I went to UCSB and received a BS in Aquatic Biology with a minor in architecture and urban history in the summer of 2025. My GPA was tanked in my first two years by prerequisites like chem and physics as a result of healthcare issues, regardless, my second half of my education, I performed well acing graduate coursework in advanced biostatistics, and bayesian, ecological coding, ecological theory, sustainable architecture, and green design practices. I did this while working in several research labs in marine ecology. My GPA is a 3.0 flat overall. My upper-division GPA is a 3.6 (for the few schools that only consider upper-division GPA), and my architecture coursework GPA sits at a 3.6 as well. I also have a GitHub to show off my coding frameworks or projects in R, MATLAB, and Python, including on my CV. I am currently enrolled in UCLA's arch summer design program, I am building a portfolio, and taking courses at Stanford in deep learning. I have great LORS for marine ecology, with maybe one real LOR for architecture so far (before this summer at least).
My current goals for graduate school are to apply to a master's in urban/city/regional planning with the hope of applying to dual programs in architecture or landscape architecture as a reach. To clarify, I would not be doing a M.Arch with MLA, I would be doing a MUP/MLA or MUP/MArch. With my coding background, computational design programs also seem interesting. Most schools, I expect to only get into a MUP as they are slightly less selective; however, if I have the chance to pursue a professional architectural degree, I may shoot for it. Tuition is not of concern as I one, have PRESSING parental support and a pretty good salary myself.
Anyways, you've read this far now, please recommend any schools with brutal honesty as safeties, targets, reaches, hidden gems, or "don't apply here, your feelings will be hurt". I would appreciate your constructive feedback or recommendations. However, for a student like me, please let me know what my chances may look like and, obviously, anything I can do to improve myself as an applicant. I am going full force into this to try to achieve this, so I have a reasonable application this fall for a student without a Bachelor's in architecture or urban planning. Thanks!