Offer Update丨World No.2 School for Architecture

We are delighted to share more exciting university admissions news. YeunHae has become the first pupil from Wellington College International Tianjin to be accepted into the highly prestigious Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL.

One of the most challenging aspects of the process is the ‘Bartlett Drawing Task’ whereby a student has to submit a series of drawn responses to a directive or starting point, which is sometimes just one word. The admissions tutors are not simply looking for technical excellence but for evidence of creative responses to the brief, imaginative use of line and pushing of boundaries as to what ‘drawing’ actually is. It’s an all or nothing situation and they won’t even look at a portfolio if your drawings don’t catch their eye. 

Once YeunHae had cleared this hurdle, we began to feel more confident. The benefit of the art A level is that it is so open to interpretation, so we have been able to keep one eye on building a stunning portfolio while completing the coursework element necessary for a top grade.

The Bartlett is quite renowned for being a creative, philosophical school and we made sure to explore the work of pivotal architects such as Peter Cook and the avante garde ‘Archigram’ group, all of which found its way back into YeunHae’s practice.  

Plug in City by Peter Cook for Archigram, 1964

YeunHae’s application culminated in an interview where he was required to present his portfolio to world renowned architect Professor CJ Lim. To prepare for this we spent many hours researching his work, discussing angles he might take and watching his lectures on Youtube. Interestingly we discovered that Prof Lim was influenced by the 20th century artist Marcel Duchamp and by the effects of interculturalism on architectural practice; two things which YeunHae had referenced in his personal statement and drawing task. 

I am extremely proud of YeunHae, an example of what can be achieved though excellent student / teacher collaboration and communication, hard work and focus. I am particularly pleased that YeunHae’s portfolio was made up exclusively of work produced during his A level studies, confirming that parents do not need to spend extra, sometimes large, sums of money on outside portfolio workshops.  

YeunHae also holds offers from, among others, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Manchester, the University of Toronto and the University of Sydney. Wellington Alumni are now studying architecture at many of the most respected institutions in the world including RISD, UAL and AA.

As a student who loves design and technology and art, I knew that architecture was for me, and my biggest goal was to get into the Bartlett School. I have enjoyed researching their work, watching their online lectures and these gave me a huge passion and motivation to be one of them one day. Preparing for the Bartlett, UCL, was the hardest application I had to go through. I had to complete drawing tasks and had an interview to talk about my portfolio.

Regarding my achievement, I would like to especially mention, my art teacher, Mr. Batey, who supported me throughout the whole journey. He gave me great advice and ideas for my portfolio, the drawing tasks and helped me with the interview. Not only that, but he also stayed up until midnights going through my portfolio drafts with me to make sure I had the best chance of getting into the top universities.