I will give a little back story then proceed with my question. ( I made the question bold if you do not want my life story haha)
I did well in High School graduating in the top of my class but I didn't really ever try hard at what I did. This lead to some pretty awful study habits but I decided to go to community college first to get my gen eds over with for cheap (family makes just enough money for me to get zero help but not enough to give me any). Finished those two years with a 3.6 or something owing nothing because I worked the whole time to pay for my schooling up to that point.
I transferred to a four year college and decided to pursue a degree in Computer Science. That did not end well. My grades were absolutely atrocious and I couldn't really grasp programming enough to make me feel comfortable with continuing on that course. I switched majors the next semester and began directing my studies towards a degree in Environmental Science. This venture began and ended with my introduction to Physical Chemistry and its total destruction of any confidence I had in my self to succeed. I would point out that the bad study habits I mentioned earlier didn't have any visual effects until this point in my college life but had actually already ruined me.
While I was at the community college I took two years of Chem and was "blessed" with a teacher who would not or could not (not sure about the situation) fail any student under any circumstance. He knew Chemistry very well but did not teach it. He would make impossibly hard tests that all but two students would pass. I consistently failed every test but was given a C...for what reason I have never figured out. So my study habits loved this class because I didn't need to change them to actually learn the material to pass. Sigh.
So I am now facing the last semester of my fourth year in college with a projected 2 years to go in my pursuit of a Bachelors in Art. I have always loved art and had a passion for design and anything similar that I could get my hands on. I kind of got stuck in the "I need to do what will make me money not what I like" trap and wasted an entire year. I have kind of turned my thoughts to Architecture as something that I would enjoy and would incorporate my love for art and design. But I am left with a very heavy question on my mind.
Should I finish my Bachelor's degree in Art which will take two more years or should I just cut my losses and apply to Bachelors programs for Architecture? I am not sure what to do because I cannot figure out if my Bachelors in Art would give credit toward such a degree or allow me to just jump into higher education (masters etc.) while only needing a few courses to catch up to what I would have learned within an actual program.
I would appreciate some advice from people that are currently in the field of study and are actively pursuing their education as well as those who have been through it. I am definitely going to speak with an adviser tomorrow as soon as my first class this semester begins as I desperately need some help!
Sounds to me like you don't have a clear idea what you'd like to do. Take some time off from school, get some work, find some direction, and apply yourself.
Wandering aimlessly through college(s) is a waste of time and money.
Just curious, are you actually aware of how intense/intensive a B.Arch program is, and do you think you're actually prepared academically or study habits-wise? I get the impression that you bounced around majors from Comp Sci to Chem without grasping the work those majors actually involve. I would lean more towards finishing up that BFA/BA Arts as a means to both hone your portfolio pieces, figure out what specifically you like about architecture, and most importantly improve your study habits, and in the meantime taking a intro to arch summer workshop (CDisco, Making + Meaning, InArch, etc). It's going to take you 5 years either way (2 years for the BA Arts + 3 for M.Arch vs. 5 years for B.Arch). Also, a Masters is a first professional degree, so at minimum, all you need is a Bachelors + 1 semes calc and physics.
Architecure is the Marine Corp - you must devote yourself to it 150% if you half ass it - you will be making the biggest mistake of your life - you hear me?
I agree with Mike Jaffe. Take a little time off to clear your head. The attrition rate of architecture school is high. You just don't graduate cause you thought you would just give it a shot.
Sounded a lot like me in my high school and undergrad days -- and a lot of other people I know whgo fared reasonably well.
Don't be so down on yourself dude. This is America - where we have the privelege to fuck up as many times as we want to and still make something out of our lives!
You got way better HS grades than me - I ended with something pretty laughable but it still got me into my state university that was known for nothing but partying and football. My parents taught there so I had a strategic advantage of paying nothing for tuition. I majored in "General Studies" because I had no idea what I wanted to do for a living. I partied my ass off. My first semester's GPA was embarrassing. I then majored in - you guessed it - Computer Science! - worse decision ever (I suck at math) as I also didn't know my ass from an elbow when it came to programming. I'm also someone who has been good at art my entire life - this tame I wanted to use it to my advantage and use it for the advancement of my career. I've also always (my entire life) been inspired by the built environment - this led me to architecture. I finished my undergrad in art. Finished with an ok-ish GPA 3.3 or something like that. I applied to grad school. This got me into a couple good programs (along with a decent folio and laughable at best GRE scores).
Then I went to Arch school! It was the best decision of my life. Cruised right through it. My professors and I got along nicely - loved the small quaint town, this school also had good football. When I graduated - I got good offers and since then I've been with some awesome firms in DC. I'm currently at one of them and looking back at it, I would have never predicted I'd ever be in the place/position I'm in now - a project architect working at one of the world's most reputable arch firm working on a project that is being published everywhere. Hard to believe only a mere decade earlier I was doing keg stands on a wednesday night only to skip my classes the next day - lol!
The point of my example to you is just to tell you that not everyone's path is the same. there is no black and white - everyone takes a different path in life.
my friend architecture is an entire different animal. we're in the same boat so i don't feel bad telling you the intensity of architecture almost ruined me physically, mentally, and academically in my first year. i've been trying to work my way back into another architecture school ever since, but im young an i still have something to prove. BUT JUST BE CAREFUL IT CAN GET CRAZY.
"The point of my example to you is just to tell you that not everyone's path is the same. there is no black and white - everyone takes a different path in life." - THIS IS TRUE DONT BE DISCOURAGED!!
Thanks for all the advice guys! Yeah I have a good idea what is involved and have taken strides in forcing my self to be more disciplined. I took 8am classes over others to make my sleep habits better and have lowered my hours at work to allow more focus to school. Last semester was excellent for me and this one feels like it will be better than that. I have two more years and I feel that will allow me to get where I need to be in order to succeed. :)
You need sometime to think before you spend a lot of money...Would credits from art transfer over to architecture I think now but you should ask your professors about that
Jan 25, 12 7:45 pm ·
·
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.
In Need of Guidance
I will give a little back story then proceed with my question. ( I made the question bold if you do not want my life story haha)
I did well in High School graduating in the top of my class but I didn't really ever try hard at what I did. This lead to some pretty awful study habits but I decided to go to community college first to get my gen eds over with for cheap (family makes just enough money for me to get zero help but not enough to give me any). Finished those two years with a 3.6 or something owing nothing because I worked the whole time to pay for my schooling up to that point.
I transferred to a four year college and decided to pursue a degree in Computer Science. That did not end well. My grades were absolutely atrocious and I couldn't really grasp programming enough to make me feel comfortable with continuing on that course. I switched majors the next semester and began directing my studies towards a degree in Environmental Science. This venture began and ended with my introduction to Physical Chemistry and its total destruction of any confidence I had in my self to succeed. I would point out that the bad study habits I mentioned earlier didn't have any visual effects until this point in my college life but had actually already ruined me.
While I was at the community college I took two years of Chem and was "blessed" with a teacher who would not or could not (not sure about the situation) fail any student under any circumstance. He knew Chemistry very well but did not teach it. He would make impossibly hard tests that all but two students would pass. I consistently failed every test but was given a C...for what reason I have never figured out. So my study habits loved this class because I didn't need to change them to actually learn the material to pass. Sigh.
So I am now facing the last semester of my fourth year in college with a projected 2 years to go in my pursuit of a Bachelors in Art. I have always loved art and had a passion for design and anything similar that I could get my hands on. I kind of got stuck in the "I need to do what will make me money not what I like" trap and wasted an entire year. I have kind of turned my thoughts to Architecture as something that I would enjoy and would incorporate my love for art and design. But I am left with a very heavy question on my mind.
Should I finish my Bachelor's degree in Art which will take two more years or should I just cut my losses and apply to Bachelors programs for Architecture? I am not sure what to do because I cannot figure out if my Bachelors in Art would give credit toward such a degree or allow me to just jump into higher education (masters etc.) while only needing a few courses to catch up to what I would have learned within an actual program.
I would appreciate some advice from people that are currently in the field of study and are actively pursuing their education as well as those who have been through it. I am definitely going to speak with an adviser tomorrow as soon as my first class this semester begins as I desperately need some help!
Thanks in advance!
Sounds to me like you don't have a clear idea what you'd like to do. Take some time off from school, get some work, find some direction, and apply yourself.
Wandering aimlessly through college(s) is a waste of time and money.
Just curious, are you actually aware of how intense/intensive a B.Arch program is, and do you think you're actually prepared academically or study habits-wise? I get the impression that you bounced around majors from Comp Sci to Chem without grasping the work those majors actually involve. I would lean more towards finishing up that BFA/BA Arts as a means to both hone your portfolio pieces, figure out what specifically you like about architecture, and most importantly improve your study habits, and in the meantime taking a intro to arch summer workshop (CDisco, Making + Meaning, InArch, etc). It's going to take you 5 years either way (2 years for the BA Arts + 3 for M.Arch vs. 5 years for B.Arch). Also, a Masters is a first professional degree, so at minimum, all you need is a Bachelors + 1 semes calc and physics.
Architecure is the Marine Corp - you must devote yourself to it 150% if you half ass it - you will be making the biggest mistake of your life - you hear me?
I agree with Mike Jaffe. Take a little time off to clear your head. The attrition rate of architecture school is high. You just don't graduate cause you thought you would just give it a shot.
you must go in it to win it - just like the NY Giants did with the SF 49ers's - who just can't fumble the football in sudden death OT(thesis finals)
Sounded a lot like me in my high school and undergrad days -- and a lot of other people I know whgo fared reasonably well.
Don't be so down on yourself dude. This is America - where we have the privelege to fuck up as many times as we want to and still make something out of our lives!
You got way better HS grades than me - I ended with something pretty laughable but it still got me into my state university that was known for nothing but partying and football. My parents taught there so I had a strategic advantage of paying nothing for tuition. I majored in "General Studies" because I had no idea what I wanted to do for a living. I partied my ass off. My first semester's GPA was embarrassing. I then majored in - you guessed it - Computer Science! - worse decision ever (I suck at math) as I also didn't know my ass from an elbow when it came to programming. I'm also someone who has been good at art my entire life - this tame I wanted to use it to my advantage and use it for the advancement of my career. I've also always (my entire life) been inspired by the built environment - this led me to architecture. I finished my undergrad in art. Finished with an ok-ish GPA 3.3 or something like that. I applied to grad school. This got me into a couple good programs (along with a decent folio and laughable at best GRE scores).
Then I went to Arch school! It was the best decision of my life. Cruised right through it. My professors and I got along nicely - loved the small quaint town, this school also had good football. When I graduated - I got good offers and since then I've been with some awesome firms in DC. I'm currently at one of them and looking back at it, I would have never predicted I'd ever be in the place/position I'm in now - a project architect working at one of the world's most reputable arch firm working on a project that is being published everywhere. Hard to believe only a mere decade earlier I was doing keg stands on a wednesday night only to skip my classes the next day - lol!
The point of my example to you is just to tell you that not everyone's path is the same. there is no black and white - everyone takes a different path in life.
my friend architecture is an entire different animal. we're in the same boat so i don't feel bad telling you the intensity of architecture almost ruined me physically, mentally, and academically in my first year. i've been trying to work my way back into another architecture school ever since, but im young an i still have something to prove. BUT JUST BE CAREFUL IT CAN GET CRAZY.
"The point of my example to you is just to tell you that not everyone's path is the same. there is no black and white - everyone takes a different path in life." - THIS IS TRUE DONT BE DISCOURAGED!!
Thanks for all the advice guys! Yeah I have a good idea what is involved and have taken strides in forcing my self to be more disciplined. I took 8am classes over others to make my sleep habits better and have lowered my hours at work to allow more focus to school. Last semester was excellent for me and this one feels like it will be better than that. I have two more years and I feel that will allow me to get where I need to be in order to succeed. :)
You need sometime to think before you spend a lot of money...Would credits from art transfer over to architecture I think now but you should ask your professors about that
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.