California Architecture Majoring

College Majors Architecture Major
1

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I'm a highschool Junior in CA looking into becoming an architect major come college. A few burning questions:</p>

<p>-I can't draw well, will this doom me?
-Should I take AP Physics in High School?
-Cal Poly is the school I'm looking at most - will this program give me all I need to be a successful architect?
-Should I invest in a computer program and use that / drawing to create some sketches? How can I learn how to do this without taking architecture classes first?
-Any experience that would be useful to an unknown to the field?</p>

<p>I've always loved buildings and would love to make them, but so many questions I can't even think of them all.</p>

2

<p>I will try to answer as best I can, drawing on what I've been told here:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>No, it won't doom you. It /may/ hurt applying to /certain/ schools (i.e. those which require portfolios), but it probably won't kill you. Drawing well is just a tool - it's like writing well. Some are inherently better at it than others, but practice and you will get better. Draw from life (self portraits in mirrors, still lives; do not have a portfolio of anime and sci-fi imagination drawings). </p></li>
<li><p>Again, AP Physics depends on the school - for Cal Poly, I imagine they'd want to see that and definately calc, AP again if possible. </p></li>
<li><p>Don't know tons about CPSLO, but I've heard good things. Others here will be able to tell you more about that. (Search past threads, read all about their philosophy on their website, see student and faculty work). I dont even know if they require a portfolio.</p></li>
<li><p>Probably not. Taking an architecture drafting class in high school is useless - mechanical drawings won't look good in your portfolio. They want to see freehand drawings and an ability to think critically and conceptually. By that I mean take art classes, probably outside of school, learn about design, and learn how to represent your ideas visually and coherently. </p></li>
<li><p>Read as much as you can I guess. Do a summer program - the longer the better. It gives you solid design work for your portfolio and it not only shows schools your seriously interested in architecture, but it gives them some idea of how you'd perform in design studios.</p></li>
</ol>

3

<p>Thanks, that's very useful info. =)</p>

<p>My school has AP Physics AB and BC, I'll look into those. We also have AP Calc AB and BC, but math is my weakest point and I'm concerned about my success with poor math skills. We don't offer a non-AP Calc class, oddly.</p>

<p>For the drawings, would them being of building ideas and the like be the best route? I've tried that before. I love SLO's philosophy, but I am worried that their architecture school will be difficult to get into.</p>

<p>My stats: Junior
GPA - ~3.7
2 APs - Biology and Language/Composition. Planning on taking more next year.
SAT - 1870
+'s - 4 years Marching Band (very possible Drum Major + section leader), 3 years Spanish, music club President, 4 years music (2 in lower group, 2 in highest), going to National Student Leadership Convention come summer, honor band 4 times, ~8 years of AYSO soccer</p>

<p>Look good enough for their program? I'm trying to find an internship / job to do with architecture, but have been unsuccessful. What did you guys do?</p>

<p>Also, any experience as what life is like as an architect would be amazing.</p>

4

<p>I'm a year ahead of you and am awaiting decisions from a bunch of arch schools. Some thoughts about what I learned along the way;</p>

<p>Research the different pathways to becoming an architect, BS arch + MArch, BArch, or MArch II. </p>

<p>Check out NAAB at NAAB:</a> Home
It is THE organization that accredits arch programs.</p>

<p>Check out ACSA, they have a book and a website describing every accredited arch program in the USA. Try this link;
<a href="https://www.acsa-arch.org/students/%5B/url%5D"&gt;https://www.acsa-arch.org/students/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Go to the websites of any arch program your interested in.</p>

<p>Visit any arch program you can, --> call ahead and be sure to attend a studio class as a visitor. Every one of the six schools I visited were pleased to show me around and happy with my interest. </p>

<p>I was told by department heads at three different arch schools that doing well in AP Physics is the best indicator that you will handle arch studies well.</p>

<p>CalPoly is in a small group of the best Arch programs in the country. Actual rank varies according to who does the ranking, but I doubt you'll find anyone who wouldn't agree it's an excellent program. Please check carefully with your hs GC that you have all the requirements to apply to CalPoly. Some from my school have been rejected (from other CalPoly majors) because missing one requirement. -->Check now while you have time to fix anything you lack. There is a site, CSMentor I think, that has everything but it was confusing as hell to me. A good GC should know all that is required.</p>

<p>Most schools you have to be admitted first to the college, then accepted to the arch program. And most arch programs only take 50-80 freshmen per year, so it can be pretty competitive.</p>

<p>The 'drawing' is not so clear. At least one school I applied to said "no, we will teach you" and I saw drawings from freshmen, six weeks into the school year that blew me away, and I spoke with several of the kids who pointed to their sketch and said they couldn't draw at all two months prior. Amazing.
None of the schools I talked to wanted you to learn drafting in hs, saying it's just mechanical an they prefer to teach you their way. (Same with autocad). But you do need drawing skills. (and computer skills). The best explanation I got was that you need to show two things, that you can express your thoughts in a quick sketch that others can understand, and that you have some sense of 'creativity'.
Sketch often. One director of admission said she would rather see several quick timed sketches than yet another "perfect hand" that obviously was worked and re-worked over and over for months.</p>

<p>Some schools require a portfolio for admissions, some don't, some it's optional. Check the schools arch department websites carefully, then start working on one now.</p>

<p>All the schools state their own preferences for computers and programs, at least one that I'm applying to includes a pre-loaded (Arch software is expensive!) laptop in the price of tuition. (That way everyone is on the same page- kinda nice). CalPoly has specs on what you will need freshman year.</p>

<p>Ok, as you can tell I'm bored. Only mail today was a huge envelope from admissions at one of dream schools...
.... It was only a spring newsletter.... how CRUEL!!!</p>

<p>Back to waiting mode.......</p>

<p>Sara</p>

5

<p>There is a forum on this site for CalPoly and I seem to recall there is a thread about what accepted student in the past had for stats.</p>

<p>Sara</p>

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<p>Thank you for the links! They look extremely helpful =)</p>

<p>I have a good relationship with my GC and will ask her come tomorrow if I meet all of the possible requirements. </p>

<p>A question that cannot be answered by anyone that isn't a student, although I know it varies from teacher to teacher - how is AP Physics? Like I said, my weak point is math, but I absolutely love architecture (I've traveled to several European countries and fell in love with Eiffel, Louvre, etc etc as works of art). Is math heavily focused on in physics? Or is it more applying formulae?</p>

<p>Also, are there other near-CA schools that are known for good architecture programs? I'm trying to avoid living on the other side of the country if my options so allow.</p>

7

<p>There are, U of Oregon, USC and several in LA area, Woodbury I think? Check the sites for schools in CA, then look at their individual websites. </p>

<p>At my hs you have to be in, or have completed Calc to take physics.</p>

<p>Some arch schools are more design oriented, so much less math. Savannah College of Arts and Design comes to mind. Others are heavy on math - The guy at Rensselaer told me their graduated may not always design the most artistic buildings.... but, they will NEVER fall down!</p>

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<p>if you end up applying at a school that requires a portfolio, then you can always explore another medium of art, like photography or ceramics or something. also, you can include some very basic sketches in your portfolio. ap physics... well it's helpful to be taking or have taken trig. i think i depends on what what ap physics class you take. for example if you take ap physics b, then it won't necessarily include calculus. however, there are some over lapping things in both calc and physics so it might be hepful to take them at the sametime or something... also a summer program is an excellent idea. i did cornell's summer architecture program this past summer and it was one of the best experiences of my whole life...</p>

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<p>John, I took honors physics last year and am in AP/B this year. The topics are not the same, although there is some overlap. Generally we move very fast, but I wouldn't say that an amazing understanding of math is /all/ you need to do well. Being good at math is a plus, for instance, I'm not very good at math. It's always my lowest grade, it's my lowest SAT, and I'm the only one in AP Physics who hasnt already taken or isnt currently taking calc. I'm middle of the pack (private school - the "pack" is 9 kids lol). </p>

<p>I think it's like almost every other class - you get what you put in. I have to spend a lot more time on hw to get a B than a lot of the kids do to get A's, but that's because I'm just not as good at math, not because of the math classes we take. They are simply better at quantitaive analysis than I am. However, you can work hard to grasp the concepts and you'll be alright. Math is only a tool of physics, it isnt physics. </p>

<p>As far as physics translating to architecture, it isn't as literal a connection as you might think. You take certain things from it and use them to your advantage in design: namely, problem solving ability. The skillsets of physics and high level math coincide well with what architecture demands: critical and conceptual understanding. Look at your english class as having a set of tools you can use in architecture too: critical analysis, creativity, and perhaps most importantly the coherent expression of ideas. You can't say that physics "is" math - it has it's own properties. From what I've read on here, physics and math beyond much trig won't play much of a role in your education and practice as an architect.</p>

<p>As for other schools in CA, in addition to what archkid mentioned, I believe SCI-Arch (Southern California Institute of Architecture) has a good reputation. Archkid also mentioned the varying levels of math and physics requirements at different schools. Check out all of the curriculums of the schools you're applying to. Some will have a good amount of required science/math classes, others may have almost none except for some "Calculus for Architects" which, according to a lot of people, is usually pretty watered down.</p>

<p>ninja edit: I thought I heard on here a while ago that CP-SLO /required/ calc or some kind of physics? Not sure, but definately make sure you read their curriculum.</p>

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<p>I want to be an arch major, having also applied to cpslo (still waiting, should hear something next week! :S)
AP physics was terribly difficult, ended up getting a C, and a 2 on the test. bummer. calculus i never got into because the class was full.</p>

<p>but i just took a university physics class and got a B. if you aren't proficient at math and physics, i would be sort of hesitant. doesn't mean that it's not possible by any means...just that it will be more difficult.
my dad works with architects every day and they have to do TONS. tonsss of math and physics in their daily routine..not everything is just design and drawing..especially at cpslo, where engineering aspects are emphasized just as much as the art aspects.</p>

<p>i hope you decide to be an arch major, and pick cal poly! i think that's the best route for most californians/west coast people aspiring to be architects.</p>

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<p>At an AIAS (American Institute of Architecture Students) program last fall they had 8 working licenced architects sit on stage and each then introduced themselves; their education, family, career path and then give a "day in my life" monologue. They were soooo different from each other, it was very enlightening. One guy I remember the most had an undergrad degree in ENGLISH!, then got his MA in arch (don't recall where) but he hugely enjoyed his current job in a large LA architecture firm... Said half his day was dealing with clients by phone & e-mail, the other half writing for the company. His day was all about communicating architecture, something his co-workers were not as comfortable with as most were more math or design oriented... He was a happy guy.....
My mom always says there's a job for everyone.</p>

<p>sara</p>

12

<p>yeah i met an architect who was originally an art major.
haha</p>

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<p>Cal Poly SLO requires 2 Quarters of Calculus for Barch, Cal Poly Pomona requires Trigonometry. Some other schools require Precalculus. Most schools only require trig based physics, including SLO. Now Architectural Engineering is a different story.</p>

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<p>There are some interesting statistics on Architecture Licensing Examination results, by school, posted on the California Architects board website. Go look at
<a href="http://www.cab.ca.gov/pdf/schoolreport2006.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cab.ca.gov/pdf/schoolreport2006.pdf&lt;/a> and see how your dream school in California stacks up.</p>

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<p>Here are some other schools;
ARE</a> Pass Rates by School</p>

<p>-sara</p>

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<p>If your are worried about math, and you have time, taking or retaking the HS math class at a local community college can really be helpful. For courses beyond Intermediate Algebra you can get transfer credit and you also may be able to replace your HS grades and improve your GPA. Many schools will allow you to take up to 7 units a semester +summer school, while still in HS. Frankly, I found the CC courses easier than AP courses.</p>

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<p>ARCHKID; So if you take the ARE list and average the pass rates for each section to find the average for each school and then sort to find the highest schools you get Univ of Cincinnati as #1 and Yale, U of Minn, U of Maryland, Rice Clemson Virginia and Utah as the top 10 at about 80% pass. Calpoly SLO is 66%. </p>

<p>Jack; University of Oregon is #17 while SLO is #70. Fate may deal you a kind blow.</p>

18

<p>There you go Jack!</p>

<p>Although I don't know how much you can read from those numbers. Are they all first time test takers? You can re-take the test if necessary, right? How often? How many tries are typical? Do you take all sections at the same time or space them out over however long?</p>

<p>Must confess I've never really looked into the exams, always figured I deal with it once I get that far.</p>

<p>-sara</p>

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<p>CPSLO does require 2Q of college calculus, so what you take in HS should help for admission as well as knocking off requirements for BArch. AP Physics, on the other hand, may only help for admission, depending on the level taken. Unless the specific AP Physics test satisfies requirements for either of the first 2Q of college Physics (physics with calculus for engineering majors), then it just shows you took a rigorous course load in HS and does not help much else.</p>

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<p>A director of admissions at an arch school told me that taking and doing well in hs physics is a strong indicator that a student will do well in arch at college. When my son did the college tour thing last fall he asked about physics at all the schools he visited. Admissions people all said they like to see physics on hs transcripts.</p>