<p>Do you want to design or just be involved in the design/construction industry? I ask this because I think your view of construction management might be a little simplistic. Yes, most of the "workers" in construction might might seem to be blue collar but many are making a good living. Think about who are managing all these workers and then who manages the managers. If you interested in understanding all the process and procedures involved in managing a project, it is a very legitimate career path. I believe Rick could give you a better picture. Because of demographics, your generation will have more opportunities than the previous generation, especially as the Baby Boomers retire in the coming decades. You can't outsource to India an on-site project manager.</p>
<p>I'm having a hard time making up my mind... well considering these:
I'm considered by almost everyone to be really good at designs, physics, chemistry, geography and accounting, doing good at math, economics and biology, but just ok at calculus.
With these things considered I thought architecture is a good choice.but money is really high on my goals list. Heck why spend so many years in college if I wont make a bundle? Just my thoughts....</p>
<p>da<em>mad</em>cow; If money is really high on your priority list then you need to go find something else to do in life, I don't think you will be happy as an architect. If you enter the profession with modest income goals i think you will be pleasantly surprised at what you can achieve. If you come in with high expectations for money, you will never be happy. I've had a few of those work for me and no matter how much money I gave them, it was never enough. They always drifted over to real estate and development, a path they could have taken with a lot less education.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>Why spend so many years in college if you don't get paid a lot? Because you love architecture for architecture and not for the money. I remember seeing a statistic that those in the architecture/engineering field are among the happiest compared to other fields. Money isn't everything.</p>
<p>If money is that high on your list, you have a very narrow view of what college and life is about. There is no profession that has a guarantee of a lot of money.</p>
<p>True, msheft. While I gotta agree with ken that money isnt everything, it does matter a lot. Well I dont know yet if I have that much love for architecture. I love designs though. As for money... well I dont expect million dollar hit, but perhaps 6 figures within 5-8 years of work, 10 max.
I'm thinking of combining Architecture with another major, as I'm definitely going all the way to masters. Is it possible to go with a different major, while taking architecture as electives, then take Arch masters?</p>
<p>I also wonder if my target, 8 years to reach 6 figures come as reasonable or too high.....
I cant seem to make up my mind. I love designs but want to make a good living as well. I spent my highschool years sketching and designing, mainly cars, buildings, landscapes, people, and cartoons. I still do so :P
Since I had no knowledge on CAD in hs, I played Sims and Simcity instead. Funny thing about Sims is once I was done building a house inside out I left it and built another, and when I had no space left I just tear it down and build a new one...</p>
<p>I also wonder if my target, 8 years to reach 6 figures come as reasonable or too high.....</p>
<p>That is a pretty tall expectation. We have had a few who have achieved that, but you would definitely be in the top 2% or 3%. The ones who have accomplished it have been outstanding with clients, and are the kind of folks that we could build a studio around. I still think you will be disappointed with architectural compensation and should go pursue some kind of business degree. You seem to feel like you have some talent, but you need talent and passion to do well, and I am not sensing a lot of passion.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>Might I suggest a bit of out-of-the-cubicle thinking. A strategic investment strategy could provide income to supplement a paycheck.</p>
<p>Consider taking personal and corporate finance classes along with your other electives. One of the skills every college graduate should have is how to read quarterly and annual financial statments for public companies.</p>
<p>Also, don't underestimate how much industry knowledge you'll be acquiring as an architect which can be leveraged as part of an investment strategy. For example, knowing a city's detail plans for urban renewal may give you some ideas on REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) investments.</p>
<p>Rick,
Here's the thing, one should look forward to spend about 200k to get a degree in Architecture, but when they graduate theyre supposed to expect "modest" 5 fig incomes for the next 10-15 years? From that point of view it does sound like a waste of money, at least to me. Sure one can talk about its the passion that counts, but I'm trying to be realistic. Most of the time passion and dreams often get crushed in the harsh reality (1st hand experience).
Considering you sacrifice time, money, and social life others can enjoy while you work hard, isnt it logical to expect what your sacrifices' worth? In comparison, med school students spend about the same amount of cash and yrs to get a degree, yet they mostly make much more than arch students. From what I heard they generally pull 6 figures within 8 years or less. While this may sound tempting, its not for me. I think, sorry, I know I'm capable of doing med school, but I simply have no interest in it. Thats why I'm so at a loss right now choosing between passion and ambition.
I agree with what Joix said, its about the return of your investments. Like someone else said about this in another thread, I have my passion, but I prefer living lavishly since I only live once.</p>
<p>Stitchintime, I'm not really getting it, do you mean take finances classes plus arcitectural electives or vice versa??</p>
<p>I'm suggesting that you maximize your college electives to put you in a position to take advantage of the stock market for prudent medium and long-term investments that can supplement a paycheck from an architectural career. Relying on just a paycheck (from any job) is single-dimesional thinking. Paycheck + Investment Income = Multi-dimesional thinking and a diversified stream of income that gives you many options.</p>
<p>Anyone, in any career, can follow their bliss and utilize a prudent investment strategy for additional income. REITs</a> (as suggested above) are financial instruments that many architects could understand and potentially have an information edge over other professionals. They generally offer good long-term growth and income.</p>
<p>Sounds logical, thats good...</p>
<p>Btw I received this reply from a senior architect, I'm posting this under his behalf as he wish to remain anonymous. What do you guys think about it???</p>
<p>"Architects within the next decade will be highly in demand, as many of us (myself included) will be on our way to retirements. However as salary goes, I see a rise but not much. This due to the fact that no matter how much architects are needed they're still bound to design about 5-10% of buildings worldwide. Too many developers are focusing on the practicality, including keeping costs down. In this case architects are too often viewed as needless addition to their budget. I personally predict that architects salary will start to rise significantly about 20 years from now, when government standards for building are raised significantly and more traditional buildings are grazed to make room for the future green buildings, something that can't be done by just building alone. That's when architects will rise. Until that day comes though, my predictions for advancement are very modest"</p>
<p>Do you agree with him, or oppose??</p>
<p>I have no connection with the architecture field, but I agree that architects are seen as a luxury today, adding $$$ to the cost of a building. Whether there will be a significant push to green construction during the next two decades to the point of razing many existing buildings...I sort of doubt it.</p>
<p>ikf; architects are seen as a luxury in the single family residential market, in commercial and multi-family housing they are required by law. Look at the regulatory hurdles that it takes to build an apartment building; Fair housing Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, the local building code, local zoning ordinances, and all the new sustainability regulations which mandate everything from energy usage to needed LEED points, not to mention negotiating with community groups. You are not building one of these buildings without an architect, even if you could care less about design.</p>
<p>A lot of these regulations seem crazy to me, but they are defimitely good for business. Sustainability has only really hit the mainstream in the design field in the last couple of years, but I know at least 10 architects who are making a good living as sustainability consultants in my area. The need for architects is not going away.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>I didn't know that rick, but it certainly sounds like good news for the profession! :) Hopefully sometime in the future, attention to design will be at least as important as adhering to codes.</p>
<p>Back in the old days, architecture was combined together with structural engineering... So even though the need for architecture diminished, architects still had something to fall back on... so my professor say....</p>
<p>Here in NY architects are required for residential work too. I'm plenty busy. The fact is I can save you money, both upfront and in the long run.</p>
<p>hey joix! i was intrested in what you wrote and i kind of need your advice!
im a first year student in architecture and im having second thoughts. Its either architecture or civil for me. Ive always been intrested in Math and physics which makes civil appealing but since i was a child, i wanted to be an architect.</p>
<p>Architecture where i live is to studied for bout 5 years, 4 of them hand drawn, last year autoCAD. I ask older students n they tell me they spend weeks of only 2 to 3 hours of sleep per night. So i start to wonder, is it relly worth it? i mean i do like it but at the same time, i dont want to be miserable!
But will not pursuing it make me miserable?
also im a female, so as a civil engineer, how would that work for me?</p>
<p>im not really intersted in the money, i pretty much dun care when it comes to money.
And so far ive been doing well at architecture n nt spending the required amount of effort others do but im worried in a few years ill be as depressed as the students i see. I want a proffession that is as fun to work in afterwards as it is to study during university!</p>
<p>hey joix!! i really liked what you wrote and i kind of need your advice.
im first year archiecture student and im having second thoughts bout the whole thing. Its either that or Civil. Ive always liked Math and Physics which makes civil seem the safe road to chose and reasonable one but ever since i was a kid, i wanted to be an architect.</p>
<p>Where i live, architecture is 5 years of study, and its all hand drawn till u reach the 4th year… afterwards its autoCAD. I ask older students in architecture and they tell me sumtimes they spend 2 weeks on only 3 hours of sleep per night, makes me wonder n think if its worth going thru it all?
will it make me miserable? i mean i dont know anyone who likes being sleepy n tired all the time. But will switiching to civil be more of a misery since im a female and im not sure what i can work as!</p>
<p>also i heard this thing bout architectural engineering bout being a blend between architecture and civil, do u by any chance know anything botu it ? if it involves less drawing, im in
so far ive been doing well without spending the required amount of effort but still makes u think, is it really that worth it??
and you stated that 50% of all people dont even work in their field, then why the hell am i busting myself for 5 years to end up nt working in it?</p>
<p>Also, in Canada or anywhere, when do you start using autoCAD for architecture?</p>
<p>wow thats a long reply ahhaha
reply soon, thank youuuuu so much!</p>