<p>While browsing around for my son, I came across this discussion. I am a Registered Architect and just thought I would put in my two cents. Justin Hui is pretty much on the money. Architecture is a very difficult field to make money in. Most of us do it because we love it. Many of us have good educations and are very skilled at our craft but do not get the opportunity to use much of what we know. Constant marketing of your skills is critical. Many architects have become famous by building summer houses for their parents or their rich friends. I am not looking to dampen your enthusiasm but even if you are a great designer, the profession can't use all those designers. It can use skilled project managers which is where most of you will end up. One last piece of advice. Keep your eyes open for professions that are allied to architecture such as real estate development, construction law, banking, corporate facilities. </p>
<p>I would welcome feedback on whether my comments are appropriate for this forum.</p>
<p>hi
i don't think i've ever mentioned about architects earning a lot or doing architecture to earn a lot of money. correct me if i'm wrong
i agree with you about the low pay in architecture. architects don't earn that much compared to other professionals. it's probbaly hard to earn a good living once you get out of school but i think as you gain more experience, the pay is decent. not very high but comfortable enough.</p>
<p>i'm totally going into architecture because it has been my passion and i can't imagine enjoying anythign else besides architecture for a living. i understand that design is only a small part of it but i think i would rather do that than anything else. </p>
<p>i think that's why i think it's important to learn how to be a good designer. By attending a good architecture school, i hope to become a good designer so that when i have the chance to design, i can make the best of it.</p>
<p>i think salary is mainly based on years of experience. i don't think the school that you attend will make a difference in your salary. what it MIGHT do is give you a better design education and make you a better designer. of course what matters in life is what you do in life, not necessarily which college you attend.</p>
<p>starting a firm is probably a financial struggle
working in large firms will probably give you benefits and probably slightly higher pay
smaller firms probably pay less</p>
<p>it depends what you want to do</p>
<p>the most important thing i think is connections. you gotta have them. have a good business sense</p>
<p>hey y'all...
i finally got a chance to put up my portfolio, except that it's only 10 out of the 12 pieces cause i dunno my computer wasnt't cooperating so i'll put up the last 2 photos later. basically i copied jiminey and put something up on yahoo/flickr. ok so like i said i personally dont think it's anything special but it did get me into u miami, roger williams and rice (still waiting to hear from u hawaii)
ps. all the photos are developed by me... it's the only way to go :)</p>
<p>i couldn't get the link to work but you should be able to copy and paste this into the URL box or whatever it's called:</p>
<p>to all who are still trying to decide: Architecture is a prestigious profession. Hard work, but it pays off for those who love it.</p>
<p>Special messages:- they've meant a lot to me thru this wild ride
bneg: pls don't be mad. i'll get in touch soonest. we'll explode on april 1
jcro2006: followed suit. forgive me for being so lame. will make it up
SRMom3: i always treasure your practical advice. can't forget "reality checks"</p>
<p>ps: we'll appreciate it if everyone will let everyone else know of their success stories by posting. they really encourage others.</p>
<p>aww j'rock (and yes, i made the executive decision that it needs an apostrophe) that portfolio was amazing. not that im suprised. but it makes me so sad you wont be in the field. you better make us proud whatever you do!
ps. general announcement: about an hour ago i decided i'm going to rice. and all y'all should too!</p>
<p>jrock: of couse I won't b mad...however, this is a little boring without your frequent visit! </p>
<p>BUT I will be mad if we forget to record our efforts in the up-and-coming condensed arch thread!! Everybody, it's time to remember all the frustration we've felt and time to give answers for the next group of arch enthusiasts (I hope they are as fun and nice and wonderful like we are! jk~) Let's bundle it at the very end...</p>
<p>I've already prepared mine; Jcro, did you receive it?</p>
<p>Jrock: was so looking forward to likely letter, but even if I do get one I'll probably get it in the mail after I find out online decisions ha~ I wish i had a relative who lives there!</p>
<p>For any architecture enthusiasts out there, would it make any sense if I major in studio art at UCSD and move on to a masters in architecture when I graduate. (This only applies if I don't get accepted to Cal Poly Slo for undergraduate architecture. Still waiting)</p>
<p>leirbag101...only if you're unsure about whether architecture is for you. otherwise don't waste your time. if you're completely sure you want to do architecture, go for the b.arch.</p>
<p>leirbag- do you really like studio art? or would you just be using it as a path to get to arch? as i'm sure you know it would be 7 years total if you did fine art first instead of the 5 at calpoly. and to get into a good grad school you'd have to keep a pretty high gpa whereas at a five-year, gpa basically doesnt matter at all cause when you come out youve already got a professional degree. if calpoly's where you want to go but you dont get in, it could be easier to go to ucsd for a year and get all your essential non-arch courses out of the way and then transfer in and you wouldnt be that behind (and it would be easier to get in than it is now)
where else did you apply?</p>
<p>Well the other school I applied to with architecture is UC Berkeley, and to be realisitic I don't think I'll get in. But I did get accepted to UCSD, UCI, UCD, but rejected to UCSB and UCLA. Only CalPoly and UCB have architecture, so my future with architecture lies with a CalPoly acceptance. If I get rejected, I don't know what my plan will be. People suggested I major in structural engineering minor in studio art, then go on to architecture in grad school.</p>
<p>Also, what's the difference in career success with someone who just has a bachelors in architecture and someone who has a masters in it?</p>
<p>not much difference in itself, but if you have a m.arch it means you have a bachelors in something else, which might give you an advantage, however, studio art is probably not one of those impressive things. Also, if you have a 5 year b.arch you can also get a post-professional masters to give you that advantage, so it evens out. if you get a degree in structural engineering, that would be great! because it's more practical than architecture (and of course studio art), so you wouldn't be wasting those four years at all~ plus, you may be able to get credit for some of the m.arch courses and graduate in maybe 2.5 years...but I don't think that's possible with a studio art thing since every school is proud of their own design studio program.</p>
<p>you should check out university of arizona or Arizona state university. They both have great arch programs and they're not that far from CA. Plus, living in the desert is a great experience</p>
<p>I don't think there's a difference between b.arch and m.arch in terms of career success. Both are quite demanding. M.arch will cost you more years for sure but with another major under your belt, your other major might benefit you. It's about what you want. career succes mainly depends on what YOU do in life more than anything else.</p>
<p>if you get an engineering degree it'll help you if you want to do ENGINEERING. in terms of architecture firms, i don't know if it'd help...it might though</p>
<p>Thanks guys for the advice. I have to put my thoughts together to see what my future will be.
I can't go out of state (california) because parents won't let me.</p>
<p>Anyways, I've always been hearing that architects nowadays get paid little and work long hours. Since I've always been interested in architecture I guess I can't let this affect me. Collegeboard says the average pay for architects in 2004 was $67,300 a year, which isn't bad (but my parents do make more with their jobs). However, people say the starting pay for a job after college is crap. But hey, if you love your job, then salary doesn't matter.</p>
<p>if you end up taking a bachelors of something else, do art only if you don't want to go through four years of engineering studies, because structural engineering is so closely related to architecture that most firms combine both disciplines. You will be getting yourself a more practical understanding, better job opportunities and an alternate career path that will help you during times when architecture is slowing down. I just don't see how a studio art degree would help any one, except for that you might get a real high GPA to send to grad schools.</p>
<p>So getting a Bachelors in structural engineering and then a masters in architecture is a good idea?</p>
<p>Also, is getting a masters in architecture after getting a bachelors in architecture pointless? Won't both degrees bring you the same jobs/success?</p>
<p>in terms of job pay, no...it won't make much of a difference. you'll know more about arch by doing masters though =) if you want to teach, a masters is important. </p>
<p>lierbag, do what you want to do. if you like structural engineering, go for it. if you only do it cause it's stable, then don't do it and just get a B.arch. Will being a structural engineer make you a better architect? Probably not. I would do structural engineer if i really love engineering. i like math but i'd rather design buildings instead.</p>