UDream Admissions

Application to the UDream program uses Slideroom, where applicants can upload personal information, academic information, portfolio or work samples, and complete a written and video personal statement.

There is no fee to apply to the UDream Program.

Complete the Personal Information and Academic Information forms in your SlideRoom application. 

Submit a Personal Statement that describes why this program is a good fit for you at this point in your career, what specific focus areas you may want to explore, and your aspirations and plans for the future after leaving CMU, including how you hope to position yourself in design, research, and/or practice.

Upload to your application, a 30-second introductory video that tells us something about you and your personal interests in architecture or the built environment. We are interested in getting to know you in the context of your application and portfolio submission. The short 30-second video will feature you and needs no staging or post-production - just be yourself.

Upload to your application as a PDF document, your resume/CV summarizing your education, employment experience, professional qualifications, and any noteworthy achievements.

You may submit a maximum of 10 media items, which can be uploaded as PDFs. These portfolio pieces should give the admissions committee a sense of your experience, interests, and qualifications for the program. Upload to SlideRoom saved as a single PDF document (maximum file size of 20MB with a maximum resolution of 150dpi). 

Upload a PDF document copy of your unofficial college transcript(s). If you have attended more than one institution of higher education, please merge all transcripts into a single PDF document for upload.

If you have a personal/professional website that you would like to share with the admission committee, then you may include the link in the program application form. If you would like to attach any other documents (e.g., research papers, professional writing, etc.) to your application you may add them to the application under “Optional Supporting Documents.”

Ask three individuals their permission to serve as references. We recommend selecting a variety of individuals who are familiar with your work and can speak to your qualifications for graduate studies.

Assign three references to your application in SlideRoom. Once you have saved the recommendation request, your reference will receive an email from SlideRoom requesting them to submit a letter of recommendation and complete an evaluative recommendation form on your behalf. We recommend you advise your recommender to look for this important email in their email inbox as well as their spam and junk folders as sometimes these requests get filtered out.

To ensure that your application receives priority evaluation, please give your references ample time to complete and submit their recommendation on your behalf no later than the application deadline. Your application will not be reviewed until all reference letter forms have been received for your application. 

UDream applicants may be granted a virtual interview at the request of the program Director. Applicants will be notified of interview invitations by email and will only be considered after a complete application has been received and reviewed by the admission committee.