FAQs
The Laura V. Shinn Diversity in Architecture Scholarship
The Scholarship is an architectural scholarship granted to high school students, community college students, and graduate students pursuing degree programs from accredited schools of architecture. Here we note and answer some of your common questions.
Q. When is the scholarship open?
The scholarship will now be open on Monday, October 5th, 2026 and will be accepting applications on a rolling basis through July 2027.
Q. Do I need to be a current or former San Diego County resident?
The scholarship is focused on the community of San Diego county so we ask that you either: a) currently live in San Diego, b) have family that lives in San Diego, c) have intent to register for a NAAB accredited program in San Diego, OR d) are currently studying in San Diego and have intent to register to a NAAB accredited program elsewhere.
Q. Do I have to be a member of AIAS (American Institute of Architecture Students) to apply?
No, but if selected, we request that you become a student member of AIA San Diego – membership is free and you can find more information on our website here: aiasandiego.org/student-allied
An official school transcript or Notice of Intent to register from the school.
Q. What counts as proof of enrollment?
Q. Do I have to be a declared architecture major prior to applying?
No, you don’t. We accept students who express an aspiration to pursue architecture.
Q. Do I have to be currently enrolled in school?
All applicants must be transferring into a NAAB accredited school within the calendar year of scholarship win OR already be in school. This would apply to high school seniors, community college students transferring in or post graduate students enrolling into a NAAB accredited school.
Q. What is a NAAB Accredited School?
NAAB Accreditation is a review of the quality of higher education institutions and programs. In the United States, accreditation is a major way that students, families, government officials, and the press know that an institution or program provides a quality education. NAAB provides accreditation services and oversight to ensure architecture programs meet key quality assurance responsibilities. See link for all current NAAB accredited schools within the United States: https://naab-dir.weaveaccreditation.com/
No, you do not need to submit work samples in your application. However, you are highly encouraged to share compelling imagery that supports your one-page narrative.
Q. Do I have to present a portfolio?
The committee restricts this to be one single-sided 11x17 Landscape PDF. Additional pages will not be reviewed.
Q. How many images can I include in Optional Imagery?
Please note that all submissions will be reviewed for AI generated content. Submissions created 100% by A.I. will not be accepted. The committee recognizes that A.I. can be a resource, but should not be used to generate the entire essay or original content.
Still have a question? You can reach us at scholarships@aiasandiego.org
