I don't know about those two schools, but I TA'd for a freshman level design course last spring of Both Interior and Architectural students. I would wait to make the full decision until after that first course if you can, but start with Architecture because it is typically harder to get into that school. Many of the Architecture students switched to Interiors, and many of the Interior students dropped the field altogether when they discovered it wasn't what they thought it would be.

Again, I don't know how it is at Boston, or NYIT, so maybe advise from some one with experience in those schools would be better.

I agree that it's definitely easier to switch from architecture to interior design than the other way around, so if you had to pick I'd start with architecture.

Some resources you may find helpful in making a decision:

Careers in Architecture

Careers in Interior Design

In the end, it's all about what will make you happy -- what we have to say on this site really can't help you make that decision.

Good luck!

go into law...you will be much happier in the long run

Definitely Interior Design...
All you do all day is read magazines, look at fabric samples, and get free lunches from product vendors (and not the crappy lunches architects get...I'm talking about wined and dined)

kakacabeza's got a point ... i've never seen a social scene that rivals the world in which interior designers operate ... fees are generally better too, especially in relation to the amount of work that must be generated to collect those fees.

in my next life, i'm definitely going to be an interior designer -- but, it's too late for me now in this one ... sigh !

I know sseveral interior designers and not a single one of them has an interior design degree. It is all about connections, style, personality...I know designers who don't even draw and are successful.

the interior designers need the architects. who else can change the plotter paper when the roll runs out???

Seriously, some of the best Interior Designers I know were trained as architects...well, best for me because I can communicate with them. But you don't need a degree in ID, and many Interior Designers have associates degrees from small podunk outfits, and seem to do well enough. Like Buckity said, having a strong personality is important. Even if the design sucks, a "good" interior designer will be able to sell it because of their confidence in their skills...

Are we talking about interior decorators or interior designers here?

I am inteiror DESIGNER. I have a BFA in Interior Architecture and Design.

There IS a difference between an interior DESIGNER and an Interior DECORATOR FYI.

A DECORATOR can pretty much be anyone who claims to have the "gift". But beyond that, they typically deal primarily with the ornamentation of a space only (paint, fabrics, furnishings, etc.) and make a place look "pretty". They don't have to have any kind of real qualifications.

An Interior DESIGNER (sometimes called Inteiror Architect although this makes a lot of architects mad) can essentially do anything an Architect can do on the INTERIOR of a space. Including load bearing wall knowledge, electrical, HVAC, materials, etc. and always has a DEGREE in Interior Design or Interior Architecture and Design. ALSO, in most states, just like with architects, and Interior Designer must be Licensed to use the term "Interior Designer" and in order to be license must pass the state board's requirements which for Texas (where I live) one must have passed the NCIDQ exam and must have gone to a FIDER accredited institution of learning. FIDER recently changed it's name to something else can't remember what.

Anyway, there's a lot of misconception about the terminology and who does what. ASID (to which I belong) is supposed to educate the public about interior designers but there's still not a lot of people in the know on the subject (hmm, I pay ASID $450/year I wonder if it's working).

Also, I think he was joking but we do a lot more than read magazines, get wined and dined, and pick out furniture. Many people do not realize HOW MUCH work and effort goes into planning and executing a space not to metnion the time it takes to shop for it and all the budgeting etc. Interior Design is, in a WAY, far more detailed than architecture only in that it deals with the details of each piece that work as a whole (all the furnishings, all the mechanics of the kitchen or bath or lighting or media room or whatever, plus the aesthetics of a space). It's A LOT of work.

Someone had mentioned that we get paid more/better in relation to architects and I think they are right. I personally get paid 20% of a total budget plus 20% on any furnishings that the client purchases through me (which I sell to them at a discount). If it's a residential client, I almost always get a referral for another client. If it's a commercial client, I usually am their "staff" designer or at least the one they come to over and over again in the future.

It's very rewarding. HOWEVER, I personally long to be an architect (which is why I am here) and have been considering getting my M.Arch. degree and going through all the hell of getting licesned, etc. not because I dont' love Interior Design, I do but because I have a need to create not only the interior spaces but the entire thing. I don't really NEED to be an architect to accomplish this though. In Texas, I can legally build/design/etc. any structure under 20,000 sq feet (as long as it's under 4 stories if it's a commercial space). So, my point is, that there is a cache about being an Architect that doesn't come with being an interior designer. They both HAVE a certain cache of their own, but everyone understands what architects do, not everyone understands what interior designers do (or even the difference between a designer and a decorator).

I hope this helps out people in making a decision between the two career paths!

Very helpful post, dallas.

Though I'm a registered architect, my work of the last two years has been mainly interior design, and residential additions of the type that do not require an architect's stamp.

But lately I'm itching to work on a real "architecture" project again, the kind that requires structural/mechanical engineers and acoustical consultants and landscapers all working together.

Anyone who is considering architecture v. interior design, know that in most states, especially as ID registration becomes more prevalent, having an architecture degree gives you the flexibility to do both architecture of the 40-story-office-tower variety AND the add-a coffered-ceiling-select-a-sofa variety.

In my experience, the latter tends to be more lucrative. Though I've yet to make 20% AND a markup on any project - jeepers, dallas, you're bolder than I am to ask for both!

My comments regarding Interior Designers are partly in jest. In the State of Georgia, where I live, ID does not require a license at this time, so there's a whole gamut of talent or lack of talent. I've worked with some ID who are VERY talented and knowlegeable, and who provide good service (the stereotype is these people are difficult to work with). I've also worked with some ID who are pretty much worthless, but some of every design discipline fall under this category.

One particular in-house Interior Designer thought he was the shit, and always complained about how busy he was, but in actuality he would just charge six hours of time to my projects to pick out some product out of a magazine that was way out of the realm of the project budget. Hence my frustration...

Actually my question regarding the "decorators" was because I felt that whenever we discuss interior design, someone comes in and talks about decorators. In fact, I think most of the negative comments by architects are directed towards them. I see interior designers as architects that do not deal with structure, building envelope and common circulation areas in terms of performance.

The only reason I wouldn't want to be an interior designer is the fact that there is usually no relationship between the interior and exterior. Sometimes this works where the exterior shell is an old building of another function (such as a factory) and the interior is very different. Treating the envelope as merely a shell can work sometimes. But how about all those instances where that relationship is key to the building?

I love interior design, and went into architecture because I thought I could eventually do both, or just ID if I wanted. I've done a few interiors projects and they were lots of fun, and not nearly as abstract or technical as architecture. I think interior design is probably more autonomous than architecture - with architecture you deal with lots of consultants (structural, mechanical, civil, etc) and have to please a lot of people (code officials, contractors, owners, design review committees). With ID, you pretty much just have to please the owner. Correct me if I'm wrong or making an understatement, please ID's. While I do get to design all the time, sometimes I get frustrated that architectural design is merely data organization, butt-kissing, schedule management, promises, and paper pushing, and has little to do with "space" and the things I got into it for. There are a lot more things standing in the way of an excellent piece of architecture compared to ID.