresses listed in the on-line application should be kept current at all times.
If I am not accepted, can I apply again?
There is no limit to how many times you can apply for the College of Design. However, due to our highly competitive admissions process, we encourage applicants to apply to similar programs nationwide.
When are admissions applications, electronic portfolios and design essays due?
November 1st
I am a high school student and have never studied design. How do I present a portfolio without having the necessary coursework?
Although a portfolio is required for our five studio-based programs, a professional portfolio is not required. Many of our applicants have had art classes or participated in some type of art-for-fun experiences such as community art programs or Design Camp. The Admissions Committee is seeking creativity and problem-solving skills and will assess the applicant’s potential for study in design based on the work presented. The emphasis in the review is on the ideas presented, rather than on the finished product.
What is each committee looking for?
There is not a typical student applicant, but we have observed patterns of demonstrated ability which indicate design potential, i.e., a student who observes the world and describes it through drawing, painting or design, writes poetry or essays, or in some other way shows independent thinking and initiative. Work submitted for review should represent the applicant’s activities, interests, capabilities and creativity inside and outside the classroom. A word of caution: Work submitted should be that of the student and not professionally coached. It is not uncommon for a student to be asked in the interview to demonstrate skills if a portfolio is in doubt.
Can I schedule an appointment with a Department Chair of School Director to review my portfolio for advice prior to Admissions Review?
To eliminate the perception of bias, faculty cannot review portfolios prior to Admission Reviews or interviews.
How many first-year students do you accept each year?
- Architecture: 45
- Art + Design: 28
- Graphic Design: 26
- Industrial Design: 16
I am applying to the College of Design. Should I buy a computer now, and if so what type?
To learn more about computer requirements for Design students, please go to: College of Design Computer Requirements
Can I arrange a special tour of the College of Design if I am unable to attend your scheduled tour?
There are numerous opportunities available for students to visit the College of Design, including our annual Open House during the Fall semester. For more information about the tours and the college's Open House, please visit the following website. Visiting the College
Contact
For further questions regarding Undergraduate Admissions to the College of Design, please contact the Office of Student and Academic Services at 919-515-8306.
To apply for admission to the College of Design, please visit the NC State University Admissions website at http://admissions.ncsu.edu. You may also call 919-515-2434 or email undergrad_admissions@ncsu.edu for more information.
