Hi! HS Senior here currently living in NY.
So I was accepted EA for architecture and I had a couple of questions about the school of architecture.
First off, what are the facilities like/what kinds of equipment do the students have access to? I know that in Penn State (another school I was accepted to), all of the arch students have their own desk/bookcase/small space in this big facility where they do most of their work, as well as access to laser cutters, 3D printers, a wood shop, and all sorts of goodies.
Secondly, what is the life of an arch student like? I’ve heard that they barely have any time to do things that aren’t related to the major and that they’re always busy, is there any truth to this?
And lastly, does anyone know what the Tulane arch graduates are doing post graduation? Does Tulane help with the career-finding or internship-finding?
I cannot answer your first question in detail. I do know that the architecture building was recently modernized, but if I were you I would write to the Architecture department and ask them if they can put you in touch with a student, maybe a current freshman or maybe a sophomore would be better for more perspective but who can still remember what it is like to have to decide. Perhaps even one from your general area of the country so that you can relate on that level as well.
I think there is some truth to this at all architecture schools, although there is certainly time for a social life. My roommate one year was in architecture, and his experience seemed quite typical. Which is to say most of your classes are required architecture classes with only a few slots for other interests you might have, and there are always projects to work on. But it also seemed like a lot of the work was due at the end of the semester, especially after freshman year. So the typical pattern for many of the students was to fiddle with them for about 12 weeks and then work non-stop for the last 4 weeks of the semester. I know I never saw the lights go out at Richardson Memorial during those weeks. But again, from everything I read and hear this is not unique to Tulane by any means.
Certainly yes to the last part. For the first, I think they do as well as other schools in finding jobs. As you probably know, a lot of architecture students find good work in related areas but not necessarily in planning/designing houses/buildings. And architecture is very sensitive to the economy. So right now I would think they are doing OK, but back in 2009 or so? Not so much.
I think one of the main things about Tulane’s Architecture program as compared to Penn State (most likely, I can’t claim to know a lot about Penn State’s program) is that Tulane students get uniquely involved with New Orleans and the general area and get to see projects they designed come to fruition, using their own hands to make it happen. There are stories and videos on the Tulane Architecture site. I would take a lot of time and look that over thoroughly. Here is one I found just scanning YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-tyOPKqhug this one is a little dated (2012) and so there have been a couple of changes. Then there was only the 5 year option, now there is a 4 year option I think. And she does answer your question about students having their own desk (yes), but since the remodel there might be even more “goodies”. Although it looks pretty spacious. Anyway, it also covers the participation projects I mentioned, and there are more videos there and elsewhere you can look at.
Other than having the roommate that one year I have really nothing to do with Tulane’s Architecture program, but I follow it anyway because I think it is such an innovative and outstanding way to get an education in this field. If it sounds right for you, I would go for it. And btw, I hope it goes without saying that NOLA has some really amazing architectural gems.
Here is a much more recent video that addresses some of the more modern tools available, as well as other things. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut2MaKJDEwg
@lgoldfeld My D was also accepted EA to architecture and we just visited. The arch building is beautiful and my D loved the studio spaces… Very open, lots of natural light, and each year has one wing of a floor with 5th years and masters program up on the top floor. Lots of great equipment (wood shop, laser cut tools, 3d printers etc. all in the building). A small cafe in the basement too,which is nice bc you are in studio a great deal of time. Everyone seemed really nice and happy as well, a close knit group of students and faculty. My D loved the facilities. We also toured the urban build class underway building a house in Central City, NO and Tulane City Center program in NO as this is a major draw for her…and both are really great. Read about these on their website. Very hands on learning and application. They start you off on the 5 year BARCH program which they are switching to this fall, which I think is a plus. They also told us with this switch they can reduce the workload requirements a little to allow for a bit more time to take other things. They expect to be ranked in the top 10 (only BARCH programs are ranked.). They also have a 4 year program so they have some students who are in school 5 years but have lots of time to explore other things too since the requirements for the 4 year program are lower…(less studio classes) or you can just do 4 years and even have the opportunity to double major or just have more time for other courses. All in all, we were impressed with the program… I have toured many programs with my D now (having no knowledge to start) and this studio space is one of the best we’ve seen and the program seems really strong but balanced. Plus the architecture of NOLA is just amazing (coming from a non-architecture person here…).
From what I have gathered, arch students spend hours on end in studio and it seems to be a small family within a larger school, wherever you go. The BARCH is a professional degree, so it does take that time. However, most say that it is a time management issue and many of the students we spoke with are also involved in other fun things in college life at Tulane and elsewhere… However, the Tulane arch building and studios are accessible 24/7 to arch students…
I can’t speak about any of the post-graduation opportunities, but one student did say they have a career/internship fair each year which seems pretty common amongst the arch programs we have seen.
Fantastic post @twicemama. Very, very useful.
@twicemama - nice post! Design Intelligence ranks BArch and Masters in Architecture (not MArch). So Tulane is switching back to a 5 year BArch (used to be 5 year MArch). They are both bachelor degrees. They are also offering the 4+2 program which is Bachelors (4 years) and Masters in Architecture (2+ years). So yes, that creates a lot of flexibility.
Hi, graduated architecture student here (m.arch 15).
For equipment, each grade or studio has there own space in a building designated solely for architecture. each student gets their own large desk with a personal pin-up board and under desk storage. We did have to order other supplies such as drawing boards, maylines, pencils, exactos, etc. We have access to laser cutters, plotters, 3d printers, computer lab, printers, CNC mill, woodshop, a library, and cafe. Keep in mind we do have to pay for our supplies and the laser/plotters/printers to cost a fee to use based on time/ink used/amount of paper - which can be paid through tulane debit/print money/accounts, etc. You can buy the most common materials in the bookstore (LBC), but we have found other off-campus places that sell more supplies that are less expensive. Tulane architecture is also unique for it’s access to new orleans’ architecture and Tulane’s overall encouragement of service and interaction with locals.
The life of an architecture student is what you make it. It is a little different now with the 4 year BS and 5 year B.Arch which I cannot speak to. Architecture truly comes down to excellent time management and how much you value other non-architecture activities. It is my experience to not limit yourself to hours on end in the studio and the small bubble of the architecture school. I was a participant and held leadership roles in many clubs and honor societies within and outside the architecture school, religious organizations, a part of greek life and generally social, and I ran/went to the gym everyday. I had a social life, but mostly on the weekends and not so much during the week, sleep was at a premium, and watching TV was something I never had time to do (unlike my non-architecture peers). So again, it’s really how you prioritize your activities. That being said, Tulane offers a lot, I did pull a handful of “planned” all nighters (throughout 5 years) and a bunch of late nights in order to complete my work to my personal satisfaction and participate in everything else tulane and new orleans has to offer. You do spend a lot of time in the studio and become pretty close to your architecture “family.” Also, take advantage of opportunities to meet older students in the architecture school.
Tulane has it’s own careers services office and adviser. In recent years they have gotten much better at helping students find jobs post grad. We have portfolio reviews, career days, and mock interviews. Architecture is somewhat regional, but getting the b.arch program on a ranked list should help it’s program become known nationally. For example, it is easier to get an architecture job coming out of tulane in the new orleans/baton rouge area versus in new york where you are competing with cornell/syracuse/PSU students, similar in california with the california architecture schools, and Boston with wentworth/northeastern/harvard’s GSD, but it’s not impossible. Almost all my friends have jobs at a range of firms all over the country at this point. Lastly, I would say Tulane definitely pushes the become a licensed architect agenda, but the degree can take you into a variety of fields. I work in real estate in the northeast and work with architects everyday, but I don’t do architecture per se and I am very happy with the work I do and confident that my degree was what got me this opportunity.
Another absolutely superior post! Pure gold, coming from a very recent alum. Thank you so much, @tenfifteen.
Just want to tag @lgoldfeld to make sure they see it as well.
Thanks @tenfifteen … Can you share what the actual costs for supplies per semester tended to be? I was surprised to hear that architecture students have to pay for their own supplies for models etc given the high tuition levels…
I have to admit that caught me by surprise as well, although I suppose I did know that at all schools I am aware of art students pay for quite a bit of their own supplies as well. And then in the old days there were people that had to have calculators, or slide rules before that, etc. So maybe this is more along those lines.
Agreed, but do science students pay for the chemicals they use in research labs, etc? I can understand the main tools, which are like book costs, but the materials for models etc seems an integral part of the teaching. One student told us it can be hundreds of dollars each semester.
Generally no, although it isn’t unheard of to charge a lab fee at some schools. And I know there is a tuition surcharge/special fee for engineering students (and maybe architecture students?) at some schools so maybe it is the same thing just charged a different way.
As for the chemistry lab courses, I know all schools try very hard to design the experiments to use very inexpensive materials and minimal amounts, so perhaps the cost per student isn’t too high. Now you said research labs, but I suspect you meant lab courses. Materials used by the profs and their research students comes from govt. grants and companies funding research, generally speaking.
I feel like I read somewhere that Tulane does have a $400 per semester architecture fee, but I may be mixing it up with another school… but then when the students mentioned they have to pay a few hundred (on top of that) for supplies, I was surprised… I could not find that extra fee again just now when I looked so I may be mixing up schools…
That’s certainly easy to do. There was something not too long ago that I swore was associated with one school (NYU maybe) and it turned out it was a very different school. But that does seem to support that some schools just charge a fee up front and take care of some of these supplies and others let the students pick the tools they like best but pay the extra.
In response to the architecture supply cost…first off, I don’t remember/don’t know how other schools handle materials costs for their respective architecture programs, but I would think paying for your own supplies is typical across the board. The big costs come first semester when you have to buy all your essential architecture supplies such as, drawing board, mayline, scales, pens/pencils, graphite, trace, vellum etc (they will give a list). These supplies will last beyond first semester and can be replaced as needed. Another cost comes for the computer software when we begin working on the computers/digital media/cad/3d modeling. Some programs are free (autocad) and some are not (adobe creative suite), but I know the school has been working on getting costs down/free licenses since I was in school. All digital programs are on the computer lab computers, but I do recommend getting your own when possible.
In terms of materials, what differs between the use of chemicals in science labs and architecture materials is that the science department can control what chemicals are used and the quantity needed (I think), whereas in architecture, the material choice is generally up to the student. You can make a model all out of recycled scrap chip board (cheap) or make a model entirely out of plexi glass (expensive). The expense mostly comes for final review models where you want your model to look as impeccable as possible. I would say most generally use a combination of different colored and thickness of chip board, plexi, and texture bass wood. My final model materials would generally run me about $100 and partly because of that and the shear amount of time and work that went into them, I have kept almost all of them. Some people absolutely spend way more than that and go overboard (few and far between) and some people definitely have never hit the $100 model mark. I will admit that while aware of the cost, I was not the most frugal, did not always keep a good inventory of the material I already had, and to save myself the stress of not buying enough, I would often buy extra of crucial materials and did not return what went unused. Some people also sold their leftover/unused materials as well. Insider tip - the more expensive models did not make a better model; good craft and thoughtful material choices makes the best model. Also, after my 5 years of architecture school, I have a nice collection of all kinds of rulers, glues, tapes, blades, graphite pencils, colored pencils, water color, wood stain, wood choppers, my drawing board and the like - nice things to have and continue using so it’s not a total waste.
I should add also that while textbooks are required for some architecture classes (history, systems etc), they are not required for studio and no architecture textbook compares to the multiple $100+ textbooks that science students are required to buy. There is an architecture fee ($400 sounds about right, but I am not sure), but I believe it goes to offsetting the price for the printing labs, laser cutter, software etc (the digital output lab is student run and the prices are such that it is zero profit, so i’m sure that fee helps subsidize that as well).
Happy to answer any other questions!