I've reviewed hundreds of architecture portfolios over the years. Most students make the same 5 mistakes — and they're all fixable.

1. Leading with school projects nobody understands. Your thesis might be groundbreaking, but if the reviewer can't parse it in 10 seconds, it's hurting you. Lead with your clearest, most visually compelling work.

2. No process shots. Firms don't just want to see the render — they want to see how you think. Diagrams, sketches, iterations. Show the messy middle.

3. Too many projects, not enough depth. 4-5 strong projects > 12 surface-level ones. Every single time.

4. Ignoring the narrative. Your portfolio tells a story about what kind of architect you'll be. Are you a detail person? A concept thinker? A tech-forward designer? Pick a lane and let it come through.

5. The PDF is 80MB. Compress your images. Optimize your layouts. If a hiring manager can't open it on their phone, you've already lost.

I built PRXSM Studio to help architecture students avoid exactly these traps. Inside, I do live portfolio reviews, share templates, and walk through the software skills firms actually care about.