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Stepping into a Black Hole?
Look, we all know the economy's in a tailspin...
I look around at all the other M.Arch applicants out there and I keep wondering- "are we all stepping into a black hole? stepping off of a cliff?"
Because sometimes it feels like the industry of architecture is fundamentally f*cked. Look at all the architects who are out of work now, and the ones graduating every subsequent year, and imagine the pile-up!
And here we all are, still standing in line for our piece of the pie, our place in the system, and even though we see there's a huge cliff up ahead that everyone else is driving off of. WE think we're somehow going to avoid it, that it'll be stopped-up by the time it's our turn; like the huge train wreck up ahead of us will be cleared by the time we need to start thinking about jobs.
Are we idiots for staying the course? For shelling out money for summer prep programs and portfolios and GREs? Shouldn't we be switching onto an alternate track? IS there an alternate track?
Or are we suppose to stay where we are in line, lambs to the slaughter... stepping into an education system that will put us deeply in debt, with no jobs in sight at the other end. Yes, we'll all be able to wear our turtlenecks and thick-rimmed glasses, but will we be doing that under an interstate somewhere?
Do we need to wise-up and go about getting architecture training in some other way? IS there another way? A profession that takes so much time to train, with such low returns, and now with the job-market factored in...
I guess I'm being all Dooms-Day, but does anyone agree?
If you are going to a really expensive school and truly believe it will be a waste, then you ARE stepping into a black hole.
Be smart. What are you really trying to get out of your education. A prestigious school to work at a prestigious firm? Maybe a black hole - who knows how the economy will recover.
A cheaper state school: build your portfolio - get licensed. You wouldn't have shelled out so much.
Now is a good time to get some training. When you get out there may be opportunities when you get out - there may not be. But there will be more doors open than there were before.
If you already have a b.arch then I don't know if m.arch is worth it...
there're more profitable professions out there which don't require a 100k grad school investment
what else is there?
If you've already invested this much time in it - it must have been reaffirmed to you at some point that architecture is a worthy career choice.
Unfortunately for myself, and perhaps you, architecture seems to require more optimism than pessimism.
I've tried to talk myself out of it, but cant find the right angle to convince myself otherwise. If there was something out there that I would rather do - I can only assume I would be doing it whole-heartedly. That's the problem though - I'd rather be in architecture.
awkeytect- that's kinda my problem. I stopped selling out to switch from medicine into a proposed architecture career. i finally feel like i found the field which will appreciate my talents and let me flourish. and now i see it all crumbling around me... people running away from the implosion with panicked looks on their faces, all holding signs saying "TURN BACK THE OTHER WAY!!!!"
This is intimidating, even though I know I want to do this profession right now. I guess I'm facing the choice between continuing my current studies in the Middle East (not getting pushed creatively, but in the end getting a license to build 4-story buildings), versus coming back to the states to do an M.Arch (and potentially pouring money down the drain, even though the training would be far superior.)
Is self-development for the love of the field worth years of debt? I'm not in this for the big bucks, but nor am i in it to suffer for years with financial issues. I just want the top-notch education offered by the best (and incidentally the most expensive schools).
tasslehawf- Unfortunately, staying in-state would be social suicide, so I am looking at schools on the coasts- LA, NYC, and Penn. But this whole thing, for me, is not about getting my certification as fast as possible and then scurrying out there to be a good worker bee. I want to be developed and taught and really delve into the field, on a high level, and then also go to a school whose name has cachet overseas.
and a pony, and a date with Zac Efron, and a lifetime supply of hugs.
Make that a My Little Pony...
No, this post wasn't supposed to be about me personally... I was just trying to articulate my feelings about the whole crisis, and wondering if others felt the same way- like buying into this is stupid.
I don't think its stupid to get into the field - buildings have a limited lifespan so people will start building and architecture firms, in turn, will start staffing up again. Those jumping ship now probably won't ever come back in significant numbers so the people who ride it out might end up in a good position - eventually.
As for school, I think it would be pretty unwise right now to take on any significant debt. Maybe you could move to a state that has a state school you like and live there for a year to establish residency before enrolling. Don't bother with the middle east unless you want to practice there.
I know lawyers, developers, city planners, librarians, teachers, and management consultants that are also looking for work --not only architects. Just because the economy is bleak doesn't mean that you shouldn't go to school for architecture (or law, or real estate, or planning, or education, or business). It does mean that you shouldn't be reckless, but getting trained to practice in a longstanding profession is not reckless.
Economic emergencies have occurred for generations, followed by resurgences. Learn some history.
post peak is an all new ball game
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