Slammin's serious life thread.

[RondoAcapriccio]

I'm going to agree with all that has been said about architecture already...

If I were you I would go for a Mech. Eng. Degree, it's much more versatile and will give you a lot of options later in life... And if you want you can minor in architecture. Step up your algebra.. it's really easy once you understand it.. and if you can pass algebra then there is no reason you can't pass calculus.

[VANOS714]

I want a bacon cheeseburger.....

[Kershaw]

My dad is an architect with his masters in architecture from Virginia Tech. He has designed and built residential homes, high rise NYC condo/apt building, business offices, and medical facilities. He has never in his life touched CAD and does everything by hand with a pencil and a drafting table. Yes it might take longer and he is a dying breed of architect, but the end result is always really great. Ive seen him do elevations on cocktail napkins that put some CAD work to shame. He is incredibly talented and has been very successful up until recent years. (Being a self employed architect in this economy is shit)

That being said, it is a great profession. He has Genuine passion for his work and the talent to match. I have asked him in the past about the math involved, and he has told me many times that school/architecture programs really blow it outta proportion. Yes there is math involved, but it is not completely overwhelming.

Slammin, if you'd like to see some of his work or have any questions you'd like me to ask him let me know. He has been building and designing for around 35 years and has really done some impressive work.

you just described my mom really perfectly as well. nice job! haha.

[Lof8]

the field of architecture is on its ass. I have a degree in arch and i fly planes. 19/20 of the people I graduated with are NOT working in the field since there are no jobs. On top of that it is an EXTREMELY demanding degree, often times requiring 60+ hours per week on your architecture studio class alone. There are many times where I was awake 30+ hours straight to make deadlines. If this sounds like its for you, then go for it, but I would probably advise against it.

Agreed. I got a Bachelor's in Architectural Design from UF. I decided to pursue Building Construction Management for my Masters instead of a Masters in Architecture. Most (90%) of my Architecture classmates are not directly in that field. The Building Construction degree opened a lot more doors for me.

One of my Architecture professors loved to say, "If it was easy and paid well, everyone would do it." The truth is its a very demanding field. The curriculum, at least at my school, was very artsy and not the nuts and bolts kind of learning I had anticipated. The grading and evaluation is very subjective and based on professors' opinions. Successful students were the ones who could present and speak about their project well, moreso than the actual quality of the design.

Its a strange field. I chose to pursue a construction management career after completing Architecture school.

[nando]

Nope. That's why I use solidworks. I can't draw a straight line there either.
[/sarcasm]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=234204

If someone can't do a straight line in autocad (ANY version). Something's wrong. It's all so damn simple. Especially with snaps....

I don't know how, but people manage to do it. I work on stuff on a much larger scale than that, so something being 1/256" off can make a huge difference when you accumulate errors over a long distance.. The project I'm working on now is over a mile long; the drawings we got from the other contractor are awful. Not one line is perpendicular to the drawing border, nothing is parallel or square. It's like they were free handing it. And the client wants us to model their entire half of the project based on awful drawings. :|

[slammin.e28]

Hmm....lots of good info here. I'm still researching and considering my next move. Engineering does sound a bit more enticing....

I really want to do something with construction of things, lol, be it buildings (would love this), cars (would equally love), devices, etc.

I think I'll start doing some math courses to try and get a handle on that and work my way from there. No point in pursuing something when you don't have the prerequisite to take the classes, but engineering or construction mgmt. does sound a bit more enticing...

[InuFaye]

Hmm....lots of good info here. I'm still researching and considering my next move. Engineering does sound a bit more enticing....

I really want to do something with construction of things, lol, be it buildings (would love this), cars (would equally love), devices, etc.

I think I'll start doing some math courses to try and get a handle on that and work my way from there. No point in pursuing something when you don't have the prerequisite to take the classes, but engineering or construction mgmt. does sound a bit more enticing...

Signup for BRCC.
PVCC are a bunch of douche-cocks.

[slammin.e28]

Signup for BRCC.
PVCC are a bunch of douche-cocks.

BRCC is a bunch of HS kiddos and underage chicks. I will get in trouble.

[InuFaye]

BRCC is a bunch of HS kiddos and underage chicks. I will get in trouble.

There are a surprising amount of old people now.

You can get a mechanical engineering or electrical engineering degree from ODU with distance learning.

[slammin.e28]

There are a surprising amount of old people now.

You can get a mechanical engineering or electrical engineering degree from ODU with distance learning.

Hmm....I was looking into doing the online math classes through BYU. My friend (who's a history teacher) does his update classes and such that way. I feel I can do math better at home. Don't do well in a classroom. Plus, with BYU I can start whenever I want and basically finish when I have time.

[InuFaye]

But you have to get into BYU its not just automatic acceptance, plus out of state tuition bro.

[nando]

a smart thing to do financially would be to start at a community college and get all your math prereqs out of the way. No reason to blow $5000 a quarter on basic algebra.

[misterTT]

I've got my Barch and masters in architecture, both from very good programs and am now about 5 years into my career. I've been working at a variety of firms - small start up in NYC, superstar offices in LA, and now teaching in a graduate program here in LA, and trying to 'do my own thing'. Working on licensure as well. All the while still driving a 21 year old beater car!

A lot of people on here have the right idea. It can be rewarding in a lot of ways if you have the passion and talent to distinguish yourself from your peers. It will not be rewarding financially - unless you somehow develop a unique business model. A lot of firms are hungry for work, but there are some that have made a mark thru creative business practices. One example I like to site is a group called 'onion flats' in Philadelphia. It's a series of brothers - an architect, a general contractor, and a real estate developer. Together they purchase, develop, design and build their own projects. I don't know how they're doing in the current economic climate, but the business model seems strong - so long as they can keep their own creative desires in-line with costs and profits.

Corporate firms are life-sucking, and should be avoided like the plague. Small superstar offices are also life-sucking in terms of work load: all those all-nighters in Arch. School are simply preparing you for a continued series of late nights in a proffessional context.

My simple advice is this: if you are naturally talented at everything you do, are creative and efficient, and have excellent time management skills, it could be a great choice. There are opportunities out there for the best and the brightest. If you know that describes you, go for it.

I treated it not as a technical degree, but rather as a type of high-intensity art degree. I figured that if one can succeed with this many limitations and variables, any other type of creative endeavor would be manageable. I think that was somewhat correct. I'm also working with artists to manage larger scale sculpture fabrication and installations. architects are well prepared to manage multiple inputs, across different scales, and under extreme pressure.

Just my $.02. Sorry for any iPhone related typos.

[Jalves619]

a smart thing to do financially would be to start at a community college and get all your math prereqs out of the way. No reason to blow $5000 a quarter on Any lower level classes.

This X1000

If math isn't your strong point you would be better off spending ~$300 a class and finding out it's not for you, rather than ~$1500+ per class.

Also I've had some amazing teachers at a community college, and some complete jokes of teachers at Universities.

[misterTT]

Oh yeah UVA is a great program by the way - certainly among the best in the nation.
(at least when I was looking at schools)