<p>Hi, i'm a HS student looking to take up architecture as a major in college.
Although I'm a musician with a few awards, I have had no experience with visual arts whatsoever throughout MS/HS. I understand that some schools require portfolios for admission, so I'm not looking to those schools. What are some schools with a good architecture prog that dont require a portfolio?
Also, I have absolutely no interest in taking up architecture as a career. I will probably go to law school after college. And I'm looking at top schools, such as HYP, Stanford, MIT.</p>
<p>Although studying architecture can be great, I wouldn’t recommend it for for someone with “no interest in taking up architecture as a career.” From speaking with my architecture majoring son and his studiomates, the time and dedication required is too much for someone with just a casual interest. Admission to top notch architecture programs is very competitive and once in the program, students who don’t love what they’re doing (working nearly 24/7 at some programs!) tend to switch majors. </p>
<p>Before applying, strongly consider participating in a summer architecture program at one of the universities you’d consider attending. There are a number of good ones around the country, most are 2-6 week programs. At the end of it, you’ll know better if studying architecture is right for you, plus you’ve acquired valuable insight into one of the colleges you might apply to.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Okay, I read “no experience with visual arts whatsoever throughout MS/HS” and “I have absolutely no interest in taking up architecture as a career” and then “probably go to law school after college.” Why on earth would you have any interest in architecture as a major? It takes tremendous time and effort, it does not tend towards high GPA’s, and it’s a field based primarily on the “visual arts.”</p>
<p>I just wanna learn for the fun of it. I don’t have anything else that I want to learn in college, and I’ve always been interested in architecture, having completed a semester-long research project on the history of modern architecture. Maybe I could get a license, and design my own house or something, im just not looking for a career.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice, and I have thought about that option but I already got an internship during this summer, so I cant fit anything in. Also, in college, especially in the most competitive ones, wouldn’t anything that I major in require as much time and dedication? even if some required less, i have never had an interest in taking any other major than architecture, and however small that interest may be I think I would be able to tolerate a 24/7 workload in architecture than any other major. Plus, if i do come to the conclusion that its not right for me, i can always change majors, right?
As a mother of a son in architecture, do you have any information for me on competitive programs that don’t require a portfolio? any info would be great.</p>
<p>matthew0820, it sounds like the major you really want is what is usually called “Architectural Studies.” It leads to a B.A. or B.S. degree and is much less intensive than the true “Architecture” major that would lead to the professional B.Arch. degree. (By the way, the B.Arch. is a 5-year program). Most schools that offer the Architectural Studies major do not require a portfolio for admission.</p>
<p>Also, you cannot just casually “get a license and design your own house or something”. Although licensing requirements vary slightly from state to state, in general, you need to: (1) earn a B. Arch. or M.Arch. degree from a NAAB-accredited program, (2) progress through the Intern Development Program, which basically requires 3 years of experience working for a licensed architect, and (3) pass the national Architect Registration Exam. That’s an awful lot of time and effort – a minimum of 8 - 10 years – to put into something that you don’t want a “career” in.</p>
<p>Ditto to what everyone else has stated.</p>
<p>As a holder of a B.Arch, I can tell you that it is too much time, money, blood sweat and tears to do it just “for the fun of it.”</p>
<p>If your goal is to just learn about architecture, then there are many good books to read on the subject. If you don’t want it for a career, then take up something else, and try to take architectural electives.</p>
<p>Getting a license is not easy for many; half of all accredited arch graduates never attain a license. Just getting a job in architecture is just as hard.</p>
<p>If your goal is going to law school, architecture school will probably be poor preparation for the law curriculum.</p>
<p>Worried mom is correct - if you look at programs in Architectural Studies that offer a B.A. (not a BArch or a MArch), I think you’ll find what you’re looking for. Because the B.A. in Arch Studies combines a liberal arts education with the study of the conceptual content of architecture, you should be well prepared for law school.</p>
<p>And, you don’t need a license to design your own house - you just need to hire the professionals to do what you can’t… they can take your design concept and create from that the set of working plans the builders can use.</p>
<p>I was also going to suggest the Architectural Studies approach. If you then discovered a true love of the field you could go ahead and get and a Masters. Many students take that route (4+2 years vs. 5 for the B. Arch.). Also, I don’t believe any of the “top schools” you’ve listed offers a B. Arch.</p>
<p>I agree that you should look into BA or BS programs in architecture or architectural studies, and not BArch programs. My daughter got a BA in Architectural Studies at Brown (and also was able to take some classes at RISD). In her case, she is interested in architecture and is in grad school in architecture. You may also wish to look at Penn. Stanford. Yale and MIT are also viable options. Take a look at Princeton and Tufts too. I don’t think you would find what you are looking for at Harvard, and in fact, my D chose not to apply to Harvard for this reason. Check out Brown!</p>