<p>Cheers: Thank you commenting on my list! Actually, I've wavered on keeping U Miami on my list because of its location. I've only been through one hurricane in my life (Rita), while Miami goes through 1 or 2 a year. I'm not sure that I want to deal with that.</p>
<p>I definitely would like to study abroad as an exchange student, but I thought that I could only go to countries that the college had connections in. I actually would like to minor (or even double major) in French, Japanese, or Spanish. I'm leaning more towards French because that's the language I've studied since the 6th grade (had to stop junior year). I've been interested in Japanese since I was a little girl, but I happen to be Hispanic which pushes me in the way of Spanish since I don't speak it. Which language do you think would provide the best assest to me? Also, would you advise against minoring or double majoring?</p>
<p>entromom: May I ask what university your daughter attends? Did she have to submit a portfolio?</p>
<p>da<em>mad</em>cow: Thank you very much. Actually, I'm on Princeton Review almost everyday! I've been redoing my list by adding and taking away. I can't keep it concrete until I retake the SATs, though. Hm, I like to socialize (who doesn't?!), but yeah...I need a more serious environment. U Miami might be taken off the list, again.</p>
<p>cyber, she's attending UMichigan. Arch is a transfer program there, you apply with a portfolio at the end of sophomore year. So she is currently in the college of LS&A where she'll take 5 prep courses for arch (3 required, 2 recommended) for the first two years and make sure arch is right for her. I believe they accepted 100 out of 120 applicants for the arch major last year. If you go to their website, they give a good explaination about how the program works. They also have a preferred admit program where you can get accepted to arch when you apply as freshman. You still are in another college for the first two years, but you don't have to submit a portfoilo and are assured a place.</p>
<p>Cyberfruit
Let me try to help you. I worked for 17 years in the architecture business. I hired probably 50 or 60 diffferent architects. I am writing these messages because you people who are going into architectural studies to become architects do not have a clue of what real architecture is like. One tenth of one percent of all architects ever get to draw or design anything. In a firm like SOM which has some 900 people maybe 3 do 98 percent of the design. They probably have a minimum of 12 to 15 years experience. Within a firm their are no open contests or forums to find the best designers. It is basically limited to the few.
I know this because I was one of those limited few. The rest of the designers in the firm do basically minor door or window details.
After becoming one of the limited few and 14 years experience I really made no kind of money. That kind of experience, and that kind of position in any other profession makes you a very good living.
Let me put it this way. Achitecture is what you know about building construction. Lintels, mullions, headers, grade beams, and facia's, not freehand drawings and sketches. Most all design and drawing is done on CAD. What they have you do and learn in the architecture classes is nothing like you will do at an architectural firm. Example: You will train as a jockey, could be one of the best horse riders ever and start out shoveling manure and end up working in the stable. Pick another profession to pursue. I am telling you what very few really know, or will tell you about this profession. I am trying to save you, just like I wish someone would have done for me. If you need more specifics, write me I will explain more.
Spides:</p>
<p>da<em>mad</em>cow
This is what I have responded to many messages I have read.
Let me try to help you. I worked for 17 years in the architecture business. I hired probably 50 or 60 diffferent architects. I am writing these messages because you people who are going into architectural studies to become architects do not have a clue of what real architecture is like. One tenth of one percent of all architects ever get to draw or design anything. In a firm like SOM which has some 900 people maybe 3 do 98 percent of the design. They probably have a minimum of 12 to 15 years experience. Within a firm their are no open contests or forums to find the best designers. It is basically limited to the few.
I know this because I was one of those limited few. The rest of the designers in the firm do basically minor door or window details.
After becoming one of the limited few and 14 years experience I really made no kind of money. That kind of experience, and that kind of position in any other profession makes you a very good living.
Let me put it this way. Achitecture is what you know about building construction. Lintels, mullions, headers, grade beams, and facia's, not freehand drawings and sketches. Most all design and drawing is done on CAD. What they have you do and learn in the architecture classes is nothing like you will do at an architectural firm. Example: You will train as a jockey, could be one of the best horse riders ever and start out shoveling manure and end up working in the stable. Pick another profession to pursue. I am telling you what very few really know, or will tell you about this profession. I am trying to save you, just like I wish someone would have done for me. If you need more specifics, write me I will explain more.
Spides:</p>
<p>Spides, you have posted the same basic post six times in the last 24 hours on the Architecture Major Forum on various threads. Please post something ONLY ONCE on College Confidential's forums. Thank you.</p>
<p>My college roommate was a designer at SOM--in her third year there. In my experience, designers in big firms are picked out in their early years at the firm. It would be highly unusual to become a designer after years of doing some other task.</p>
<p>On the ohter hand, spides supports my mantra: if you want to design, start your own firm before you turn 30.</p>