Or try to warn the younger ones...if you have a passion go for it, if you don't know what you want to do please research and try to get some work experience in an office first, so you can see how it really is.

Ask yourself some questions and don't just jump into it.

Do you want to be 30 something with massive debt, getting out of your masters earning as much as a 21 year old engineering student?

Do you actually know what architecture is?

Is this a passion/interest?

PS: Movies do not depict the architecture profession correctly.

your profile says you live in Santa Ana, which is a pretty well developed area and must have some small and mid sized architecture firms. Search on the website for the american institute of architects for firms based nearby - send them an email or call to see if someone could meet you and show you their office to get some idea of the work they do. Maybe the local AIA even has a high school outreach program or some kind of career advice day. It will help you get a sense what the real job is like and if its something you want to pursue.

I did a job shadow at a local firm in high school, and it gave me a much better idea what kind of education I needed to get to do the work I was interested in.

Honestly, being good at writing, speaking and working with other people are all more important than math skills. A real interest in art and history help a lot too. The only time I use math at work is when I need to split the bill for lunch with coworkers.

Disabuse yourself of the notion immediately- look into medicine.  With government intervention into healthcare and the worsening human condition, there will be lots of money flowing thru this industry...

Josh is right about learning how to draw, and also about you needing to take what you read here with a grain of salt. If your thread goes like most do, it will get ugly. The forum is not representative of the field.

Aside from classes, and getting a tour of a local firm, do some reading on your own. The design blogs are good for seeing new projects, but they're all pretty fluffy.  I'd recommend Salvadori's Why Buildings Stand Up and Why Buildings Fall Down. And of course David Macaulay's books are great.

Olix do you like windows? did you know windows are the face of your house? I think it's the first deal, you should start building your home with!

Download sketchup and have fun with it. 

Attend a summer program in architecture to experience firsthand; read architecture and sketch what you see -- finally, see architecture around you.

the best advise you can possibly get is NOT to go to architecture! 

Dont get into architecture - by the time you will graduate and get licensed, they will be handing out license to monkeys to stamp drawings.

Thank you so much for the help. I'll be looking into firms and seeing if I can get a tour.

Good on your for reaching out and asking - shows you are properly interested and thinking about planning out your future! I wanted to post because I have recently developed a website & online journal called PORTICO which are meant to help people exactly in your situation to get a feel for architecture, and to reduce the fear! You can access the journal here  - I will be adding content on things to do to prepare / book lists / subject choices etc. Although it is NZ based, I think that the general principles are applicable for all. 

And - going to an office is a great idea! As a high school student, I also spent a day shadowing a university student in first semester. Was really interesting :)

The health aspect is easily overlooked. 

Architecture ranks #7 in the top 10 stressful jobs in America (probably within white-collar jobs). 

It may not be 100% accurate - even so, they have a point.

http://www.businessinsider.com/most-stressful-jobs-2011-4?op=1

but it's #1 in sex appeal!

http://womeninarch.weebly.com/the-sexiest-professions.html

This reminds me of Monty Python's Lion Tamer sketch. Talking about dull,dull,dull professions :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMOmB1q8W4Y

Draw.  And look at drawings of great work. And draw.

^  Agreed.  This is the biggest investment you will make in your life.  Do it carefully and rationally, not emotionally.

^ No. You're a human, not a Vulcan. Think emotionally.  Use common sense and don't take on debt you won't be able to pay off, but life isn't a spreadsheet.

^  What did I say that you disagree with?  Rationality and common sense are pretty much synonymous, aren't they?

Think emotionally, and use common sense don't usually go hand in hand either. And a Vulcan? WTH

Geezer, Did you read my post? Did you relate it to your previous post? 

So, to beat a dead horse: You said that the OP should not use emotion when making life decisions. That's what I disagreed with. Emotion is an evolutionary gift that can be hugely beneficial in decision making -we're talking about what someone should do with their life, not whether to get a 20 year or a 30 year mortgage.

And, no, common sense and rationality are not synonymous.

Rational: based on facts or reason and not on emotions or feelings (Merriam-Webster)

Common Sense: sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts (same)

Since emotion is tied up in perception, it is part of making a common sense decision.

Why did I even bother taking the time to respond to geezertect?Because we are losing our respect for our innate abilities, like emotion. Our neo-liberal, bourgeois outlook on life doesn't value anything that can't be demonstrated empirically or described financially, and that sucks.