Basically, I got into a very good school with top notch architecture program. I have nearly no experience at all in this field but I felt like it was something I was gonna be interested in, also due to my dad’s strong recommendation. I don’t know if i could make it as an architect. I’m pretty poor artistically, I could do observational drawing pretty okay but other than that it’s meh. Should I take drawing classes for that? Also I know architects need to be great communicators, unfortunately this is also not one of my strong suits. I’d appreciate any help/advice from current or intent architects, introduce me to things that can help me prepare for this fall. Just recommending a book would be of great help to me. - Jason
The answer is an unqualified ‘it depends’ 
Artistic skill helps visualize solutions. But you can also do them on a CAD program like Rhino, or on sketch models. Depends on where you got accepted, your only use of pencil and paper may be to write down phone numbers and take Scantron tests. Or you could design the new Olympic Village using paper and pencil. There is considerable variation between schools in how much they incorporate ‘artistic’ drawing. The more traditional programs may do a year of paper and pencil and limited CAD, the more ‘digital’ programs you’ll go thru senior year with one six pack of pencils.
It’s not quite as funny as the part about “Ah you’re an architecture major you must be so good in math” (NOT) but quite valid. In my opinion, and experience, artistic skills are a better indicator of determination and ability to withstand studio, ehem, culture. You either can think in three dimensions or you can’t. If you can do observational drawings pretty well that’s good. If you have time between now and fall to take some drawing classes, even better.
Communication skills… Very important in the sense that you need to develop the thick skin needed to survive crits. Plus to explain what you’re doing. I would definitely look into improving that aspect because you don’t really learn how to do it in college unless you take more comm classes, and that takes a while.
Start with the school you got admitted to and see what’s their studio projects like, and see how you can develop skills to at least hit the ground running when you start. And find some public speaking type classes where you are to improve that as well.
Thank you so much!