good questions. I wished someone had answered.

maybe now? i just got accepted to sci-arc m.arch 1 and would love to hear some feedback on these questions. anyone?

Although you ask interesting and no doubt important questions, they are also almost impossible to answer with any relevance to how it will affect you in 3 years when you are finished with school.

I recently graduated from SCI_Arc and almost 90% of my class was unemployed for months after graduation and many of them still are. But this is a result of a tanking economy and not because of the school.

To be perfectly honest, if you are just coming into SCI_Arc and already planning your exit strategy, you need to think again. At least during the first year, you will be better off trying to soak up everything the school has to offer- good, bad or otherwise. Approach the first year with no preconceived notions and just allow yourself to expose and be exposed.

Then after your first year, take the summer to re-evaluate. See what's worked, what hasn't. Be critical of the work you have done and others around you and make sure as you move into year 2 (and 3 for March1) that you are aware of and understand your work -it's influences, it's precedence, etc. This is the time when you start to figure out exactly who you are as a designer. This is the time to make sure the work you are doing is a product of your interests, and not just following the aesthetic mold that so many SCI_Arc projects succumb to. This would also be the appropriate time to start asking your above mentioned questions.

The professional side of architecture is likely going to be making some huge changes over the next few years, so it is a good time to be in school, riding out the storm learning, rather than delivering pizzas.

thanx for the response.

What "huge changes to the professional side of architecture" are you predicting?

well several architecture-related sites, this one included, have all had stories about how the last several years have been something of an architectural renaissance, illustrated by the rise in "stararchitecture" and the willingness that cities, governments, etc were to embrace challenging, non-traditional and inventive architecture- some good, some not so good. no where exemplifies this best than dubai, which become an architects playground.

now, people abandon their cars at the airports in an effort to flee the country without having to face jail time on defaulted loans.

no one knows for sure what exactly will be the long term effect on the industry because of this, but i think it's pretty safe to say that the age of the starchitects icon has probably come to an end as consumers (nations, governments, etc.) are going to be a little more critical of how their money gets spent. but who knows. maybe this will just be a coma and in 2 or 3 years it will be as if the "great recession of 08-09" never existed.