Architecture?

<p>bneg, are the 13 students you referred to AAP applicants alone?
jimminy, I asked you that question because I think that schools place a lot of emphasis on stellar performances in school-leaving exams for international students.
Congrats again, jimminy on your portfolio. The highpoint of it was the lizard-motif tile you did. It was drop-dead gorgeous. You're surely among one of the greatest architects of the 21st century!</p>

<p>i'm not sure; if they have an admisisons department for each college, then it would be 13 in APP. That sounds much more reasonable though.</p>

<p>UIC and UIUC have very different reputations. </p>

<p>UIUC:
Very competitive admissions, something like 28 ACT avg
campus in the middle of nowhere
historically strong technically
majority of their graduates are accepted into their graduate program</p>

<p>UIC:
Much less selective admissions
campus in the heart of Chicago
trying to develop strong design and social activism focus
graduate program stronger than undergraduate, difficult for their graduates to be accepted into their graduate program</p>

<p>IIT:
Selectivity in between the other 2
historically strong technically but trying to develop the design component
has 5 year B. Arch degree
Grad school offers PHD as well as masters
campus in the heart of Chicago and studio in an architectrual icon</p>

<p>Architecture programs are such distinct cultures that it is critical to visit the schools and see the work, the students and faculty. You need to find the one that fits you best.</p>

<p>Typical day-long post</p>

<p>At this point in my career I am a full-time faculty member, which is why I am so familiar with schools and their programs. But I worked for many years so....</p>

<p>You don't sit around waiting for comissions for very long, Architecture functions on a very small profit margin so if work isn't coming in steadily you are out of business.</p>

<p>Most firms are relatively small, less than 20 people though there are some large, national and international firms based in the major cities. Most firms specialize in a few areas of architecture, they don't work exclusively in these areas but probably over 75% or their work is in their specialities. Typical specialities are schools, medical, housing (multi-family), high-rise, commercial etc. This is based on both having the expertise in an area and having the connecitons to businesses or government agencies in an area.</p>

<p>Public work requires the client to issue a RFP (request for proposal) and then interested firms submit their qualifications. This is often how new firms aquire their first important contracts. Part of the RFP is showing that you have the skills/background for the project. In many cases this requires being able to show experience with the specific building type.</p>

<p>Typical days vary a great deal, if you are the principal of a firm you will spend a lot of time meeting with clients, developing clients, handling business issues such as payroll and negotiating contracts. In many case you are much more a small-business person than an architect in terms of your activities.</p>

<p>If you are the project architect you will also spend a lot of time meeting with clients and making sure the project is being produced according to schedule and budget (in terms of the fee not the construction) but you will also spend time reviewing and developing the project. Depending on the size of the project and the structure of the firm you may have a active role in developing the project or you may be promarily supervising others. You will work with you various consultants as well.</p>

<p>The next step down is typically project manager or job captain. These roles are much more involved in the day to day production of the project. You are likely to be producing some of the construction documents while overseeing drafters to coordiante and organize the entire process. You will meet with the clients and consultants.</p>

<p>Drafter are the grunt labor of the office. This is where intern architects start. You spend your days on the computer working on various drawings as part of the project team. </p>

<p>One of the important things to remember is that a typical architecture project involves 20% and 80% construction document production and contract administration. Most architects spend most of their time doing something other than conceptual design. That doesn't mean the work is without creativity but the creative focus may be on how to attach the door frame to the wall and maintain the appearance you want without causing a situation that is going to make it rust out in 5 years.</p>

<p>I shifted from the practice of architecture to the teaching of architecture for several reasons. One is that architecture is a 8-5 job plus overtime, I found this incompatible with small childredn. So I started doing small projects on my own where my schedule was more flexible, it was satisfying but it only generated a supplemental income and it was erratic. I started teaching part-time to create a more predictable cash flow and found that I really enjoyed it. Teaching gives me the opportunity to have the intellectual discussions of architectural ideas that wasn't often present in the professional world. Some firms work at a higher level but most firms are just trying to get the work done competently and profitably. Many architects, like doctors and lawyers, find the day to day reality less than they expected as students but few can think of anything they would rather be doing.</p>

<p>Has anyone applied to MIT or Yale for architecture?</p>

<p>h18, for MIT, i think admissions is given regardless of intended program, so you would still have to compete with a ton of math & science geniuses even though you're not applying for math and science. I think that's why there's only like 2% in a BSAD program...it sounds very hard.</p>

<p>and its not that great at the undergraduate level...</p>

<p>Thanks very much SRMom3 for the reply. It's giving me a lot to think about...</p>

<p>hai</p>

<p>i plan to study architcture in grad school and major in some other subjects at the undergrad level (whilst boosting my drawing and archi history stuff).</p>

<p>i've always figured i'd major in econs, IR, business...things like these because i'm better with words than numbers. but now i'm seriuosly considering civil engineering.</p>

<p>do you think i should study that instead? it seems more relevant. but i fear that my math can't handle it. i did get 800 for math2c and about as high for the SAT 1.</p>

<p>If you are interested in architecture why not stuudy it as an undergrad? Though there are many grad programs for non-architecutral undergrads admission to them is very competitive, the programs are extremely high pressured, typically take at least a year longer than is described, which is already a year longer than a masters, and gives you less depth than if you had studied architecture as an undergrad. It makes sense if you don't know what you want to do but not if you are certain that you want to be an architect.</p>

<p>Civil engineering, like all engineering, is a rigorous program with a lot of math and science. If you were looking for an engineering degree that would enhance your professional credentials as an architect structural engineering would be better. But engineeering degrees typically have very few electives and you would find it difficult with either to take the the kind of drawing classes you need to generate a portfolio or any depth in architectural history.</p>

<p>and 800 is the highest you can get, so i dont see the problem there!</p>

<p>I'm back and i've realised this:</p>

<p>you're either for architecture or you're not. from what Srmom3 has said, it's not going to be all smooth, but as long as you love what you're doing, it's all good.</p>

<p>jimminy, when you applied to rice, did you use the international supplement? or rather, did you use the common application and supplement? because it'd be easier for me to use the common app, and I have no choice but to use the freshman supplement, then. thanks.</p>

<p>no, i didnt use the common app for Rice, because it makes no sense. You have to write the Rice supplemental essay and the common app essays. Just use the Rice application. That way, you only have to write one specific essay for architecture students.</p>

<p>thanks, jimminy.</p>

<p>How good is University of Washington Urban Planning program?
Anyone know the Urban Planning ranking? thank you</p>

<p>I'm considering a double major in architecture and math. And I'm looking for a minor in music, too. Havin read your post, I'm also reconsidering architecture, and no because of workload or social life or anything; I don't have one to talk about. (thanks to my parents) I have a 4.225+ right now, and I'm planning on taking as many science, math, and history classes as I can in the future. I like them anyway. I'm also a full-fledged band nerd/music student, and I don't know if any of the architecture schools I've researched have a good music program of not. I just haven't been able to find that out on their websites. Anyone have a good suggestion? I am sure about math and music, just not architecture right now. I thought I was sure about architecture....</p>

<p>rice has one of the best architecture and music programmes in the country. I dont know if you can study math, architecture and music together. all have heavy courseloads and i think only one is humanly possible. you could do math and something with a lighter courseload.</p>

<p>I think I can do it...Math is pretty much my forte, so is history. But, my parents are very restrictive about what I can major in. Like, I give them list of recommendations from me, and they cross stuff out for me. I can't do music as a major, because it's not a stable career. History, they're on the fence about that one, since they dont know too much about that as a career. Math, they're highly supportive of, and so is architecture. I think I can take the workload, that's pretty much what they trained me to do. History has a big workload, too. I'm looking to havea double major so I can have something to fall back on. I'm doing music because it'll be too painful for me to quit :-)</p>

<p>Most arechitecture progams have very few electives. Also your studios last all afternoon, typically. It makes it virtually impossible to do a double major.</p>