After joining the community earlier this year and getting valuable information, we’re preparing for application season which is pretty much around the corner for those doing early actions/decisions. My kid didn’t do well her junior year, so we’ll likely reconsider applying for any EA/ED and have her focus on her grades more the first semester and submit applications at the regular deadlines.
Architecture is not a definite as she went to the Pratt precollege program this summer and was not “crazy” about the work after the first two weeks. This week is her last week and she may have a change of heart, but we’ll need to consider contingency planning and options should she decide not to apply for Archi schools at all. She didn’t have much to contribute to her portfolio which is why she went to Pratt.
Anyone getting ready with applications and feeling overwhelmed?..
Have you looked at CU Boulder’s School of Environmental Design? It’s a relatively small program, so students get a very personalized education in spite of the size of the university. All of the students start out with a common core for the first year, and then decide on a track: architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, or design studies. It’s a pre-professional program, obviously, but it could be good for a student who knows they want something at least architecture-adjacent but who isn’t sure enough to commit to a BArch. No portfolio to apply. The architectural engineering minor is also open to ENVD students, though it has pretty heavy STEM prerequisites so having time for it could depend on how much calc and physics credit one came in with.
My d was totally overwhelmed with the portfolio issue and deciding what kind of programs to apply to, around this time two years ago. (She was more interested in landscape arch than a BArch program, but still, she was trying to do a portfolio for her EA school and it was painfullll.) She got into two ENVD schools (including Boulder) and a pre-professional LArch program (Northeastern) but ended up going the liberal arts route and is now in a track of the Enviro Analysis major that’s design-focused and intended for pre-arch students among others. Diving straight into a professional program was too big a decision for her at 18, and giving up too much in terms of breadth and exploration - but it all depends how sure you are about being ready to specialize!
@qclabrat Could you please elaborate a bit on what your daughter disliked about her experience with Pratt’s pre-architecture program? Pratt is of course an art school so the program may focus more on abstract creativity than a tech school or a design school would. Or maybe it was something else all together?
My observation is that working in architecture isn’t much like going to architecture school. My son really liked many aspects of his MArch program and found other elements less enjoyable, but he is delighted with architecture as a career and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
A lot of 18 year olds don’t have a firm career path mapped out. And those that think they do often change and change again as they are exposed to options. As I often say, architecture is a marathon, not a sprint.
I would definitely concur with @aquapt that even if your daughter is still interested in pursuing architecture, it might be better not to choose a BArch program. There are many excellent BA, BS, BED programs out there which provide a kinder, gentler approach to becoming an architect. The BA/BS/BED+MArch route may take another year or so but save a lot of heartache.
In addition to CU Boulder’s BED (which I agree is an excellent program) your daughter should look at the pre-professional degrees offered at WUSTL, Cincinnati, Penn State, Northeastern, UVirginia, UMichigan, Texas Tech, Tulane. I’m sure there are others, but these come to mind. Some require portfolios, some don’t.
The Northeastern and Cincinnati programs have plans of study that can get a bit busy because of the co-op, but the co-op is a big selling point as well.
My DD 17 wanted to be an Arch. for 4 years, went to camps at VT and loved it. She has a good GPA but lacks rigor. SAT scores around 70th % tile, so not super competitive. We have zeroed in on some less competitive programs. The we went to a disastrous open House at UNCC when one of the Arch professors, told them there are not many jobs and you can always be an actor with your degree. she is having heavy doubt about her life plan at the moment and we are starting applications today. Anyways, she had the opportunity to try Graphic Design this summer and loved it to. she will be applying to separate colleges for arch and Graphic Design and we will see where it leads her. It is so important to explore some other options, just in case. Some wonderful related majors without all the Arch work are Graphic Design, Interior Design/Arch, Landscape Design, even illustration and video game design on her list
@sllemon, It’s good that your daughter is exploring several directions that her interest in design might lead her. you are right that there are many careers adjunct to architecture and even after completing an architecture education it’s not unusual for graduates to take different, but related paths, like teaching, tech, planning.
I would say that that UNCC professor needs to pick up a newspaper or turn on the news. The construction industry is booming in the U.S. and taking architecture along with it. Firms all over the country are hiring, at all levels. This is a good time to be an architect.
Sorry off the grid for a few weeks with far away vacations. My D isn’t very good at verbalizing her feelings but she didn’t like the persistence of redoing projects and from my interpretation, not a fan of the critique process which goes with the education and job. As I’ve previously mentioned, by brother is in the field and mentioned it’s integral to architecture, to get feedback and work from it.
My D wants to go into engineering but she has not demonstrated the ability to handle an engineering course load based on her Physics and Pre-calc grades. So we suggested her to try architecture which is why she went to Pratt this summer. I probably sound like a controlling parent, but concerned she would be over stressed in an E program. Even if she sticks to her guns with E, I’m going to try to have her consider a school which also has an Architecture program. Actually, we are fine if she goes to CC or the local state schools before committing to a major.
