i need advice

I’m a junior and have been interested in architecture for a long time, but all my knowledge of the field is from what I’ve read online. I’m worried I might end up not liking architecture because I haven’t had any real life experience in an architecture setting. I want to intern at an architecture firm, but I know internships are hard to find and have no idea how to apply for one. Summer architecture programs also sound interesting, but I almost had a heart attack when I saw the cost for some of them!! Even though my family is well off, I would still feel guilty asking my parents to spend so much money. So how can I know for sure that I’m going to enjoy architecture?

I think internships at architecture firms are usually for students who have already completed at least a year of college as an architecture major. The summer programs would be helpful. You could also inquire at some architecture firms near your home and ask if it would be possible to shadow one of the architects for a day. If they can’t do that, they might be able to at least give you a tour of their office and talk to you about what their job entails. Maybe your guidance counselor could help with that.

It’s difficult to know in advance whether architecture would be a good career for you, or even to know if you would like architecture school.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to find a summer program that is non-residential (meaning you could live at home) and therefore less costly. Summer programs are, to me, a good way to get an idea of what architecture entails and to build a portfolio, but even so the fall out rate for undergraduate architecture programs is quite high.

You may or may not be aware that there are two routes for becoming a licensed architect. The undergraduate degree, a 5.0 year bachelor OF architecture (BArch) is highly architecture intensive and doesn’t allow for much room for experimentation in other academic areas.

The other option is to get a 4.0 year undergraduate degree such as a bachelor of science or bachelor of art IN architecture, architectural studies, visual arts, environmental design or whatever interests you, then get a master of architecture (MArch). The masters will take from 2.0 to 3.5 years depending on your undergraduate degree and the requirements of the graduate program. The BA/BS+MArch combination takes longer and costs more, but is the better choice if you’re not 100+% sold on architecture.

If you’re looking for an internship, definitely start your search with larger firms (more than 2 registered architects). At my papa’s firm, he is the only registered architect and regularly turns down people asking for unpaid internships because he simply doesn’t have the time to both guide them and be profitable. As for how to get one, there’s a lot to be said for just going in and asking. It puts a face to a name and lets you show that you are cool, calm, and collected.

The best thing you can do is try it. Architecture school is a beast and you’ll know within a month if it’s for you or not. If you hate it then you won’t be alone, as Architecture has a pretty substantial drop rate, but if you love it then it’s a super challenging and rewarding education.

Thanks for all the replies!

@cagb1016 @ski_racer so do you think the best way to contact these firms is to just walk into their building? Or have a guidance counselor call? Are there any skills you think they might want me to know beforehand?

@momrath @Ahhhhhhhhhhh77 what do you think it is about the BArch program that makes so many students drop out? I’ve read that studio is very intense. Also, are you expected to know how to make models/use CAD before the program starts? I don’t have these skills, but I love art and the creative side of architecture. Are these things that BArch programs focus on?

Walking in or making a phone call. Depends on what state you’re in. Out West, we’re pretty chill, so walk-ins are acceptable. I wouldn’t have anyone else call for you. As for skills, you’d have to ask them. My papa requires people to have a college degree before he’d even consider allowing them in. The thing about architecture is that it’s a job weighted heavily in experience. Even when he hires people with fancy degrees and everything, it still takes years for him to train them and get them in tune to how his firm does things and all the little minutiae of the architecture bureaucracy. Of course, this is all why you should approach a larger firm. There’s a better chance they’ll be able to spend the time guiding you through the basics.

conflicted101–what major city are you near? Maybe ask your guidance counselor about phone call vs walking in or if he has any connections to put you in touch with an architect. Are you near any colleges with architecture programs? You may be able to schedule a visit and tour with a professor or student.

@cagb1016 I live about an hour away from NYC. I’m also 10 mins from a college but they only offer a graduate architecture program. I guess I’ll try and research a few colleges I can visit with architecture programs that let you sit in on classes.

The 5.0 year BArch IS very intense. The curriculum is split between the creative/design side of architecture and the structures/science/tech side. All BArch programs feature both, but some are more design focused; some are more structures focused. As a general statement, art schools are more design focused; tech schools are more structured focused and design schools (which are the majority of schools of architecture are more balanced. They all, however, cover the same core material.

Students that like design may find the structures classes challenging. Students who like construction processes may find the studios stressful. The workload, competition and criticism can be overwhelming.

It depends on the school. Some offer more support in learning how to handle materials and use computer programs; some expect you to figure it out on your own. Design is a major component of the BArch, but it’s more coming up with design solutions to assigned problems than pure design. Some programs have a balance of CAD and hand drawing; some are all computer based. Some require a portfolio as part of the admissions process; some do not.

Visiting architecture schools is a very good idea to get an idea of the kind of work students are doing. Most have open houses and information sessions to familiarize prospective students their BArch programs. They want you know what your signing up for!

Spend some time on the websites of the schools you are thinking about. Look at their curriculums and points of differentiation like study abroad opportunities, thesis semesters, co-op programs. Each program is a little different which can be confusing.

Most schools of architecture that don’t offer the BArch will offer undergraduate bachelor of science, bachelor of art or bachelor of environmental design degrees that segue into their MArch programs. And many schools that offer the BArch also have a BS or BA in architecture, architectural studies. environmental design. The BA/BS/BED+MArch approach is a very common way to get to the same end as the BArch, but with more flexibility along the way. At this point you should be exploring all options.

Each school is different. At my University it’s intense but they don’t expect you to know stuff before you get there. During our drafting rotation there was a 1-2 hour lecture about a different style of drawing every week and then we would have to do 1-4 examples of that type of drawing for the following Monday. You’re expected to figure it out based off of your notes and help from your studiomates. It’s like teaching you to swim by throwing you into a pool and then when you get out they say “now learn how to do the backstroke!” And toss you back in. I had a looooooooot of late nights during those 8 weeks, but by the time I got to my crit I was surprised at how far I had grown in such a short time.

@conflicted101, don’t see it mentioned, but if you are not sure about the major, find a school you can transfer over to another major you may have interest. For example we are dropping out deign only schools like RISD, Boston Arch and Pratt, since my D want’s engineering as a backup should Architecture not workout. I don’t think experimenting is a bad thing, however with the price of schools nowadays, it really hurts the purses with a wrong turn

Timely discussion. My son is interested in BArch at Tulane. How is the program so much more demanding than others? He’s starting to get nervous about it as he hears so much about it. Tulane seems to promise a great student life as well but does arch really allow that? Would love to hear experienced responses from parents and students alike.

@jmvc10, my understanding is a typical BArch is about 160 credits for 5 years whereas a MArch is about 170 credits for 6 years. However, the Studio courses are far more demanding in terms of time spent than any of the other courses. Some have equated a BArch program closer to 20-22 credit hours per semester. Though the MArch is also vigorous, it’s more spread out than the BArch.

Is there any way you can shadow an architect and/or ask one if you can do an “informational interview” (where they basically would meet with you over their lunch hour and tell you a bit about their job)?

Also I’m very familiar with design schools and their strengths, but since your interest is also possibly in engineering are you looking at schools like RPI, MIT, or Cooper Union? Definitely think about visiting these schools and sitting in on a class to get a feel for what’s taught/expected.

Also depending in what direction you are from NY and your family’s finances, RPI has a summer program that let’s you explore that major. http://summer(dot)rpi(dot)edu/programs/42/High%20School

I think the level of “demanding-ness” really depends on the student’s interest in architecture or more specifically their interest in architecture school. It’s hard for high school students to visualize what it entails.

A BArch is all architecture all the time, with very little academic time allotted to unrelated electives. How much non-academic time is left over for extracurriculars and socializing varies depending on the intensity of the program and the intensity of the student. As a general statement, architecture studios are massive time eaters. At a design-focused school like Tulane studios will be a significant part of the experience.

I’m not an architect but I’ve been interested in the topic of architecture education since my son went through the process of applying for and getting an MArch 7 years ago. My observation is that students either consider the studio as the best or worst part of studying architecture. Creativity and design are highly subjective: there is no single, correct solution. Those who are overly sensitive to criticism or who struggle with abstract concepts may feel anxious about having to defend their work.

My suggestion to your son would be to contact a current Tulane BArch student to find out more about how architecture students deal with the stress and about their experience as a whole. Tulane is a terrific architecture school in a friendly and lively environment, and architecture school, though challenging, can be intensely enjoyable too. Students tend to bond with their studio-mates and support each others’ ups and downs.

I believe Tulane’s BS in Architecture would also be an option for him if he wished to slow down the process a bit.

My d took an architectural modeling class at a local community college here in CA, the summer between junior and senior years. The price was right at zero dollars!! She’s now in a pre-arch focused enviro analysis major, and attending this relatively well-priced intensive (for college students) this summer: https://www.pdx.edu/architecture/summer_immersion

Apart from your readiness to commit to an intense studio architecture program, there is also the question of how much of a broad, liberal arts base you want from your undergrad education. There are quite a few non-professional Architectural Studies majors, but you have to look at the content, because many of them do not involved much if any studio practice, but rather focus primarily on the historical aspects of art and architecture. If you do want a strong studio component, you have to look for that specifically. Here’s one example of a program that does have a lot of studio work: https://www.conncoll.edu/academics/majors-departments-programs/majors-and-minors/architectural-studies/ I believe Midlebury’s program has some studios too, but not as many as Conn’s.

CU Boulder has a School of Environmental Design that starts out with a common core curriculum and then lets students branch into the track they prefer: architecture, planning, landscape, or design studies. It’s a nice smaller and relatively personalized experience within a larger university, and you can also double-major or minor outside of ENVD.

The architecture school at Northeastern has the full, intense BArch experience, but also offers an Urban Landscape track as well as options to dilute either major into a combined major with another area of interest. One of the virtues of NU is the ease of changing majors - the coop program also offers real-world experience to help confirm whether you’re on the career track you want.

It’s definitely hard to know whether to jump in with both feet. You need to look both at how much the professional track appeals, and also whether you want to bypass a broader undergrad education. If you do choose a professional BArch program, compare what the exit path would look like at the schools you’re considering, if you were to realize once in that it wasn’t right for you.

one other thing to add - which others have mentioned - is that if you start out as an arch major, you can somewhat easily use some of your credits towards other degrees if you change majors.

but - if you change to an arch major, you basically have to start at the beginning of the process because the classes are sequential and cant be doubled up on. We’ve lived through this with our daughter; she switched colleges after 1.5 years - kept her major, but they put her back a year because of their sequences. It’s all good; she’s so so so excited about going back to studio in the fall. And she’s met a few others who are in this situation as well.