<p>What are some "pre-reqs" if you will. Like, (i don't know if any of these are true but) need to be good at math and physics, need to have art appreciation, need to be creative things like that that would tell me that architecture could be something that I would enjoy doing.</p>
<p>See [Thought</a> Provoking Architecutre-themed Presentations on TED](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/architecture-major/483453-thought-provoking-architecutre-themed-presentations-ted.html][i]Thought”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/architecture-major/483453-thought-provoking-architecutre-themed-presentations-ted.html) for a start.</p>
<p>Being good at math and physics will help you in architecture school, but you are unlikely to need much of either once you become a practicing architect. The most important thing is to be able to envision things in three dimensions and in particular to have the sort of brain that can translate two dimensional plans into three dimensional ideas. While creativity is nice, I don’t think it is as important as being able to solve problems. Architecture is a bit like putting together a jig saw puzzle where you design the piece shapes. Another critical skill is the ability to listen and to understand how your client’s needs and wants might be translated into three dimensions. For something like a house that might be figuring out if someone’s daily routine means they should have a formal dining room, or a mudroom, or a nice front hall for example. Additionally you also need to be able to talk to contractors, and deal nicely with the bureaucrats and be persuasive when you come before planning and zoning boards. It’s a good job for someone whose pretty good at a lot of different things - though in some of the larger firms you may have people who specialize in different aspects of the job.</p>
<ul>
<li>Good at spacial conceptualization</li>
<li>A “visual” imagination that sees complete designs</li>
<li>Excellent quantitative talents</li>
<li>A bold artistic flair can’t hurt, either.</li>
</ul>
<p>at least for architecture school:</p>
<p>-a critical thinker
-ability to link different issues together
-needs to think independently
-loves to deal with many things at once
-loves change
-curiosity for everything
-a lot of drive and stamina (you’ll need it)
-passion</p>
<p>this isn’t required but people who are good at debate tend to be great architecture students because they can think and express through an argument critically</p>
<p>All the things mentioned above will help, but they won’t guarantee anything. Even if you like architecture in college, you might not like it as a profession. If I were you, I would shadow a practicing architect for a week.</p>
<p>Nothing is guaranteed!!! I wanted to be an electrical engineer since 4th grade and go to Purdue since 4th grade. Ended up realizing both! Got into the working world and found I enjoyed studying engineering more than practicing it. Went to school evenings to get an MBA. After 20 some years in product management and market research, realized I enjoyed studying business more than doing it. After the tech bubble burst in 2002 went back to school again to get a teaching certificate to teach 6-12 math. Now in my 4th year teaching and love it (more than engineering or business but loved studying those majors). You never know how life will turn out! My son will be going to USC for architecture but while he feels that is what he wants to do and enjoy it, he knows what his plans are in terms of majors in case he finds architecture is not for him (Plan B but I do believe architecture fits him.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. That sounds just like me. I’m definitly going to shadow an architect to make sure.</p>
<p>I feel as though I have a lot of characteristics of architects: creative, innovative, driven, passionate, artistic, etc. I really don’t enjoy math or science though, but I can bear it if its minimal.</p>
<p>Exactly how much math/physics is involved in architecture?</p>
<p>
“On the job”? I’ll leave that to the architects who post here.
During your college education? Probably less than you’d imagine, but it depends on the school/program. Go to the websites of the schools you have an interest in and find their curriculum- then you’ll know what you’re up against.</p>
<p>At notre dame there is two semesters of calc and one of physics both of which you can get out of with ap credit. </p>
<p>At ND I was told that if you want to design the look the building then be an architect. If you want to design the structure then be an engineer.</p>
<p>that would be a very wrong assumption. architects also design the detail of every building. this includes the little details that connect one beam to the other and the little details that connects a window to the wall. structural engineers consult and make sure that the building you design is safe and works.</p>
<p>Actually Sashimi, architects don’t design detailed beam connections (unless perhaps it is wood framing on a residential project), even structural engineers don’t design the connection details; the steel fabricators design the details.</p>
<p>We have engineers in our firms and very creative architects, and if there is one characteristic that differentiates them it is their attitude towards ambiguity. Many of our engineers began in architecture and couldn’t deal with the ambiguous nature of the profession. You may do a project that you think is just great and half of the jury members think it is crap and the other half think it is sublime. Who is to say which one is right? People who do well in architecture seem to accept and even thrive in this kind of open environment, and people who end up in engineering want to see issues more in black and white. Did I answer the problem correctly? Yes or no. Black or white.</p>
<p>A love of art classes is a good sign. I never took art in high school, but I spent all my spare time drawing cars and airplanes in my notebooks. Some capacity in math and physics is good, but you don’t really need a lot, and certainly not once you graduate.</p>
<p>Sign up for architecture and I guarantee you that within one semester you will know if it is for you. If you find the workload to be a grind, go find something else to do. If you find it exhilarating, then you have found a home.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>regardless of school, it is most likely easier to transfer out of architecture than into architecture, so i would say begin in architecture. </p>
<p>an additional note is that many schools teach you the basics of art at the beginning so don’t worry if you have not taken many art classes. I know that at ND they use watercolor, etc, but you have a class to learn the basics of these art forms which is helpful, because while most have taken some classes on pencil, etc, less have dealt with other mediums in as much detail.</p>
<p>I will echo what Hawkswim said:</p>
<p>regardless of school, it is most likely easier to transfer out of architecture than into architecture.</p>
<p>Many people leave architecture school after their first semester and first year because they found that they didn’t like it. Many schools lose upwards of 20%+ in the first year as they go into other programs at their University. Those students, I can imagine, still graduate and live happy lives. If you have a passion for it now, I’d jump in and see what happens. At worst, your studio credits will end up going to your general education requirements. </p>
<p>The opposite, transferring in, may have you staying late or during a summer to make up the lost studio time (and cost more money 
).</p>
<p>For those of you who are currently studying architecture, do you think that attending one of the summer arch programs offered by many universities would be helpful in determining whether or not architecture is the right fit?</p>
<p>@ Psi, attending the Harvard Career Discovery made a huge impression on me (the main impetus to seriously pursue architecture). While it’s perhaps only a fraction the intensity of a graduate school (like Harvard), it does a great job at giving you an approximation of what you can expect (workload and creativity-wise). Prior to CDisco, I kept bouncing around majors, from Art History to Environmental Eng. Sciences to Public Health. </p>
<p>*And it’s cheaper to do 6 weeks at a summer arch program than to apply to an M.Arch program, only to realise that it isn’t a good fit, drop out, and only get a partial refund hah</p>