<p>I was really surprised when my parents told me not to worry about the money as long as I live under their roof, (they arent financially well, its just they are really selfless lol), and they said as long as you are in school you wont have to pay back any financial loans and when you get out u need to pay it back within 6 months. Also, they said it would be a good idea because I will be 23 after i finish my B.Arch, and it will take 3 or 4 semesters(depending on which school you go to) to get an M.Arch II. I know that a B.Arch is a professional architecture degree and that after an internship exams I could be licensed to practice architecture in 49 states, but would an M.Arch II just make me look more appealing to Architecture firms and internship applications? I noticed that a lot of Arch professors have an M.Arch II so that is kind of cool. So instead of coming out of college in 5 years with a B.Arch, should I just go with my parents words of wisdom and continue on to get a M.Arch II in graduate school? </p>
<p>A BArch is all you need to practice. Work when you get out of your BArch program, get to know the profession, then decide if you need or want an March II. Many of the March II programs expect you to have a couple of years of professional experience so you will come equipped with a broader perspective. I also don’t know many people who after five intense years of architectural studies want to jump right into another three semesters.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>@rick12 okay thanks! </p>
<p>This isn’t a decision that you need to make just yet, so slow down and take it one degree at a time.</p>
<p>The MArch is truly optional for BArch holders, though it does seem to be increasingly common among architecture professionals and standard for architecture school academics. </p>
<p>My observation is that most BArch (and BS) graduates take a breather before jumping into the MArch. Summer jobs and internships can give you an overview of how the industry works, but holding down a real job with real responsibilities – and all the pressure that comes with it – is a different animal. Hands on exposure to the industry enhances the MArch experience, both in how the applicant is viewed by admissions and in how the student perceives the coursework.</p>
<p>The combined cost of a BArch + an MArch can be upward toward half a million dollars so make sure your parents know what they’re committing for. Need based financial aid for the BArch follows pretty much the same guidelines as other undergraduate degrees, but MArch grants are unpredictable and inconsistent.</p>
<p>@momrath Thanks thats really helpful, I shouldnt be looking too far ahead right now lol </p>