<p>I wanted to major in materials science and engineering since it seems like it would be "cool", and on the cutting edge. At least that was my though 5 months ago when I applied to colleges looking for a strong materials science program with a backup of other strong engineering disciplines thinking that it was almost a certainty that I would chance my mind. Well, I am pretty sure I want to change my mind, but the problem is that the change is to architecture. </p>
<p>While I have taken the most ambitious math and science schedule of any student in my fairly large (classes of 500) high school in many years if not ever according to the guidance counselors, I am also very involved with various local art groups and have independently of the classroom developed the strongest art portfolio of anyone at my high school. While the allure of working in nanotechnology or some other high tech field seems like it would be interesting, I am fearing that I will not enjoy lab work and will miss the artistic element. I am currently planning to attend Carnegie Mellon for engineering where I was accepted for both engineering and art. I do not want to completely stray away from the mathematical side, so changing to fine arts has no appeal to me.</p>
<p>I was also accepted at PSU Schreyers, Pitt, and wait listed at Penn and Columbia. All for engineering. </p>
<p>Now, this whole thing would not be such a dilemma if I wanted to change to some other form of engineering, but the architecture programs at all of the schools I applied to all require applications that were due months ago and many of them are 5 year programs. I am feeling as though I potentially really screwed up as I am now dreading going to college for something I am no longer really enthusiastic about. I want to incorporate my art into my work and materials science just does not allow for that. </p>
<p>I considered taking a gap year and reapplying next year for architecture, but I dont have anything to do in the meantime. I have been turned down for every job that I applied for except an amusement park which does not even pay minimum wage, and I don't have the money to travel. </p>
<p>Try posting this with a title along the lines of “Accepted in Materials Science, but now I think I want Architecture, what do I do?” in the Parents Forum. You might get some ideas there.</p>
<p>Why don’t you just pick up the telephone and call the architecture departments and ask how difficult it will be for you to make an internal transfer from engineering to architecture? It may be impossible - in which case a gap year would be your only option. It may not be very hard at all. But you won’t know until you ask.</p>
<p>Tough one. Obviously you have thought of one solution, but it is a tough pill to swallow. </p>
<p>It appears that Penn State allows freshmen to apply to the school of Architecture. So maybe you could enroll in engineering, do very well and get into their Architecture program that way. Certainly there has to be some core curriculum between the two schools … you may be able to graduate in the same time as everyone else who came in as a freshman, who knows? Worth a few phone calls to the other schools as you get accepted.</p>
<p>You could maybe go into architectural engineering at Penn State, and because they share some classes with regular architecture, it might not be too hard to switch. They have a great architrecture school, too. Anyways, I would talk to all the schools you were accepted at and ask how hard it would be to switch.</p>
<p>If you are in Schreyer’s, the opportunity to switch from your original choice will be a lot easier as the SHC administration will do whatever they can for their kids and have a lot of pull. Call someone there and ask the question directly. This came up at SHC admitted students day last month and they made it clear, as did the students in SHC, that being in SHC allows all sorts of thinfs to happen. That may be your best solution</p>
And what will happen when you take that gap year and then realize you might not like architecture?
5 year programs are essentially a short cut to getting a Bachelors + Masters. You technically can get a Bachelors in something related, like engineering, and then go on to pursue your masters of architecture. You don’t need to do the the Barch 5 year thing. </p>
<p>In your situation, attend the school that will allow you the most flexibility to change majors. I think too many young people(like myself when I was 17/18) make the mistake of focusing to much on a school by major as opposed to overall offerings and flixibility to explore and change your mind. If college was simply job training, why not a community college or a tech school?</p>
<p>Not to not take your situation seriously, but many students feel a sense of regret after they make a college choice, and worry about whether they made a choice based on what would be “cool” or whether it’s <em>really</em> what they want, etc.
I have no way of knowing whether you truly have had a “midcollegeapplications crisis” or whether this is just nerves (combined with some internal questioning which is natural when starting a new phase of your life). Unless your totally positive it’s the former, I’d hold off on doing something too drastic.
Sorry if this seems like I’m babying you – I really don’t mean to.
Good luck!!!</p>
<p>I don’t think that a materials science engineering degree would prove harmful to your ultimate goal of becoming an architect – to the contrary, I think that it could prove most helpful, particularly as you seek employment. (Architecture is a field with many brilliant unemployed and underemployed graduates.) Perhaps it is time to think of bringing something additional to the table, and a four-year engineering degree followed by a two-year masters program in architecture could be a significant asset – all in no more time than a gap year would add to a five year pure architecture program.</p>