i've always liked yale's...again simple. so simple it doesnt even have an application

I agree that. YSOA website is really cool.

Can't figure out which school I like more - Cornell or RISD. Any thoughts? RISD is only about 2 hours from me... Cornell is about 7. From Cornell's web site I couldn't really tell what the status of their accreditaion was - kinda confussing. But I applied anyway. Cornell has a top notch engineering school, and I wonder if there is any carry over into their arch program. That stuff kinda interests me - I almost applied to arch/structural engineering programs instead. I guess if I don't get into the schools I want I could try for that next time. Both schools have relatively small arch programs. RISD seemed to be more about students discovering things on their own - a lot of focus on creativity and arts.

yeah, based on cornell's sketchiness with its accreditation (which is why i didnt apply), I'd say RISD. I've heard great things about RISD..probably cant go wrong there. Cornell seems more like a gamble. My opinion.

Ughhhh. So several architects at my firm are discouraging me from going through with the M.Arch. They say if they knew what they know now they would never go into architecture in the first place. Is anyone else experiencing this? (I'm still gonna go of course!)

how depressing

and what is it they know now that they didn't before?

um, what do they know now?

that they're cynical a-holes?

i hear the same shit from everyone. Lawyers, esp.

i hear from alot of architects, the ones that dont hate their lives, that grad school was the best time of their life

Well one particular woman at work told me to go into business or development instead. She says the hours you work and the little money you make is just not worth it compared to how much time and money you have to put into grad school. It is really depressing! I'm not letting her get to me. I see many other people in the office who are very happy with what they're doing.

that's what i plan on doing.

going to get my M.arch

then i'm going to Columbia or MIT for their 1-year MRES program.

end of story.

if you like money, get into business or development. if you realize that there's more to life than that, stick with architecture. no offense, but this is something you probably should know at this point....otherwise you're in for a hellish ride

A V
I am familiar with that cynicism. I think the cost of tuition , the reality of your work environment, and the lessons of the "business end" can weigh heavily on this as a career choice.

Yet , also, dont forget that it is an exciting time to be studying Architecture. there are so many advances in materials, technology, BIM, form-making, etc...that you should have plenty of reasons other than appeaseing your mentors, in deciding to go to school.

Most here do as well, I am sure.

I definitely have my reasons for going to architecture school and I'm well aware of the reasons that people try to discourage me from doing so. I was just curious if all of you also work with people who seem to regret their jobs and their choices.

of course. everyone regrets their job and career choices; it doesn't matter what industry you're in.

she is right in a sense. if you're going to an ivy or something out of state, student loans are going to be high. you will be putting a large chunk of your (not huge) paycheck towards it.

with that said, i already have a significant amount of debt and don't find it to be overwhelming... most of the time.

it all depends on your expenses. if you need a new car and a big house and designer clothes, yeah, being an architect might not really be the right direction for you (unless you marry rich).

all in all if you think you'll be happy with what you're doing, then you probably will! positive thinking!

now if i could just think positive about the waiting we're doing. that's really not happening right now.

Well, its definitely not fun working with people who try to convince you that all the time and engery you just spent on applications was a mistake... sooo lets get positive guys! I am personally so very excited about all of this!

av - do you work at a large or small office?

medium, about 100 people

i wonder if that has anything to do with it.

when i worked at a larger office (around 400-500 people in mult. offices), they didn't even have any idp stuff in place. there was no encouragement to better yourself educationally and a lot of people were able to move up without being liscensed/having your march, etc.

but the two smaller firms i've worked at were/are very understanding/encouraging of education. i've been able to take classes, have my leep ap test paid for, boss knows about plans to go to grad school - might even be talks of tuition payment for returning to work there.

just my experience. anyone else out there with similar/different?

I , personally, would never be interested in working in an office like that., for precisely those reasons. I mean I am sure you are learning a lot, but a boutique firm will care more about you. Good mentors will look out for you .

ive been told that working in a big office is sort of a must do, at least once in your life. I'll probably "do my time" in one right out of grad school...get IDP outta the way, then move on. Personally I prefer the small office dynamic...there's really not much of anything wrong with it.

i work at a smaller office [4 architects, 5 designers/interns] my bosses are very supportive about school/education - they won't give me any $ for tuition, but they are good mentors about it.
Its kind of a duality here though on a professional learning level: yes be a LEED AP, yes take your ARE's, yes learn Revit... but no we won't give you any money for it, or compensate you for test fees.... but there are study groups with beer. I guess at a larger firm there might be more of a financial support system - don't some firms pay for the ARE's? I guess there's always trade offs.

wow! i thought i was working at a medium-sized office when i was at a 35 person firm - guess it's all relative.

i work at a very small firm (8 people), and they've all had overwhelmingly positive things to say about their m.arch experiences as well as their choice to pursue design. they've been really supportive of my decision to go back to school, although my boss isn't exactly thrilled that i'm leaving.

it's true that grad school is very very (very) expensive, and that architecture as a profession is pretty universally characterized by long hours and sub-standard compensation, but if you're passionate about design and you find a work environment where you can really exercise that passion, it's probably mostly worth it. if you're not truly passionate about design or if your work is really low on your list of lifestyle priorities, then yes, grad school is probably not worth the time and expense. don't let your coworkers get you down, a v - just because the m.arch wasn't worth it to them doesn't mean you won't get an amazing amount for your efforts.

i wonder where most of them went.

I guess it all depends on the firm. The very large firm I work for pays for a ton of career developement, including M.arch. Any one know of other firms that will do so much?

For me, getting an march is less about money/career status as it is a way into the wider debate of architecture; it won't make you rich but it will enrich your career, plug you into a network of people who get to think about stuff and be on/close to the newest & most exciting stuff... I think the chance at that is the important payoff. I think getting in is not the last step in the process, it's kind of the first step in a 3.5 year admissions process...

I Just saw a video of Bruce Shapiro. He does wonderful staff!! I encourage you to take a look. Google him

Hey everyone - where did you guys go for undergrad? Any non-architecture majors?

This is for the guy who submitted a portfolio consisting only of photos of how he arranged furniture in his house: you didn't get in. I won't say which East Coast school. The painting above the bed was kind of nice, but considering that you didn't paint it, but only took a picture of it... we're going to pass this time.

that's funny.

karchitect - do you work for admissions for this East Coast school? what other kind of stuff are you seeing? good / bad? hehe i wanna hear more funny ones!

but karch...the photos were in black and white... I thought that made me artsy?

karch?,


aw man!,...you didn't like my portfolio? i thought you could appreciate my arrangement skills ...oh well,maybe next year

how about the baddass portfolio with the cougar on the front (mine)...do i have to ask? in right?

this is for the guy who submitted a portfolio consisting only of paw prints that his gerbil made after he dipped it in finger paint and got it stoned: you didn't get in. I won't say which East Cost school, but we already know how to smoke up a gerbil and allow it to explore it's creativity.

list of people who are bored at work today:

smithwillb
A V
asbuckeye07
ff33
ripomatic

hahaha very true.

I don't work there, but was shown a few portfolios over the weekend. To the woman who wrote her essay in pirate-talk - you didn't get in either. In general, most of the portfolios were very impressive. Seems like this is a very competitive year. Don't expect to hear anything for another couple of weeks, though. And NO, I won't tell you which school, so you'll just have to suffer. heh

yeah im switching between this wonderful convo we're having and facebook scrabble game with my coworker...productive day. are they done deciding yet?

I'm serious about the essay in pirate-talk, by the way.

to the woman who wrote her essay in english: how pedestrian.

rrrrrrrr you going to tell us more?

yeah, try klingon next time

*refresh* > GO TO BOTTOM. click.

ncie try, karchitech.

You go to Berkeley.

karchitech. Which portfolio are you talking about?

I had a dream last night that I got accepted into Berkeley.