I have a friend in high school who's applying for architecture schools this fall. We are overwhelmed about where to start and would be grateful for any help you can provide. If you could direct us to some links that have this information, that would be great too!

She plans to attend a school for either the B.Arch degree or a B.A. degree in architectural studies or a related field. Her tentative plan after graduation is to work for a few years (in her native country, China) before applying for an M.Arch degree in the US.

1) The B.Arch degree is more specialized. How different are the admissions criteria for the B.Arch degree than the BA? Is it difficult to switch from the B.Arch degree to other career tracks mid-way?

2) The B.Arch is a professional degree, often standalone. Is it common to get a B.Arch followed by an M.Arch? Are there major overlaps in the curriculum? Do any M.Arch schools look down on already having a professional degree?

3) What are the admissions criteria for M.Arch degrees? Would having significant work experience help a lot? Do these work experience have to be in a skills-intensive architectural role in order to have an impact on admissions?

4) Is it much more difficult to find work in the architecture field with only a B.A. as compared to already having a B.Arch?

Thanks so much!