Cheers, can you help in with architect stuff?

Parents Forum
1

<p>HELP ME PICK A SCHOOl-CALPOLYPOMONA or CC/TO A BETTER ARCH. SCHOOL? </p>

<hr>

<p>i posted in another thread, but someone replied to asked you since they said you were an architect.</p>

<p>ok, im a senior right now and the only school i got into is cal poly pomona. i have alerady made up my mind that i will be an architect for the rest of my life. </p>

<p>Unfortunetly, i got into calpoly pomona as a landscape architect major(my 2nd major) and not my first, which was architecture(an impacted major). I wanted to get into calpoly San Luis Obispo, but pomona is still a good school for architect.</p>

<p>so im deciding, whether i should go to CALPOLY POMONA under landscape architecture and transfer back to architecture or Go to City College and transfer after two years to a better(a lot of people think pomona is a weak university) university architect?</p>

<p>are my chances higher switching majors or transfering?</p>

<p>is it worth it? is it good pay(i know it seems like a dumb question to ask, but all in our hearts, money consumes us all)</p>

2

<p>vyan....You didn't present quite enough info....but....</p>

<p>Starting out in landscape architecture with a transfer to architecture seems like a good plan. Presumably, the freshman courses have cross-over value?</p>

<p>Otherwise, a transfer to another school is an option.</p>

<p>Yes and no to the $$$. While the starting wages are not that flash, an architect with the right skill set, who eventually owns his/her practice can make very good money.</p>

3

<p>Cheers, if you're still here, which would you say is more highly regarded, a degree from an art school (i.e. RISD) or one from a respected U (say, UTA)?</p>

4

<p>Architecture is a profession that defies national rankings. The profession tends to be regional. </p>

<p>For example, if a students wants to practice in Texas, a Texas degree might be an advantage over a RISD degree. A RISD degree wouldn't necessarily be a disadvantage, but a Texas degree might give a slight advantage. </p>

<p>Likewise, if a student wants to practice in Kansas City, a KU degree might have advantages over an RISD degree.</p>

<p>That said, there are differences in education and experience that do matter if the student wants to:</p>

<ol>
<li> Attend an Ivy post grad program</li>
<li> Practice on the East or West Coast</li>
<li> Aim for the limelight</li>
<li> Work for a noted architect</li>
</ol>

<p>In the above instances, a 'brand' name school, like RISD, might have advantages.</p>

<p>Two of the very best architecture schools are quasi-art schools---Cooper Union and SCIARC. I've never met a Cooper Grad without talent. They are uniformly outstanding. Likewise for Cornell. </p>

<p>My one hesitation about state schools is the location. It is impossible to hone a talent for architecture without experiencing architecture. Looking at photographs simply won't do the trick--dont' let anybody tell you different.</p>

<p>Austin and Lawrence, how shall I put this? They are not architectural meccas--though not that different from Ithaca and Providence. Still, Ithaca and Providence are closer to New York and Boston--and London and Rome, for that matter. </p>

<p>The bottom line is that an architect has to travel--extensively--in order to develop a design talent.</p>

<p>So says me, anyway ;)</p>

5

<p>vyan...
I'm an architecture grad student at the Harvard GSD (I also did undergrad architecture at Cornell) and there are more than a few pomona/Luis Obispo people here. They are among the most talented people here and their graduates have a strong reprentative here on the east coast. I don't think you would do wrong by attending either program.
Landscape architecture studios (at least the cores) are a lot different than regular architecture studios. I personally think that taking landscape course work is beneficial to an architect, but make sure about your ability to transfer. I had a friend or two at Cornell who thought they could do that (it was more about tution) and they got caught when their transfer applications weren't approved. Is it possible to take regular arch. studios while in the landscape program?</p>

<p>I think that it smart to stick with the state arch programs at the undergrad level, especially if you plan on going to grad school in the future. Its WAY cheaper in the long run. If you are planning on getting a B.Arch professional degree, than you won't have to spend as much time in grad school and it will be even cheaper. </p>

<p>AS for pay...it really depends on location and experience. You won't be rolling in the dough at first, but you have to be willing to work hard and stick with it. if you have any arch questions just email me.</p>

6

<p>wow you guys are really helpful.</p>

<p>btw, how do you get into SCIARC? can i apply now?</p>

<p>so i dont have to attend a prestigious school? i keep on thinking that i should go to CC and apply to a better school on the long run. should i attend a grad. program after undergrad? if so, what is the best choice?</p>

<p>which makes more? landscape or arch.? or does that vary?</p>

<p>i have so many questions to ask you guys!i just cant think of anymore. but ill develop some more!</p>

7

<p>vyan: If you don't mind me asking, what were your stats? My brother, too, is attending Cal Poly Pomona this fall as an architecture major. Unfortunately, he was turned down by San Luis Obispo.</p>

<p>I_wonder: How is the outlook for future architects? Will there still be openings 5, 10, maybe 15 years from now? How much would a typical architect make straight out of college?</p>

8

<p>you're lucky your bro got into architecture. its very impacted and im trying to get into it right now.</p>

<p>my stats:
sat:1000
satII: forgot, but was really low.
gpa ave. was 3.4/3.5
had alot of extracurricular activities, but i had a D so i got turned down by all of the UCS.</p>

<p>be sure to answer my previous question as well</p>

9

<p>Apply to SCIARC: <a href="http://www.sciarc.edu/v5/apply/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.sciarc.edu/v5/apply/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The portfolio is most important.</p>

<p>Pay scale varies region to region. A new (intern) architect grad could expect to earn between $25K to $35K for his/her first apprentice job. Great, speedy CAD skills can push the salary toward the high end. </p>

<p>Landscape architects might earn slightly less to start, but the opportunities for establishing a successful, independent landscape design practice are better, (based on my observations --especially for women).</p>

<p>To be sure to find financial success, choose the field that interests you most.</p>

10

<p>Cheers, any insight into the (more specialized?) architectural engineering degree? While my son likes to draw (and will take his first stab at an oil painting class this summer :)), he is very technically oriented. Loves working with CAD and generally fooling around with his computer. I wonder if arch engineering might be a better fit, but have concerns that it might be limiting. Thx.</p>

11

<p>you are lucky to have been admitted to cal poly pomona with those numbers, so dreaming about cooper union is pure fantasy. the general education core at cal poly is the same for all students so you lose no time early on while you try to jockey into mainstream arch which certainly is possible if you can bloom early on. but if you are able to move over via lobbying and classroom performance you will be up against students on the pomona campus with an average HS GPA around 3.9 and SAT scores way higher than yours. a typical arch senior there sorts among a dozen job offers. only 8 per cent of very talented applicants get into arch at CPP. perhaps you will experience a renaissance at a juco but you might take note of the bird in the hand wisdom as well. the post above is significant as well--you need to be around important contributions to architecture to understand it, ie, the getty, the huntington, that a setting like los angeles affords. other than new york and washington and perhaps chicago and the wright legacy etc., you can't do much better in this nation for locale.</p>

12

<p>Vyan, glad you took my advice and posted here - sounds like Cheers, and everyone else, are giving you good advice. </p>

<p>However, I will repeat what I said on the other board: make absolutely certain to double check with Cal Poly Pomona about the number of transfers they take from landscape arch. to regular arch. each year. I'd also check to see if their are specific GPA requirements in order to transfer. And, contact schools such as SLO or others of potential interest and ask them specifically how many transfers they accept into their architecture programs, required classes, and GPA. This is VERY important because it is not always possible to transfer into certain types of majors from a CC at some schools.</p>

13

<p>THe outlook for archs right now is actually pretty good. compared to when I graduated from undergrad a few years ago and you couldn't give away your labor, people are getting plenty of job offers right now with decent pay and good benefits. Id say that the average salary that you could expect in your region with an undergrad degree is 37-45K, depending on your previous experience and the size of the firm.</p>

14

<p>test scores and grades aren't extremely important when apply to 'good' design schools that require a portfolio. 2 of my good friends who went to Pomona had worse stats than you (I think one guys grad school app. stats were even worse) but they each had outstanding portfolios, resumes, and recommendations and they are doing just fine over here.<br>
As for location, after NYC/Boston Cali is the hotspot for design. There are lots of firms doing interesting work (gehry, morphosis, eric owen moss, etc.) and a lot of innovative projects are being built. Chicago has its own vibe going on, but IIT (the current it design school in the area) is climbing in popularity (especially with its new Koolhaas building). there are a few firms doing cool research/work (like studio gang)
wAshington is somewhat dead...its got a really conservative design environment. There are a few firms that are breaking the box, but overall its really corporate environment.
THe midwest and the south is getting more attention these days because a lot of small firms are doing innovative projects. Check out Mack Scogin, Auburn (sam mockbee's building studio), Rick Joy, and others
For random architecture information check out archinect.com. there are links to lots of firms and projects, and they have a forum filled with architects and students with nothing better to do than answer your questions :)</p>

15

<p>$45k a year translates to $22.50 per hour. A frim would have to bill that out at $67.50 per hour to make a profit. That's a huge ask for an intern with no experience. </p>

<p>A good picture of the job market--albeit without salaries...</p>

<p><a href="http://losangeles.craigslist.org/egr/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://losangeles.craigslist.org/egr/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

16

<p>Like I said, it depends on experience, and most people graduating from school have at least 2 or 3 summers behind them. It may sound high but that is what people I know are getting in LA, Boston and NYC. It wouldn't be near as much in other cities. Low to mid 30s is more typical though.
On archinect there is a salary poll here:
<a href="http://archinect.com/salary_questionnaire/index.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://archinect.com/salary_questionnaire/index.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

17

<p>No doubt there are grads getting those salaries. Are they typical? Hmmmmm.</p>

<p>Cornell, HGD grads may have a different perspective?</p>

<p>I_wonder, may I ask, what percentage of your class started with liberal arts degress--not BArchs/BSc Arch? How are they performing, compared to those with BArch/BScArchs?</p>

<p>1sokker; Is your S the type to take things apart and put them back together? If so, he might think about structural engineering over architectural engineering. Structural engineers get great starting salaries.</p>

18

<p>In my program(M.ArchII) everyone has a B.Arch. In the M.ArchI program, the official word is that 50% of each class has a non-arch background (although that number is going down apparently). The liberal arts people are always complaining that the school doesn't do enough to bridge the skills gap between them and those with more experience. Its got to be hard, being in a core studio with people who have 4 or more years of school/work experience in the field.
In terms of salary they seem to only a little bit less than the B.Arch people with less experience (like me!). I guess its because of all those big name architects on their resume :) Of course, their are people in my M.ArchII program with like 10 years experience so they are totally not in my salary bracket.</p>

19

<p>Interesting....you don't keep up with what is happening in the MII studios? Is it that seperated? Do they know what is happening in your studios? Do you think there is a marked difference in the work? (I'm asking these questions for the benefit of parents with potential architect majors...)</p>

<p>If I can offer secret advice, I recommend grads push to get a job with a big name architect in New York or LA. The peer talent in those offices is unbelieveable. Several years of exposure to a successful high-design practice can be an invaluable experience.</p>

<p>Also, if an architect does open his/her own practice, that work may stay in their portfolios for decades. We still get work from work we did for a couple of big name offices in New York, circa 1981 to 1985. As it turns out, national and international clients recognize and remember big name architects. Our work for those names has helped us boost our hourly rates to above average levels.</p>

<p>That's my theory anyway. ;)</p>

20

<p>The M.Arch1s have 2 years of core studios and then 2 options studios before thesis. In M.Arch2 we only do the option studios so its a much different experience. While there are separate option studios for the Arch, Landscape, and urban planning department, everyone is mixed in at the options level so you get a variety of people with different experiences in your studio. </p>

<p>The core program is quite different, and very rigid from what I can see. The core studios have your typical design school program: museums, housing, library, courthouses, etc. The option studios tackle various design problems that sometimes cross over into issues of urban design and redevelopment. Many times sponsors from around the world come to GSD looking for a group of students to approach an issue and come up with a different way of seeing and solving a problem. I had the opportunity to travel to Korea in order to develop strategies for the redevelopment of a south korean town that was being targeted for growth because of its proximity to the DMZ. This semester a developer sponsored my studio to travel to Croatia and come up with ideas for housing development on a parcel of land he had just purchased. The issues that we had to tackle in these studios were much broader than pure design development; because of the client and context of the design problems there were various issues that we had to address in our schemes. </p>

<p>As for a difference in the work, you can definitely see a difference in the work produced in core and that which is produced in the option studios. I think it has to do with the fact that the bar is raised by having 'star' professors lead the studios and having students from all different majors and degree programs mixed together. At
<a href="http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/studioworks/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/studioworks/&lt;/a>
you can see examples of studio work from the past few years. A lot of the students whose work gets selected for publication are students who have had previous design experience.</p>