Free Resources for Architecture Students
Strategy guides, workflows, and advice for the parts of architecture school nobody really prepares you for. Free. Built from a decade of practice, hiring, and helping students navigate this beautiful, infuriating profession. These guides are grounded in what actually moves the needle. Pick what's relevant to where you are, download it, use it. Think wildly, work practically.
How to Actually Win Architecture Scholarships
A strategic playbook for funding your architecture education without drowning in debt. Where the money actually is, what scholarship committees really evaluate, and a curated list to start with.
For: students applying to architecture school, current students looking for funding
How to pick the Right Competition
A strategic guide to choosing competitions across three categories — student, open, and non-architectural — with stage-by-stage advice on which to enter when. Plus board production tactics and a curated competition list.
For: high schoolers building application portfolios, current students at any stage
Architecture Personal Statement That Shines
A guide to writing the architecture school personal statement — what admissions committees actually want to read, how to find your authentic angle, and how to avoid the patterns that make most essays blur together.
For: students applying to architecture school at the undergraduate or graduate level
Win an Architecture Competition in 5 Days
A tactical workflow with the five tools that earn their spot, copy-paste prompts for every phase, and a day-by-day checklist from brief to submitted boards. Built around the truth that diagrams still win — not renderings.
For: students entering competitions on tight deadlines, anyone exploring AI tools
How to Land Your First Architecture Job
A tactical guide to the early-career job hunt — how to find internships and jobs that teach you something, resume and portfolio framing for entry-level applications, cold email templates that get responses,
For: students approaching graduation, recent grads, and new job applicants
The Architecture Portfolio Scorecard
A self-evaluation tool that scores your portfolio across ten criteria — the same ones hiring managers and admissions reviewers use when they're deciding whether to keep reading. Score yourself, see where the gaps are, fix what's actually broken.
For: students preparing to submit portfolios for school applications, jobs, or competitions
WHY THESE RESOURCES EXIST
I built these because they're the guides I wish I'd had when I was working through these decisions myself. I studied at RISD and Harvard GSD, worked on projects across scales, and have spent years on both sides of the hiring table.
What I've learned is that students at every stage benefit from clear, specific strategy — the kind that comes from someone who's actually walked the path. These guides are my attempt to share that strategy openly. They're free because architecture education is expensive enough without putting a paywall on good advice.
If they help, great. If you want personalized guidance on your specific situation, that's what Archidood is here for.
FAQ
Are these guides really free?
Yes. You just give your email so I can send you the PDF and the occasional update. Unsubscribe anytime, and the guide is yours to keep.
Who are these for?
Architecture students at any stage — from high schoolers applying to schools, through current students, to recent graduates entering the job market. Each guide notes who it's most relevant to.
Can I share these with friends?
Please do. The more people they help, the better. Just point them here so they can grab the latest version.
Where can I get personal help beyond these guides?
I offer one-on-one tutoring and consultations through Archidood. The guides cover strategy; the consultations get into your specific portfolio, application, or career situation. Book a free 15-minute call to see if it's a fit.