<p>I'm a sophomore who's trying to learn more about fields that might blend my artistic and academic strengths, and architecture has come up more than once. </p>
<p>It's a pretty demanding career; is it usually one with a lower job satisfaction? I was also wondering if the decline in the housing market would hurt architects, even though its cyclical so it'll probably come around again ... </p>
<p>I'm completely new to this, so any information about architecture in general is welcome :)</p>
<p>Bookworm, the question is so general that it is hard to know where to begin.</p>
<p>“It’s a pretty demanding career”; yes it can be and it requires a real commitment. It is not a typical 9 to 5 job.</p>
<p>“is it usually one with a lower job satisfaction?” This is all over the place as you can see from the answers that are posted on this site. Some of us are as passionate about the profession as the day that we graduated from college, and some are so angry at the way the profession has treated them that they would never allow their children to study architecture. This is the worst time for architects since the great depression, so there are a lot of disillusioned people out there. If you decide to study architecture you need to always surround yourself with people who love what they do, because negative people are going to drag you down. I cannot imagine anything I would rather do.</p>
<p>“I was also wondering if the decline in the housing market would hurt architects, even though its cyclical so it’ll probably come around again …” Yes, the current economic conditions have really clobbered architects. Texas is one of the best performing states, and I saw a report that commercial construction in Texas for 2012 was expected to be down 58% over the levels in 2008. You can imagine how firms have been affected. These economic cycles will always be a part of our profession and you need to get yourself in a position to be able to face them.</p>
<p>Go call some firms and see if they will let you visit them. Talk to architects, most will be happy to sit down with you, This will give you a much better chance to understand the profession.</p>
<p>In November I was at the same point you were. I called up an architect and asked if I could meet up with him and ask a few things, he was fine with it. I met with him and asked him so many questions that I’m surprised he didn’t get annoyed, but it was very helpful. He showed me some of the stuff he was doing, told me what his day is like, what he does, why he likes it, all sorts of different things. From what he said, if you are passionate about it, it will be very rewarding, but if you don’t love what you do you are going to be miserable. Honestly, call or email an architect and see if you can even email them some questions. I’ve found that its the best way to get an idea, short of actually doing it.</p>
<p>Bookworm, I’m not an architect but my son is midway through a Masters of Architecture program. The architects I know are for the most part happy with their career choice to the extent that had they the opportunity to do it again they would choose architecture. The downside of architecture is that the amount of schooling and training involved is disproportionate to the payscale, especially when compared to other professional degrees like medicine, law or business. </p>
<p>The economic slow down in building is cyclical. Yes, architectural firms have been affected and have slowed down their hiring, but the industry will eventual recover. </p>
<p>You may not be aware that there are two routes to becoming an architect in America. You can start immediately after high school in a bachelors of architecture program (the B.Arch). Or, you can get an undergraduate BA or BS degree in architectural studies – or anything else that interests you – then go to graduate school for a Masters of Architecture (the M.Arch). Both are commonly done; you just have to decide what’s right for you.</p>
<p>The B.Arch is faster and therefore less expensive, but you have to make up your mind when you apply to college. The M.Arch takes longer and costs more, but it exposes you to a wider education.</p>
<p>I’d also suggest that you try to attend one of the summer architecture programs that many schools of architecture offer to high school students.</p>
<p>Job satisfaction has much to do with your personality and how you interact with the world. We have an architectural discussion group in town and the people invited are the most prominent design architects in the city. Some from very small offices and some from major firms. All of us have been affected by the economy in the last four years, but it is interesting to see how differently people react.</p>
<p>Some of us are still passionate and excited to be architects and happy to get together to discuss design. Others have become disillusioned if not bitter at the way they feel that have been treated. I think they all still love the process of design, they just don’t like the realities of practice. I sit on boards with lawyers, doctors, developers, and accountants and they seem to have the same level of disillusionment as architects (have a chat with a doctor about the realities of medical practice these days). Our economy has become highly efficient and competitive and this is leaving a lot of people by the side of the road. No matter what field you pick you will face the same harsh reality, so you may as well do something you love.</p>
