FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Is there written responses about the topic from the jury? I saw them for the old topic

Kiel, There are no written responses from the Jury regarding the Question. However, the FAQ editors should be able to help.

                                                                                          
Can you take part in the competition more than once?

Dear Swasti Yes, you may enter each year as long as you are an undergraduate student in archtitecture. But you may enter only once, each competition year.

                                                                                          
Does the place need to be designed by an urban planner/ architect?

No. But a better answer to your question will be found by reading the "Proposition" that precedes the "Question"

                                                                                          
I'm a pre-architecture student within the History of Art and Architecture department at Middlebury College. Am I eligible?

To be eligible one must be a full-time student enrolled in a department, school or college of architecture.

                                                                                          
Hi, It states on the 2005 eligibility page that an architecture student can pair up with a planning student for the writing of the essay. Do the students have to attend the same school? Or can they attend different schools which are both accredited? thanks

No, the students can attend different schools, as long as one is an architecture student at an accredited school, while the other can be in urban studies or the social sciences.

                                                                                          
Is it allowed to include images of the space in the 500-word proposal?

Unfortunately, no. Perhaps by State 2 we will be set up to receive images, but at this time, we are not. Thanks for the question, however.

                                                                                          
I know it is a written Essay, but are we allowed to add as many pictures or drawings as we want?

No, we can't accept either photographs nor drawings at this point in the competition.

                                                                                          
How does a European student, where we do not differentiate between undergraduate and graduate, know if he is eligible? Do you consider bachelors and masters in the same way?

By Undergraduates we mean students who are pursing their first degree in architecture, which may be professional or non-professional.

                                                                                          
I am an Urban Studies major with a concentration in Architecture (I am currently taking a studio class along with a theory/history class in architecture). The major is flexible, and I've pretty much leaned towards the Architecture/Design of cities as my focus, though I picked Urban Studies as my major because I wanted a broader, more humanities oriented approach to design. Am I still eligible? Thanks--

Dear Michelle Kang If you team up with an undergraduate enrolled, full time, in an architecture program, then, you are eligible. all the best

                                                                                          
I am entering the competition as part of a two-person team, and my partner is an architecture undergrad. I am "officially" in the humanities--but specifically in an interdisciplinary degree that requires work in the social sciences and urban studies. Am I still qualified to participate?

Both partners are required to enter and indicate their major. Your partner, is definitely eligible. And if we understand your message correctly, though you are technically in the humanities, your concentration is in the social sciences. If this is true, then you are also eligible.

                                                                                          
I am looking for some clarification on the 'undergraduate' term you are using. I am a architectural graduate student right now, but my previous bachelor's is in art history (making the one I'm working on my first architectural degree).

I assume I'm still elligible, but I would like confirmation.

Dear Jim Spell. I regret to say that you are not eligible as a graduate student. The competition is open only to undergraduate students whether they are enrolled in a nonprofessional program (Major) or professional program (BAarch).

                                                                                          
Can only a single student participate instead of teaming up?

I am from India studying in final year Rizvi College of Architecture, Mumabai. Is my college eligible as an accredited college. Our college is recognised by COA and RIBA, but whether I can participate from India?

Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, a single student may participate. As long as your school is accredited in your country, you are eligible to compete.

                                                                                          
Is it necessary that the place we intend to describe should have been visited personally by us. Can we not describe a public space fitting the question, but yet the place is not seen my us personally?

Yes, you should have visited the place yourself. The point of the exercise is to deepen ones awareness of a place--even a place one believes one knows well--by writing about the experience of being there--and ideally more than once and under varying circumstances.

                                                                                          
Is there any particular format to the proposal???? As in- Do I write about the technique and style I'm going to adopt as well as the issues I shall be addressing???? Thanks...

If by format you mean style, then the answer is, write simply and clearly, as you would in a letter to a friend who is eager to become well informed about your subject.

                                                                                          
My question is extension to the last query. I have visited many places which are typical in nature, culturally, and also all other aspects architecturally are similar. But one place which stands differently is which is very much equal to experiences to the typical places I have visited but stands apart from rest, because the factors are may be 90% other than architecture, which makes the place genuine and fitting to question. So in that case to understand I need not go to that different place, as i know the feel of it architecturally and other 90% factor too I know and have experienced in its culture through different means. Also it is not possible to visit that different place for me now. So can I take that different place, which I feel I can feel and breathe in it as my essay public space. If you have got my point please answer this query wisely. Thank You.

The process of writing should bring into sharper focus what you have already felt were the particular qualities of the place you admire. It is much to your advantage, we believe, if you visit the place, now, again, when considering its merits as you attempt to write about them.

                                                                                          
I'm a Sri Lankan student and my researches are based on Sri Lanka. Is it a matter or not for this requarements.

Dear Mangala If you are an undergraduate architecture student in an accredited school, department, or college of architecture, you are eligible to compete. And we welcome you and other students from Sri Lanka, to do so.

                                                                                          
Do both authors have to register separately with different profiles, or can one register and the other name be enterred as a team?

Hello, Dvesti. No only one author registers, the other author(s) is added to the form provided. Go to www.berkeleyprize.org, then to Stage 1, then to "Author Login: Login to your Author Portfolio" good luck

                                                                                          
I am a student of Landscape Architecture, and one of my professors has circulated the information for this competition under the impression that BLAs are also eligible. Is this true?

I regret to say that the competition is open to undergraduate architecture students or to a team of an architecture student + a student in urban studies and or one of the Social Sciences.

                                                                                          
Two of us are teaming up, my friend has already registered with as an author, my question to you is that, Do I need to make my individual author profile (mentioning my team in the form provided) as well or should I simply put my name in his profile as a team member? In that case, aren't my student identification numbers and other details required?

Dear Jason Twain Yes, place your name in his profile as a team member and if your team succeeds in becoming a finalist, then you will be asked to render your personal student details. Good luck

                                                                                          
Will the bibliography submitted count towards the total word limit of the proposal essay?

Yes. However, I would advise that you integrate your references into your text as authoritative "voices", as you might in an article for a serious, daily newspaper.

                                                                                          
I read last years winning essays, they were much longer than 500 words.Is this a new rule or are we allowed to exceed the given limits?

Yes, please note: In Stage 1, a 500 word essay is asked for. From these, students who are selected will then write the final essay of 2,500 words (Stage 2.

                                                                                          
I have submitted an online proposal, but was not given a confirmation of submission. How do I know that my proposal was received by the committee?

Yes, your 500 word essay has been received. Good luck

                                                                                          
we are going to enter as a team, i am studying social sciences. what do you need as a proof of university enrollment? scanned univeristy ID? is it neccessary to sumbit that by 10th as well or i can do it bit later?

Teams are welcome as long the author who is an architecture student registers. The other members of the team, yourself included as a student in social science, will list themselves on the team profile form. Proof of university enrollment will be asked for if your team is invited to write the final essay (Stage 2).

                                                                                          
What does major signify? If i am in final year of five years course of Bachlor in architecture, what should I write in major column.

The competition is open to undergraduate students who are currently enjoying full-time enrollement in an accredited school, department, or college of architecture. As a 5th year student, you are certainly qualified to enter.

                                                                                          
Would even references given of website, books, count in word count, even though if I have referred to books for understanding public space but not directly copying any sentence?

So can I provide such list of references which I referred for inspiration if I am not copying any thing and would it be counted in word count?

Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, you may provide a list of references at the end of your essay, and it will be included in the word count.

                                                                                          
I attend the Univeristy of Oregon School of Architecture where I need only 18 more studio credits to complete my degree. As I have already completed more coursework credits than necessary for graduation, I am no longer attending full-time. In addition, I am currently on medical leave, hoping to be able to return to my studies this Spring. Do these circumstances disqualify me from participating? Thank you.

Thank you for your inquiry. Alas, if you are not enrolled full time this semster, you are not eligible to compete this year.

                                                                                          
how do i know if my proposition was received?

Thank you for your inquiry. Your propostion has been received, and you won't receive any other acknowlegement.

                                                                                          
Hello Dear sir I participated twice in this competition. once as a member of the group and secend time as an individual,participant. Can I participate in this way for the secend time or not ? thankful

Thank you for your inquiry. You may enter the competition once each year, either as an individual, or as a team member, but not both ways in one year.

                                                                                          
I just posted my essay but am unclear as to whether it is actually viewable by anyone but me. There was no "your essay is successfully submitted" window, nor have I received an email. Could someone please let me know if it is, in fact, submitted. Thank you.

Thank you for your inquiry. Your essay has been received.

                                                                                          
i have sent in my essay but haven't got a confirmation of the same.also, above the title is some stuff which talks about filling in some details, i am confused where.I already have an author profile.Is it essential to fill in the copyright form and what exactly does it signify?

Thank you for your inquiry. Your essay has been received. The message above refers to making sure that you fill in all required fields. The copyright form gives the Berkeley Prize Endowment permission to publish your essay (either on the web, or print ,i.e. magazine or journal). You still owns the essay, BPE has the exclusive rights to publish it. If you want to publish it in another magazine, journal or publication EXACTLY as you have submitted to the competition, you have to ask permission from the Berkeley Prize Endowment. Otherwise you can make a modified version of it and then there's no problem.

                                                                                          
can i add a partner after the suggestion was submitted?

Yes, and good luck!

                                                                                          
can one read other entries irrespective of them winning or not?

The winning entries--prizes and honorable mentions are posted at the close of the competition. Not before.

                                                                                          
i have sent my suggestion on the 10th of dec, but, only than did i find out that i cannot enter the competition, becuase i am a landscape architecture student. what i'd like to know is-if i team up with a student who is 'pure' architect, should he submit the proposel under his name, even though the date has passed? thanks.

No new entries are allowed after the December 10 deadline, so neither of you are eligible to compete this year.

                                                                                          
When and how do we find out who the semifinalists are? There does not seem to be any indication on the website.

Thank you for your inquiry. All contestants will be notified of their status on Wednesday, Jan.19.

                                                                                          
Essays have been graded. on what scale is the grade? (ie: out of how many possible points?)

and when will reviews be posted?

There are six categories of evaluation (address the question, originality, claity, style, social signficance, and overall recommendation). Each of these is worth 5 points, 5 being the highest. A perfect score would be 30 points. Each essay is read, independently, by 3 readers. Readers' reports are confidential, however, each contestant may read her/his readers' comments by logging into his/her account, if, in fact, readers made written comments.

                                                                                          
In the judges comments portion of my grading, there was only one sentence written from one judge. Is there a way to have the judges give my proposal comments? I would like to use them to craft my essay. Thank you.

We will ask those who read your paper to respond. I trust they will, but it may take them a few days.

                                                                                          
can I use portions of my stage 1 essay, word for word, in my stage 2 essay? obviously there will be more writing and information, but can sentences and even paragraphs be re-used?

Certainly

                                                                                          
I am a fourth year student in my architecture studies. However, my university has a 3 years [degree] and 2 years [master] system. This system is essentially the same as the usual 5 years BArch in US. Since a final year student for a 5 years BArch course is eligible, i will like to know if i am eligible to enter the competition? [2006]

As long as your official status is undergraduate, you are eligible. But, it sounds as if your years 4 and 5 will give you a graduate degree, and in that case, no, you would not be eligible.

                                                                                          
Should my reference list also be part of the 2500 words, or can I use more words for that?

Thank you for your response. Yes, they should be included in the 2500 word limit.

                                                                                          
When submitting my 2500 wd essay, I had some trouble with the font and the translation of apostrophes. The apostrophes show up in in the submission box as little squares. will this affect the review of my essay? thanks

Sarah If the Reader has a problem we will review and perhaps, then, ask you for a resubmission via another address.

                                                                                          
In one of the anwers it is mentioned that by undergrad you mean student in the first major in Architecture. In Iran there is a procedure where you get directly the equivalence of MS degree, without getting the intermediate step which is a BS. Is this kind of person eligible or not?

Thank you for your question. We may be able to give you the answer you are looking for if you tell us at what point in an undergraduate's education does the student begin work toward the MS in Architecture?

                                                                                          
 
Main Index Main Berkeley Prize Endowment Site
Introduction: Legacy and Action
Stage 1: Enter the Competition
Stage 2: For Semifinalists
Finalists
Winning Essays
Frequently Asked Questions
Jury and Berkeley Prize Committee
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