Improve your photoshop/illustrator/inDesign skills, 3D modelling and rendering skills, start collecting and cutting out some "people" to be photoshopped in your future renderings, read some architectural and design magazines, and study how others represent ideas visually.

Most importantly, get plenty of rest, eat well and play hard!

All the best!

Architecte, Thank you very much. Do you think Adobe suite and sketch up is enough for the first studio, or should I try and play with autoCAD and Revit if I can get a hold of/purchase the software?

Thanks!

where are you going?

autocad is free if you are a student.  Look for student version. make sure you have a .edu email adress set up first! 

@ RZTZ Clemson or WSU. @ jia-x, Thanks for the advice! I think I can use my student  e-mail from a few years back since I won't have a new one for a bit. 

^ I should make note that I only have two more days to let them know.

For anyone who attended Clemson's Grad Program, could you please give me some insight  regarding your experience in the first studio? The people, the projects, recommendations for success that are particular to the program?

Also, Is it more hand drawing or digital? I know the syllabus mentioned using the obvious design software, but the summer program I completed at UT-Austin was exclusively hand drawings/diagrams/models, I would like to see more of a combination in the next studio.  

Lastly, is it possible to get in-state tuition the following year. It seems very difficult to get in SC.

Thank you!

@jordans99, did you do the UT summer academy last year? I was there too and am starting an M.Arch this fall as well. Whose studio were you in?

Awesome! I was in Joe Boyle's studio. You?

Go read, read philosophy and good literature, and if you like to make art, make some. You'll have plenty of time to hone your photoshop skills once school starts. Use this time to do everything that you won't get to in school. Seriously.

I wouldn't listen to bartleby if I were you and go with architecte's advice. 

Make it an easier year and learn the software or at least familiarize yourself with the software before jumping in.  Cause jumping in cold is a pretty shocking/stressful experience, I can tell you that right now. Having gone through it with ZERO experience with ANY software then being expected to master 8-10 in 8 months while keeping up with impossible deadlines would be a trip I wouldn't take again if given a choice.

Reading philosophy and doing art sure would be nice sure, but if you want a chance to sleep during your first year, learn the software.  Seriously. 

It really depends on the country and school you're going to be studying!!

However, I have never been able to learn how to use a program on my own and without an actual and immediate need of doing so...

Why don't you spend the time reading? that might be helpful too and you will definitely have no time for it during your MArch, I grant you ;)

@jordans99, nice man. I was in Peter Raab's studio. Trying to make a decision this week between Berkeley, UT and Parsons. Good luck to you!

J_Alcanfor Congrats! Great schools/ Great location for each.

 Thanks for the advice from all of the above. I do feel like it would be incredibly difficult to be competitive without knowing an ounce of software. I am actually wondering how it's even possible that people would enroll/decide to go to arch school without knowing at least some adobe, and having a modicum of familiarity with the others. None the less it's impressive to think some pull it off.

I read quite a bit on arch when I have the chance, so not as worried about that..but if I were to learn one additional piece of software (In addition to keeping up with/improving skills with InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator) would it be preferable to learn CAD, or Sketchup for first studio?

Thanks!

I think learning a basic work flow from sketchup to illustrator, photoshop, and rendering program would be helpful. sketchup is the easiest modeling program to learn, and once you learn that (the basics of modeling) everything else will fall into place. Once you're comfortable with those, AutoCAD can be used to fill in the gaps between sketchup and illustrator... but I don't think you'll really need it for first year stuff, but it'll be good to know once you're looking for a job.

And once you know AutoCAD, you essentially know how to draw in Rhino. And once you know Rhino, techniques in Revit will make a lot more sense.

And definitely hand drawing. It's like visual thinking.

Thank you, Lance.

I'm not sure if i'll have enough time to learn more than maybe one more piece of software, but I have to say my biggest fear is going against people who have a more extensive knowledge of design, and the various medias than I do since I come from a background in pr/advertising. I'd really like be up to speed or beyond on at least the digital, so this is very helpful.

Absolutely.

Don't get too wrapped up in which programs you know. Programs and software doesn't make the design. If people are relying on software to generate forms., etc., then whatever... doesn't necessarily make it better. There are many other qualities of architecture that go beyond such formal concerns.

Seriously, Sketchup is the way to go in my opinion. It's a drawing tool, it's a modeling tool, it's a rendering tool, it's one of the most easiest to learn, robust modeling softwares out there.

I say: just relax and have a good summer, whether you're traveling or working or just lazing about. You'll be screwed when school starts no matter what.

Yup, or that.

Party your ass off this summer and go on whatever trip/vacation your friends are going.  In the day time (recovering from hangovers) play a lot of video games or watch any of the show/series you might have missed out on previously.  That's what I did - seriously.

Sketching / drawing come naturally to me so it was no problem.  3d modelling/rendering and photoshop - learned how to do all that in school and became very good at it!  You can always ask your colleagues questions - most are very kind and very receptive to teaching you new things.

Enjoy your summer man!  School is going to take up all ovf your time so enjoy it while it lasts as this will probably be your last summer of freedom.

And I agree with everyone about the hand sketching and designing.  Get wrapped up in THAT not 3d programs inless it really lends itself to your project.

jordans99: Adobe suite would be good enough for graphics.  Sketchup is not enough unless you experiment with vray which gives you all the rendered effects.  AutoCAD is pretty much the basics as you'll be using that a lot to produce drawings.  Perhaps Rhinoceros would also be a good program to learn if you're into form-making.

Thank you to everyone for providing helpful feedback!

I've decided that the best route based on these suggestions and other readings is to read some principles of design books, and continue to keep up with all the software I have familiarity with while trying to learn about sketch up, and maybe AutoCad. At the same time, hoping to enjoy my summer-- just trying to make sure I can sleep during this first semester!!

wow.. I'd think someone starting the Masters would be proficient in photoshop, cad software, rendering, presentation skills already..  You don't want to waste time learning or struggling through them during school.  As I see it, the term should focus on your thesis, asking questions, proposals, speculation, generating ideas.

good luck

oh and book mark this site...  http://www.alexhogrefe.com/tutorials

the tutorials should be sufficient to help you with preparing architectural presentation panels..

If you have time, I'd really suggest learning Rhino... you can do almost anything you'd need during your studies on it - draw orthogonal plans/sections/elevations/drawings, create 3D models, render, prepare your 3D files for fabrication of physical models, actual prototypes, and many other cool things on it (grasshopper, paneling, + dozens of other architectural plugins)

accesskb, did you study in Europe?

Accesskb, Thank you for your feedback. Are you referring to the two-year degree in your statement above? Although I believe that most people entering into their three-year M.Arch programs will have at least some basic knowledge of presentation software, I don't believe that most of the people I know who applied had really any background in architectural rendering software such as CAD or Revit.

no Ersatz... I went to a Canadian uni.

Jordan hmm.. i guess you did not do your undergrad in an architecture program.  I don't know which school you applied to, but many school in North America require you to take a semester, not including Masters, to get you up to speed in software/presentation techniques etc,  Most won't even accept you if you don't show proof of some sort of presentation skills in your entrance portfolio :)

@accesskb

there are many 3.5 year master programs that take students from a variety of disciplines outside of architecture. While it is much more common in the states, schools like UBC and UofT offer this option in Canada.

Accesskb,

Yeah I am from a completely unrelated background. However, I know people that got into solid schools but I don't believe they had any knowledge of architectural design software. I would be surprised if many incoming students didn't have at least a cursory knowledge of photoshop, and other adobe suite, but I really hope that most people aren't walking win on the first day knowing Revit, CAD, Rhino etc.!

As accesskb was saying, some universities have short (and mandatory) summer pre-MArch courses in visualization and that kinda stuff for new students from outside of Architecture.  But if not, I'd think it'd be best to catch up in CAD, Rhino, and photoshop/illustrator at least...then go party with med.  Revit...save that for if you really need it at your future firm.

MArch should be the time to theorize and explore with one thesis, but outside of Waterloo, most schools aren't 100% thesis driven and cater to non-BArchs as well.