<p>I am a second year civil eng student with very good GPA...i can handle all the math/phy. But last summer I looked into architecture and became really passionate about it since then. Now I am considering a switch to B.Sc in Arch which will take additional 3 years to complete. (followed by a 1.5 yr professional M.Arch )</p>
<p>Can anyone offer some advices (in terms of job securities, flexibility?)? I know that you should study what you like. But the thing is I am sure I will be a top student in civil, I wonder if I can achieve the same level in arch.</p>
<p>Are you passionate about design? Is it something that you think about all the time? Do you constantly wonder how something was created and how you might incorporate those ideas into a project? Do you think about ideas instead of just solutions? If you understand these questions, then architecture might be for you. If not, stay with engineering.</p>
<p>Demographics might make the future of architecture more secure than it has been in the past but my experience (I am in my 50s) is that there is greater job stability in engineering than architecture.</p>
<p>Hi Alanarch - I am abit younger than you (not much, though!) but I was wondering how you did during the last recession. As you read in my other post my career never took off and died as about 1/3 of our state's architectural jobs (MD) were never recovered after the recession.</p>
<p>I still remain passionate about design, though, and architecture will always be in my blood but I make my money from other related fields. At the time, though as a young college student, there was no-one who could have made me give up architecture!</p>
<p>my take on architecture job stability is pretty optimistic...many firms in the US aren't affected by the recession (in fact a lot are hiring and most grads here are doing better than the business grads) because many firms have globalized and have projects elsewhere. if you look at developing countries in china or dubai, or elsewhere, there is growing need for architects.</p>
<p>I suggest you stick to Engineering as well.</p>
<p>This is a better route, which I should/will take. If you have a strong GPA and can handle the engineering than stick to it. The job is more stable and if you still want to pursue architecture, then apply for the M.arch I. You don't need an architectural undergraduate degree to get into a M.arch program. Here in UCLA,I know someone who was a physics major from CSU long Beach and is now in the M.arch I program.</p>
<p>I am trying to actually switch over to engineering now. There's too many negatives that deters me away from architecture. Salary, stability, the work load is crazy, etc. etc. I guess I am not as passionate as I thought I would be, but maybe in the future I will come back to it. As for now, I am still in the program, but I have lost many interest in it. I am actually more focused in my math courses and science courses.</p>
<p>i would be careful about going to engineering. engineering isn't easy either and if you don't have the passion for it you'll end up switching into business. engineering may be more stable but if you're good in architecture i don't think you'll have that much of a problem. starting salaries in architecture may be better in some engineering fields also (like civil engineering). interns at SOM these days are getting 45k after getting out of school, which is pretty average for any engineer starting out</p>
<p>There was actually an article on average salaries for a struc engineer, arch, interior des, landscape des etc with 1 to 10 (or more) years of experience. Check out Arch Record April iss.</p>
<p>I'm in similar dilemma, vyan2. Though I gotta remind you that engineering by itself isnt any easier, except from a design part. It's definitely not lighter in term of workload, though instead of spending time in the studio you'll be spnding loads of time studying at home or in groups. It's a very different world in engineering. I used to study ChemE and now planning to switch to arch, not sure yet. I'll probably end up doing either CivilE or developments for undergrad then take MArch.</p>
<p>consider civil engineering w/ structural emphasis or something like that. Some schools have a structural emphasis with their engineering degree.</p>
<p>Also, UCBerkeley is the only school here in CA that offers a minor in structural engineering with conjunction in undergraduate architecture. purely wow.</p>
<p>I agree with you that the workload for both majors are about the same. Well..maybe to an extent. I'll save that for a later argument, but for now that wasn't the point of my argument. The point that I was trying to make is that - for now, assuming that they work under the same work load hours, just at different environments, the engineer student will make more money after school. Sure it's all about preferences I guess, if you like architecture, then go for it. I don't want to deter you away from architecture. Don't get me wrong, architecture is a rewarding major. But for me, money is rewarding itself already. Many people think that shouldn't be the way to look at how you choose majors, but I have come to the conclusion that we live life once only, and I rather live lavishly than humbly. Not only that, I'm interested in engineering so it's just not purely for money. Of course, these are all personal opinions and preferences. </p>
<p>but going back to your comment, a CivilE or structural Engineer to M.Arch is an all-around applicant to prestigious firm.</p>
<p>"I don't want to deter you away from architecture. Don't get me wrong, architecture is a rewarding major. But for me, money is rewarding itself already. Many people think that shouldn't be the way to look at how you choose majors, but I have come to the conclusion that we live life once only, and I rather live lavishly than humbly."</p>
<p>Dont worry, I dont think anyone assume youre trying to deter anyone. I do though, have the same opinion as you. Afterall, like you said, we only live once. I'm also trying to get what my college time and tuition $$$s worth.</p>
<p>i think what's great about doing architecture is that when you finally build something. It just stands there almost forever, so your name lives on forever.</p>
<p>i mean, the difference between a doctor and an architect is that our buildings will last longer than their patients.</p>