<p>Fallingwater, if you're basing all your info on your colleague's parents, you're going to be behind the times, and I truly feel like you are in this topic. Your example above illustrates this well: even the person you talk about being so maligned recognizes that the younger her clients are, the better things get. I would extend this based on my own experience to say that the younger your bosses are, and the more young people they have worked with successfully, the better things get. I really believe that for the most part the sexist attitude of the profession is in the process of aging out: more of the worst offenders retire every year, and the new people coming into the profession are going to school in environments where gender equality is a reality. I'm very curious to know who at SC enforced this stereotype in you, as when I was there only a few years ago the most successful designers there (in grades, awards, and general respect) were mostly women.</p>
<p>archkid: I like your attitude! You are going to do well in life and will be a credit to yourself and to the profession.</p>
<p>fallinwater: your perceptions of architecture are really based on some notions that don't seem to exist much anymore. Join the new millenium! :-). You know, there are thousands of successful architects (men and women), but the truly famous are few. (Just like any other field that might have 'celebrity'.) It's really not necessary to pick career or family over one another. </p>
<p>archiemom: hear! hear! As another female architect, I'm a couple years younger than you, but can attest that it's possible to have a fulfilling career, marriage (almost 25 years now!), and children (almost grown). I took minimal time off when my kids were born, but they seem to be turning out pretty well so far.</p>
<p>Right on, arkitex! Like larationalist stated, most offenders are retiring, so hopefully we'll be able to phase out this social stigma against marriage and gender inequality!</p>
<p>Fallinwater,
You asked Sara if she wants to be a star architect? I have an issue with that. I have a daughter about to graduate college and enter a fine MArch school. This week, she landed a real nice summer internship at a firm in NYC. Never once has she said that her goal is to be a star architect, nor to work for one of the biggest or most well known firms, such as in NYC or some such. I know that is not the goal. I am sure her goal is to become successful as an architect in a satisfying job doing what she wants to do. Fame and fortune are not her goals. She doesn't measure success in those terms. I feel certain she will achieve her goals of becoming an architect and eventually be gainfully employed in a satisfying career. I also believe she will become a mother some day. To narrowly define goals or success in terms of being a "star architect" is not what everyone wants. Perhaps that is your goal but it is not the same for all and their goals are truly nothing less. Becoming successful in their field and having a satisfying job in it will be enough for many.</p>
<p>In my experience, the "stars" may be the designers, but they are not the architects that make the design work. Afterall, it's technical competency that makes environments safe and functional and fulfill the design intent. That's where the satisfaction lies in architecture...seeing your work inhabited and used sucessfully by real people. It is fine to aspire to be a star, but young designers should keep in mind that there is much more to architecture than that.</p>
<p>Lovely to meet you, arkitex.</p>
<p>And looking back, I really don't think that I have encountered much "gender prejudice" over the years. Any difficulty encountered was more likely due to young age and lack of experience. And yes, the dinosaurs are dying off (especially those in the construction end!).</p>
<p>archiemom, I used to work on the construction end myself, mostly out of the office. Since I have a somewhat gender-neutral name, I used to really enjoy the attempts to conceal surprise by the guys on site when I would show up for a visit and start telling them what to do. There was suprise, and even a little skepticism (I'm also much younger than I think they expected), but I never encountered a situation where they wouldn't listen to me, and after they followed my instructions the relationship would lighten up when they recognized that I knew what I was talking about.</p>
<p>I too have a somewhat ambiguous name, so I 've had some of the same experiences. And you're absolutely right, that once you prove that you're qualified, most everyone accepts you as a professional, no matter your sex. Most contractors just assume all architects are less than competent, so I imagine we've all been in the same boat at some time or another.</p>
<p>What wonderful encouragement and support. I want to meet everyone of you! </p>
<p>Yes, FW, I'll answer your starchitect question, but the price you pay is yet another story.... </p>
<p>I was at my Cornell interview with an assoc. prof. who, well into the interview asked me the exact same question! My response then, and to you now; Absolutely yes,... IF you use my definition of a star architect, but if you use the currently popular definition,... then no way in hell. The prof, who had been engaged in our conversation for twenty minutes, pulled back in his chair, his eyes rolled for just a tiny moment, then exhaled the breath he was holding and asked me to explain. I presented my view of architecture's future on this rapidly changing planet of ours. You know the stuff, excessive carbon mining, the Mauna Loa data, the need for green, sustainable, humanitarian, community based, blah blah. He seemed ok and we moved on until later when I asked him if HE wanted to be a stararchitect. Immediately the conversation flipped from the usual sales pitch of -we have a world class program in a world class institution and offer to outstanding applicants like you who have demonstrated their blah, blah, blah.... to a shuffling of papers and mumblings of running late..... At first thought I figured the guy had a sudden onset of indigestion or perhaps recalled he'd forgotten to pick up his kid at pre-school... </p>
<p>I certainly won't condemn a school on the way that one meeting closed, but later that day while roaming the studios I chatted up five or six students of various years and they didn't seem to be able to turn my disappointment around. Eventually I decided it wasn't the place for me and I withdrew my Cornell decision. </p>
<p>----> A note to you lurkers sending PM's whining about how good your school is, or how stupid I am for declining them.... Save the photons, from now on I'm deleting all PM's.....</p>
<p>To the women before me; you are, in my eyes, stars!</p>
<p>-sara</p>
<p>Wow, Sara, that was quite a story. </p>
<p>Again, what is your final decision?</p>
<p>Hey Sara,
Wish I still owned a firm...I'd hire you in a second.</p>
<p>I'm vicariously smug that you turned down Cornell. That was my "dream" school in 1975, but I was not accepted into the architecture school (could have had engineering). It's a big joke in my family, and it's nice to see the tables turned.</p>
<p>archiemom, Thanks :) Let's see where I am a half dozen years from now. We just might cross paths.</p>
<p>FW, and anyone still interested, I wish I could edit the thread title to "...per day that I have enough time to think on it." Senior year is rushing to an end and suddenly there's tons on my plate. Class day trip, class overnight trip, grandparents day, fine arts weekend, AP exams and more... </p>
<p>Have no fear, I'll make the time for final cuts soon. </p>
<p>G'nite all, time for some shuteye.</p>
<p>-sara</p>
<p>For those of you awaiting the conclusion of the sara saga....</p>
<p>Re-cap;
I had chopped my acceptances down to the final three, (alphabetically; Cal Poly, CMU and WIT), then left you all hanging. SORRY :( about that.
You may recall the merit aid offered put all three remaining schools at near the same coa and they are all 5 yr BArch programs. After that, they significantly differer. I did my homework on these schools. Visited all. Spoke with department heads, professors, staff and students at all three. Met with several alumni of two, the Dean's of two, the President of one. Discovered what the arch department had been for each school, what it is currently, and most important to me, where it is now going,... as well as where & how I would fit in and what I can do for myself with what the program offers. The more I dug, poked and prodded, the easier it was to make my decision. It soon became very clear which was the school for me. My deposit went in early last week, got the t-shirt yesterday, wore it to my hs today and it fits fine! Perhaps not a decision consistent with the typical CCer, but a decision I am extremely happy with. I declined Cal Poly and CMU. Next fall I'll be at WIT.</p>
<p>Now you know......</p>
<p>Thanks for your time and support,
-sara</p>
<p>I'll bet it is a relief to have it done and decided. I am still trying to convince my wife (Simmons grad) that my daughter needs to visit WIT (during baseball season of course) and check it out.</p>
<p>Keep us updated as things progress - I am sure that alot of the typical CCers will want to know in a few years if you look back and feel that you made the correct decision. I think that there is no way you could go wrong after all the time you put into the decision and the fact that you appear to be someone who will bloom where you are planted.</p>
<p>Enjoy the rest of your senior year!</p>
<p>Chris
(MIT 88)</p>
<p>Congratulations on your decision, Sara. Here in CT we hear many good things about Wentworth's current programs (a big change from the early 1980s!) and I'm sure you will gain valuable knowledge and experience up in Boston.</p>
<p>And I agree...we would enjoy hearing from you as you work through your degree. Keep in touch.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>In some places a BArch is all you need. In the state I live in, you need a Masters in order to be licensed.</p>
<p>Hey Sara,</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing your 'saga'.</p>
<p>I knew Wentworth back in the seventies when it was a two year commuter trade school. I lived very closeby and my then girlfriend went to high school down the street. When WIT first came up on my son's radar I was reluctant at best. I've since learned how much the school has changed. Very different school and program now, and they are still improving. They are about to build a student center, something that the lack of keeps them off those 'rankings' and I'm sure you are aware they have just received NAAB accreditation to upgrade to a 5yr MArch. My kid compared Wentworth with the other schools that accepted him, -some that are also on your list- and he chose WIT. He's happy so I'm thrilled. Last week, at his highschool, he sat for a photo with his graduating class of 42 kids all wearing their college sweatshirts. There were two Harvards, a Yale, MIT, CMU, UCBerekley, Stanford, Georgetown, Chicago, and a bunch of others, but the kid with the happiest grin was the one in the Wentworth shirt!
You, my son and the rest of your classmates will establish Wentworth's place in the future of architecture.</p>
<p>Hi Sara
It took you quite some time to eliminate some schools, I did it in one day.I eliminated BU,RIT,Northeastern and SUNY Stony Brook. I am going to Indianapolis on full scholarship, something rare for an international student(I am Greek)</p>
<p>So how was the first semester at WIT?</p>
<p>To be honest with you Cal Poly has a very rigorous arch program, and they will turn you into a fabulous technical worker, but I've never seen anyone from Cal Poly who are GOOD DESIGNERS. Maybe it's just my impression but something about the school seems to make their graduates just void of any creativity.</p>