Hi everyone i'm currently a sophomore in High School who is interested in pursuing a career in Architecture. As the summer approaches, I've been trying to find way to help with my college resume. I've been thinking of attending a university's architecture summer program. Do you think it would be a good idea to attend one and is it worth the money. I've been looking at USC's program and some others. I've also wondered if it would be better to perhaps intern at a local firm. Would this be a good idea instead of the summer program? What do you think would be better for college? Thanks.
You are going to need a portfolio in order to get into an architecture program. I would look into some drafting courses at school, or take some art classes at night or as an elective. That way you can use that stuff for your portfolio. Look at the schools you want to go to now and look at what they require for acceptance. Visit the colleges and speak to the admissions counselors to see what will make you competitive. If you can get into AP Calculus or AP Physics now, that would be great, so you can skip those courses in college. If you suck at math and physics now, pay for a tutor so when you have to take these courses in college, they will be easier. Any university you get accepted to for architecture will be paying attention to your physics and math scores for entry, in addition to your entry portfolio.
An internship with an architecture firm would be great, but you will likely be a paper pusher for a bit. If you want to do a summer program, I think that would be great too because you will have some studio type experience/drawing classes to use in your portfolio. Can you start working with a firm after school each day and then do the summer program too? Or maybe, you can do the summer program for your junior year and then do the architecture internship in between your senior year and first year of college.
I would recommend looking at your surrounding local community colleges and seeing what type of architecture courses they offer over the summer. That way then you can already gain some experience in a design class or some sort of computer program class. This will help you learn some good skills and you will recognize if still really want to pursue architecture as well. You might be able to transfer those courses for credit when selecting the college you want to go to.
Practice sketching to improve your skill as well, that is a dying trait in architecture school unfortunately.
High Schooler looking to pursue Architecture
Hi everyone i'm currently a sophomore in High School who is interested in pursuing a career in Architecture. As the summer approaches, I've been trying to find way to help with my college resume. I've been thinking of attending a university's architecture summer program. Do you think it would be a good idea to attend one and is it worth the money. I've been looking at USC's program and some others. I've also wondered if it would be better to perhaps intern at a local firm. Would this be a good idea instead of the summer program? What do you think would be better for college? Thanks.
Hey there:
You are going to need a portfolio in order to get into an architecture program. I would look into some drafting courses at school, or take some art classes at night or as an elective. That way you can use that stuff for your portfolio. Look at the schools you want to go to now and look at what they require for acceptance. Visit the colleges and speak to the admissions counselors to see what will make you competitive. If you can get into AP Calculus or AP Physics now, that would be great, so you can skip those courses in college. If you suck at math and physics now, pay for a tutor so when you have to take these courses in college, they will be easier. Any university you get accepted to for architecture will be paying attention to your physics and math scores for entry, in addition to your entry portfolio.
An internship with an architecture firm would be great, but you will likely be a paper pusher for a bit. If you want to do a summer program, I think that would be great too because you will have some studio type experience/drawing classes to use in your portfolio. Can you start working with a firm after school each day and then do the summer program too? Or maybe, you can do the summer program for your junior year and then do the architecture internship in between your senior year and first year of college.
Don't limit yourself to USC.... See below:
https://www.ciee.org/study-abroad/france/paris/paris-to-prague-summer-art-architecture/
https://www.architecture.com/Explore/ExhibitionsandEvents/Workshops/Workshops.aspx
I would recommend looking at your surrounding local community colleges and seeing what type of architecture courses they offer over the summer. That way then you can already gain some experience in a design class or some sort of computer program class. This will help you learn some good skills and you will recognize if still really want to pursue architecture as well. You might be able to transfer those courses for credit when selecting the college you want to go to.
Practice sketching to improve your skill as well, that is a dying trait in architecture school unfortunately.
Each year, I compile the list of HS summer programs across the country; I would highly suggest you do one of these --
Discover Architecture at the Illinois School of Architecture is the least expensive in the country - http://go.illinois.edu/discover
Best
http://studyarchitecture.com/summer-architecture-programs/
@DocArchitecture
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.