How do you guide an artistic kid?

@scholarme, I’m the parent of an architect. I agree with @mathmom that architecture career discovery programs can help high school students decide if they want to enter directly into undergraduate professional architecture programs. Many architecture schools offer exploration programs. Some are geared toward high school students; some more toward college students thinking about graduate school or adults wishing to change careers. The programs vary in cost, length of time and whether they are in residence or day programs.

If architecture consistently appears on your daughter’s career radar, you should be aware that there are several ways approach architecture school. You can get a Bachelor OF Architecture (BArch) which is usually a 5.0 year program started right out of high school. You can get a 4.0 year Bachelor IN Architecture or Architectural Studies plus a 1.0-to 3.0 year Master of Architecture (MArch). You can get a 4.0 year BA/BS degree in just about anything (art, art history etc) plus a 3.0 to 3.5 year MArch. I wouldn’t say that any of these options is better than the other, but the total time commitment varies as does the total cost.

My son was interested in architecture from an early age, but wasn’t prepared to commit to the intensive and narrowly focused BArch. He chose to get a BA in art studio/art history, worked for a couple of years for an architecture firm, then got his MArch. This was the right path for him, but different students will have different objectives. The Architecture Careers board on this site is a good source of information.