<p>it's only been a couple of months so far and i feel like i'm ready to give up (i'm a freshman in college by the way). the amount of work i get is just stressing me out so much. at first i thought architecture was gonna be great, something i will actually enjoy, only for my commitment towards this major to be shattered.</p>
<p>my question is, will working hard pay off in the long run in this major? it seems like out of any other major we work the hardest and yet apparently we get the worst salary out of it. how that works out is beyond me... is our nation not a meritocracy where hard work will get you somewhere?!</p>
<p>everything isn't about money but, when i'm out in the real world i'd prefer to make a decent amount of money. i want to someday be able to support a family thats well off. will architecture help me do this?!</p>
<p>what do you think is my best choice (should i stick with architecture or move on to something else?), i want to make a decision soon, as it's not too late to change my major. don't get me wrong i don't hate architecture, i just don't think i can cope with long hours of work for little profit. at heart i still have a desire to stick with this major but i'm wondering if there are any other alternates/solutions to the hardships i'm facing?!</p>
<p>Acoustic Bandito, I think you need to consider the pros and cons of your decision. Try to make a list of all the things that you like about arch/benefits/advantages against all the disadvantages/things that you don't like. After you have finish both sides of the balance make an evaluation about which side has more weight for you. It seems to me that you have doubts about how much you like arch, which is fine. You're very young.
My D, a senior in HS, wants to go to arch and I told her many times that arch is not a field to make a lot of money that she will not starve but will not be rich. It's 5 years to get a Barch, and after that internship and passing the test to get the license. My D doesn't care much about the money aspect. She really enjoys arch and doesn't mind working long hours (her HS offers arch classes).
On the other hand, I'm more about money and I chose my career based on that. However, I didn't have a strong inclination for any field, so it was not a big deal for me to chose a major that was easy for me with the potential to make money.
I think you should be honest with you and have a clear understanding what to expect from your decision -stick with arch and work long hours or change to something else that you may like. However, I think that if you really enjoy arch, have talent for it, and work hard. I think that in the long term, you'll be financially sucessful (I'm not an arch so I hope an architect could give you their opinion about the long term monetary reward of this field) Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>You can make a decent salary as an architect. If you are lucky you can make a lot of money. The real question is do you love architecture? Mind you the real world of architecture is quite different from school. My practice is mostly additions and renovations, residential work and small businesses. My studio work was pretty much useless for what I do now.</p>
<p>Im a freshman right now as well and so I've been around quite a few people who are misterable right now because they are tired of all the work and don't want to study archtiecture for the rest of their lives. If you don't enjoy it, then get out of it. It's only going to get more intense so sticking with it a little longer will just stress you out even more. I wouldn't wait, otherwise you'd be wasting so much time in something that you don't enjoy when you could be working on a major that you'd like better. </p>
<p>I actually like the amount of work. I don't mind it at all. I have barely thought about making money after I graduate because Im so focused on my work now. Im aware of the low starting salary but I never expected to make a bunch of money right after I graduated anyway. If you really want to be an architect, I wouldn't be so focused on the future when it hasnt even been a semester yet. An upperclassman realized after three years that he didnt want to do architecture anymore, I think it's good that you're questioning it now.</p>
<p>Bandito, I think you are getting good advice. If you are a freshman and already feeling burned out, then go find something you really enjoy. I hate to say this, but in architecture school you are getting to do the good stuff, so if this doesn't get you excited, then that is a good sign the rest of your career won't either.</p>
<p>[ul][<em>]Share your hopes/concerns with your faculty advisor. Many schools also have psychologist that help with developing a peak-performance mindset.
[</em>]Consider spreading your load a bit by taking summer classes.
[<em>]It sounds like you're going for your B.Arch...have you consider switching to a 4+2?
[</em>]Ultimately, if you do what you love for a living you'll never work a day in your life.
[/ul]</p>
<p>I am in the same boat as you, but unfortunately I am a 4th year. The good thing however is that I am in a 4+2/3 program so the workload isn't as intensive as a B.ARCH 5 year program, which if you are in one, then I can understand you're stressed out. Right now I am stressed and frustrated because I can't think of a design that will work and that's what makes me what I feel right now. Days like these puts me on the edge of quitting architecture and like you, we put so much time and get something little out of it. </p>
<p>However, people are right, if you put your heart into it, I am sure the money will come to you. Like someone said, if you are lucky enough, you can make a lot of money. I don't totally agree that it's based on luck, it's more based on your passion. I mean, you have to be dedicated and be very very very very very passionate (this is important, it is what drives us to do well) for architecture. If you are critical, creative, and extremely well argumentative then you can do architecture. You may just feel stressed out because you're not design focused right now or you're feeling trapped.</p>
<p>If you still like architecture and want to make good money, maybe it's best to diversify and like the previous poster said, go to a 4+2/3 program, a liberal arts college to be exact and have the freedom to take other classes. I go to UCLA and although I get studio classes every other quarter, I still have the freedom to take and diversify myself.
Hope this helps and good luck with your future endeavors, make your choices now and not make them 10 years later. Do it when we're still young</p>
<p>Bandito, I feel for you. My S is currently a freshman and I worry each time he tells me he was in the studio until 5 am. However, he loves it. Being in the studio does not feel like work to him. I have to agree with some of the other posters, that if your heart is not in it now, that is probably not a good sign that architecture is the right field for you. Talk to advisors, professors, and of course your parents about how you feel and try to determine if your feeling are indicative of feeling overwhelmed in the process of still transitioning from high school to college or more clearly tied to your vocational choice. Good luck.</p>
<p>p&h, A little thread hijack here... I remember your search last spring for info on arch schools that see little mention here on CC. I take it by your above post your son has found his "place". That's great news.</p>
<p>haven't logged in a while and would like to thank everybody for the words of advice. they've all given me an idea of what i want and what i should do.</p>
<p>just another question: i am taking barch and was wondering how the 4+2 year program works? i am interested. i ended up taking the barch program not knowing i wouldn't have as much freedom when it came to choosing other type of classes (yeah i know, pretty stupid).</p>
<p>
[quote]
...There are three usual paths to obtaining the professional degree in architecture: </p>
<ol>
<li>Obtaining a Bachelor of Architecture degree; </li>
<li>Obtaining a pre-professional degree plus a professional Master of Architecture degree; the program commonly referred to as the "four-plus-two" route falls in this category; or</li>
<li>Obtaining a four-year non-architecture degree plus a three- to four-year professional Master of Architecture degree...
[/quote]
</li>
</ol>
<p>Talk with your faculty advisor to determine all your options, one of whicy may be to convert the current courses taken to a B.A. or B.S. with Architecture as a major. For 4+2/3, during your senior year you would apply to grad school for your M Arch. </p>
<p>Be sure to keep your parents in the loop as well because grad school may involve more money.</p>