My God man, have you no decency?

In what was was my question indecent?

Is this a rhetorical question?

wierd question... my answer NO

No, but thankfully I realized that long ago and adjusted accordingly. I could have avoided years of debt and took an easier path, though.

This should be the first question that schools ask incoming students, but alas, I think it'll be left for the reality shock upon graduation (maybe not, though, there was no internet to go searching on for info when I was looking, nowadays the resources are amazing).

@trace how did you "adjust accordingly"?

@Strawbeary , I know its a weird question but i wanted to know how much passion people had for the subject, I was accepted into a architecture course and im wondering if its the right route for me. Im trying to guage my motivation and passion against architects already in the field ( or architecture students)

of course. if you enjoy getting up every morning to go to the office and can put food on the table and pay your mortgage, what more could you ask for? what a strange question post-great recession.

and i don't know what you mean by "decent salary," but a decent salary to me is one that pays the bills and allows you to live with a modest degree of comfort. anything more is mere extravagance.

In many ways, architecture is very similar to the worlds of theatre, music and art. All of these groups are populated by a fairly large number of people with a strong passion for their craft and many of those people will continue to pursue that craft even when the economic rewards are not great for most participants.

However, there is a portion of the group who are very attuned to the economics (and complain bitterly when not satisfied) and there is another group who would continue to do architecture even if they are living on food stamps.

In the end, there is no single answer to your question. However, I personally do not think the economics of architectural practice will improve substantially in the forseeable future and there's still a whole lot of people, here and elsewhere, prepared to continue calling themselves architects and plying their trade.

Hope that helps your understanding.

jimmy, I'm on my way out of the profession, not for economic reasons although I have been laid off for almost a year now. During the last year, I found that my passions weren't architectural at all. However, my passion is not to make a ton of money either.

What ARE YOUR passions? Maybe archinectors can help you identify whether those passions will fuel a career in architecture?

straw ... sorry to hear this news, although if you're happy with your new direction that's all that really matters. I've been reading your posts for years and always had the impression that architecture was deep, deep within your bloodstream.

best wishes for success and happiness in whatever field of endeavor you decide to pursue.

Why is it that architects think they should be paid for pursuing their passion, without any regard to satisfying the paying customer? Do you think any famous actor/director/writer would be wealthy if they produced movies/tv shows/theater that no one wanted to see? Perhaps their passion is Shakespeare theater in a small group setting of only 20 people, or street theater. Then no matter how passionate they are, they will not be financially successful. That may be ok with them, it may not. But the actor / director/ writer who produced a blockbuster can have huge financial success. And in many cases, they can still be very proud of their work, win an oscar, whatever.
Architects can make a very good salary. This doesn't mean you have to produce junk. You can produce something of quality, it just has to be a service/product of quality that people want to pay you for. Too many architects forget that.

Oh, and you also have to learn to produce that service/product in an efficient way to increase your profit margin. Another thing most architects forget- you can't really continue to "tweak" that design FOREVER!

stone... thanks. It's good. I don't miss it. I have lots of passion, and it is transferrable. :)

@OldFogey Thanks for that. I guess what I really need to figure out is whether architecture is right for me. And how important money is to me. Currently I really don’t know much about architecture. I mean I think I love it, but how am I to know if I haven’t experienced working as one myself. I’m at the point where I need to make a important career decision and I’m a bit unsure at the moment.

@Strawbeary Sorry to hear that. But I guess it’s good you’re moving on in the right direction. Maybe it was your time out of the profession that caused you to lose touch with your architectural passion?

"What ARE YOUR passions? Maybe archinectors can help you identify whether those passions will fuel a career in architecture?"

Well, I like all things technical (Building and fixing things – computers, cars etc.). I like to be up to date with new tech and gadgets. I’m creative (Mainly drawing, sculpture and graphic design). I love the outdoors, Rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking. Sometimes i struggle with relationships, but I’m very comfortable around people i know well. Sometimes I’m quite reserved around new people. This is my personality analyser results:

Apparently according to my personality type I would suit an architectural or engineering type job. See link: CLICK

Well -- there you go: INTP = Architect

see also: "The Architects"

I believe a fairly high proportion of the people in this profession are INTPs.

now that's a poll that would be interesting to do. I am INFP, not the same, similar.

jimmy, so far so good. What is your biggest hesitation? Just cash? Then be smart about it, manage your finances and you'll do fine.

strawbeary ... actually, there have been a few past threads that dealt with Myers Brigg personality typing - here's a couple:

Personality Types

INTP

@Strawbeary I think im hesitating because its a big decision and i need to know for sure that i have got it right the first time. Reading some of the threads on here about people migrating professions and having to go back into education. Maybe those people could have avoided it if they had spent the time choosing carefully. I guess our views and interests do change over time though...

I think this forum has made me a little hesitant too. I mean, the amount of depressing threads people post can really effect prospect architectural students like myself.


@stone I wish this forum had real "Poll " option though, would make asking certain questions alot easier . I found this looking back at the previous threads you posted : Click - Posted by MMatt. Interesting stuff.

Architecture has so many facets. I chose the profession because it offered things I really like to do. Designing, drawing, creativity and being challenged by the task. I was keenly aware that ,in time, I would be my own boss. Money is/ was always an issue. But there is no better feeling than giving yourself a raise. Many professions just simply don't allow one to have so many freedoms or choices. I hated working in a office I started at the bottom and worked my way up. But that is what is required in this profession. Much of what needs to be learned is "on the job" Truly, there is a tremendous amount of satisfaction in architecture, but it requires hard work and dedication.

Crap, I'm ENTP.

Money is very important to me. It is always at the root of the first question I ask when a potential client approaches me.

jimmy, my two cents on big decisions, many times we find where we want to go by setting out for something else. Even if you are unsure, but nothing else interests you as much, you should go for it. There is nothing wrong with migrating careers.

BUT I think you should call a local architect's office, one that you would perhaps like to work in someday, and tell them you want to be an architect and ask if you can shadow an architect and/or hang out in the office for a few days. Then you can report your findings back here!

that is good idea, stawbeary.

myself i bin at this for almost 20 years now and i enjoy it. i dont want to do anything else. but i am not morbidly passionate about my job. i just like it ... a lot.

the idea of being passionate always sounds like desperation to me, like someone is thinking they might have fucked up but can't admit it and so overcompensate and dish out a sermon on passion in architecture.

that's just me.


i did make a rather good wage when i worked as architect for someone else. now i have own office and make enough to live on but it is not always easy. part of that is the economy, part of it is that i live in an expensive city and have kids and a wife to support. if economy were better i guess we would be doing very well...

money is important. anyone who says it isn't is either jealous or makes too much to realise its actual worth. you can make money in this business and it doesn't have to be horrible work. if you are lucky you can be innovative and on the edge while doing so too. but that is a path that requires some motivation.

if you want to become really wealthy i would suggest property development and banking. outside of those and related fields my guess is you will be disappointed by your income if money is the chief motivation.

one thing to keep in mind. school and work are mostly not the same thing, especially in north america. it is less of a shock in europe and here in japan too, based on my own experiences at least.

life is impossible to plan. you start school and 10 to 12 years down the road you get an architects license and in the meantime life happens. it is all unscripted, so the only really responsible thing to do is remain self-examining as you go along and make choices without fear. none of this is life or death kind of stuff and even if you hate architecture in the end you will have learned lots of things that can put you in other careers. no worries.

thanks for that perspective jump