<p>My sixteen year old son just started his junior year at a small, public High School in Upstate New York. He's a solid B student (who could potentially be doing better), and his PSAT scores are little above the national average. He's also ranked fourth in his division for diving.</p>
<p>He's dead set on becoming an architect, but we're a little unsure as to what path we should be leading him down.</p>
<p>Is there an associates degree that he could get at a local community college that would lend itself well to transferring into an architecture program?</p>
<p>What are some of the more reasonable (admissions-wise and price-wise) schools that offer architecture programs?</p>
<p>There are basically two routes to becoming a licensed architect – the bachelors of architecture and the masters of architecture. The B.Arch is for those who are sure they want to be architects and are prepared to start from day one as an architect. </p>
<p>The M.Arch is for those who are still deciding or who want a more diverse undergraduate experience. It usually means another 2 to 3.5 years on top of a BA or BS degree. The BA/BS can be in architectural studies or, really, any other major, as long as you fulfill the M.Arch entrance requirements.</p>
<p>There are also permutations and hybrids. Several schools have now dropped the B.Arch and offer 5/6 year programs that lead to an M.Arch.</p>
<p>It’s confusing, but the key point for your son to decide is if he wants to enter a B.Arch program in his first year. If yes, consult a list of schools that offer the B.Arch and start going through the profiles – location, fincial aid, selectivity. There are about 50 B.Arch programs in the US so he’ll have a lot of choices.</p>
<p>Some schools offer co-op programs that allow the student to defray tuition by working certain semesters. Look at Northeastern and Cinncinati.</p>
<p>Financial aid is available. Use an online calculator to determine how much need based your family may be eligible for. Some programs will give merit based aid. This is based not only on grades/scores but also creative/artistic talent. If he’s interested/able to dive at a varsity level, he should be contacting coaches which may help with the money as well. (Though I understand it’s not easy to have a “life” outside of the architecture studio.)</p>
<p>In any case, some B.Arch programs require the submission of an arts portfolio so your son needs to start pulling this together. Again, there is a lot of information about portfolios on line. Basically it should show creativity and drawing skill and does not have to be architecture focused.</p>
<p>Lastly, CC has an architecture board that is full of good advice from practicing architects and current students (and their parents).</p>