<p>Poorly worded title but yeah.. how experienced with architecture are the students who decide to major in it?</p>
<p>The only little bit I have was a class sophomore year that met like twice a week, sometimes 3 times, where we did some architecture for less than a semester. We did floor plans and some models. All of the kids' projects were really basic and whatever since it was just a required basic art course. But mine, I guess, was pretty good. But this was the only experience of architecture I've ever had. I'm a junior now and am thinking of possible majors and architecture has crossed my mind. Should I not even be thinking about it since I will probably be at such a disadvantage to the other students in the programs?</p>
<p>The levels will vary, but that’s why most schools have a sort of foundation year - To get everyone to the same level.</p>
<p>I personally opted to take all four architecture-related courses in my school (only technical drawing was mandatory), but i know arch. majors that have only taken two, or one.</p>
<p>As for myself, I have no architectural experience, except for a brief autocad course that ended up getting canceled after about three or four sessions.</p>
<p>Also, I dont have a portfolio so I guess if i did decide to do architecture I’d have to look for portfolio-optional schools… meh…</p>
<p>EDIT: if this helps, I uploaded pics of anything I’ve done in these BS art classes lol
<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/48935376@N06/sets/72157623770911732/[/url]”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/48935376@N06/sets/72157623770911732/</a></p>
<p>Actually, tbomb93, a lot of schools don’t mind if students haven’t had any previous experience in architecture. Most do depend on a portfolio or a strong academic background. My school offered an architecture course for a semester. I never had a chance to take it, and it was canceled after that one semester. However, I do come from a strong art background. I think schools may look more for your innate creativity and the academic credentials. I recommend you take a few art classes if you can and try to put together a portfolio. And of course, do as well as you can in school.</p>
<p>The summer before my senior year I attended one of those summer architecture programs for high schoolers (I was curious about the major, so I tried it out). Other than that, I had no prior exposure to architecture classes before attending uni.</p>
<p>I also get the impression that schools don’t mind if you haven’t had previous experience. My first year in architecture started with the foundations with a heavy emphasis on drawing by hand and constructing models by hand. We were only introduced to using computer programs at the beginning of my second year.</p>
<p>I know that some of my other classmates took architecture classes in their high school, but I think that after the first year or so, skill levels even out.</p>
<p>Many of the above comments are true. Arch schools will most likely look for actual potential over experience. How much experience can high school grads have in architecture? Not much. But if you can put together a good portfolio on your own, take some art and related design classes and have good math/physics grades, you should be fine…</p>
<p>My daughter’s high school offers a four year architecture program. She goes to college confident that she knows pretty much what she is getting into - she knows AutoCAD, ArchCAD, Rivet, Chief Architect, has done models and drawings. I know college would have taught her all that, but this way she already knows this is what she wants to do and that she’s good at it. She’s definitely lucky to have had this opportunity in high school.</p>