Architorture - the bad bad thing that happens to you should you ever wish to go to architecture school.

ok well, i'm a first year architecture student and i'm already contemplating on changing majors. It's really stressful n tiring, but this is the norm for architecture students i guess?

how do you guys get thru days with no sleep then go to school? what helps get you through the night? redbull? coffee? a smack in the face every now and then to make sure you're awake?

is it gonna be like this for five - six years 0_0
and do you guys completely not have time to socialise or do people really exaggerate?

101 ways - you know you're an architecture student when...

1. ...you know the janitors by name.

2. ...your roommates say "good morning," and you reply "good night."

3. ...you carry a toothbrush in your backpack.

4. ...someone asks you for your phone number and you give them the studio's.

5. ...you start paying rent for your desk space in studio.

6. ...you can't get a ride from 'Campus Cruiser'.

7. ...breakfast is your 5th meal of the day.

8. ...the morning newspaper beats you home.

9. ...'Red Bull' is you favorite drink.
10. ...all of the Christmas gifts you give are wrapped in trace.

11. ...you ask Santa Clause for architecture supplies.

12. ...you ask Santa Clause for a sleeping bag.

13. ...after all of your expenses, you can't afford to pay attention

14. ...you have 3 or more cups of double shot coffee espressos in one night

15. ...you have 3 or more 'Mountain Dews' in one night.

16. ...you hear the same song on the radio 3 or more times in one night.

17. ...the only sleep you get is in your G. E. classes.

18. ...the cars have turned off their headlights.

19. ...construction workers are already working.

20. ...you greet the crew team

21. ...you're dating another architecture student.

22. ...you're in a 6-unit class and it is still not enough.

23. ...you spend more time in studio than in your own bed.

24. ...you spend more time in studio than with your wife.

25. ...your parents are complaining that you're not having enough fun.

26. ...you only leave studio to buy supplies.

27. ...you haven't taken a shower in a week.

28. ...you see showering as a waste of time.

29. ...you've ever dreamt about your models.

30. ...upon hearing 'supermodel', you think of a nicely crafted-foam core model.

31. ...your parents have more of a social life than you.

32. ...your 11-year-old sister has more of a social life than you.

33. ...you consider using broccoli for your models.

34. ...you enjoy hanging out at 'Home Depot'.

35. ...you know all the 24-hour food places in the area.

36. ...your friends get more sleep in one night than you do in one week.

37. ...the streetlights turn off.

38. ...you consider 3AM an early night.

39. ...when you are out at 3AM, and your wife knows where you're at.

40. ..."scoring" involves an X-Acto blade

41. ...everything you eat comes in single serving baggies.

42. ...the idea of a 24 hour 'Kinko's' make's perfect sense

43. ...smoking sounds appealing.
44. ...you're out on Friday nights in studio.

45. ...you don't find out who wins the Presidential Election until Thanksgiving Break, if you get one at all.

46. ...picking up breakfast is the last thing you do before going home.

47. ...the only building on campus with its lights on is your studios'.

48. ...a break consists of moving your car.

49. ...you receive mail in studio.

50. ...you say "It's only midnight- I have plenty of time to finish."

51. ...you confuse sunrise with sunset.

52. ...you ask what time it is, then ask "AM or PM?"

53. ...you strangle your roommate because he said he stayed up late studying.

54. ...you've memorized you favorite vending machine combination item (B6).

55. ...your Friday night is 68 hours long. 56. ...you know how much a cubic foot of concrete weighs (150lbs).

57. ...you slice your finger, and the first thing you think of is if you'll be able to finish your model.

58. ...you understand why architects have glasses and white hair.

59. ...you swear there are only 120 people at USC.

60. ...you know all of these are true, no exaggerations.

61. ...you can listen to all your CD's in one night.

62. ...certain songs remind you of studio.

63. ...you can conceptually compose the food on your plate.

64. ...you think the 'Weekender' happens every weekend.

65. ...upon hearing 'Weekender' you think of studio.

66. ...the 'Shop Cafe' closes when you arrive, and reopens before you leave studio.

67. ...you have to wait for breakfast shops to open.

68. ...you go to 'Taco Bell', and order the "usual", and they understand.

69. ...you use architecture tools to eat.

70. ...you think "X-Acto Blade Throwing" is a sport.

71. ...you only buy groceries once a month.

72. ...you wake up to go to school and you're already there.

73. ...you start wearing all black.

74. ...you carry a sweatshirt to all of your classes.

75. ...you have no life, and admit it.

76. ...you start to critique a radio selection's selection of songs.

77. ...you bring your friends to studio to keep you company.

78. ...you refer to outside studio as the "Real World."

79. ..."going out to eat" is at the 'Shop Cafe'.

80. ...going on a vacation involves going to 'Flax' or 'Pearl'.

81. ...you have memorized every radio commercial that airs after 10PM.

82. ...you confuse today and tomorrow.

83. ...you tell time by when other people leave studio.

84. ...you can write a 6-page term paper by procrastinating.

85. ...you hear "Didn't you wear that yesterday?' followed by "and the day before that?"

86. ...you roommate files a 'Missing Person Report.'

87. ...you count the number of days (not hours) you've been awake.

88. ...you think days are 48 hours long.

89. ...you go to the store to buy a six-pack of 'Red Bull'.

90. ..."Homecoming" happens once a week.

91. ...on Halloween, you dress like your instructors.

92. ...on Halloween you trick-or-treat in studio to get arch supplies or 'Red Bull.'

93. ..."respect", "coolness', and "hatred" are all based on how much sleep you get, or lack of.

94. ...you see your own picture on a milk carton.

95. ...you start using words your instructor uses.

96. ...your bed has collected a layer of dust on it.

97. ...concept of time is not forward, but a countdown from the time a project is due ("What time is it?""4 hours 'till").

98. ...you contemplate suicide 3 times a day.

99. ...you contemplate dropping your major 3 times a day.

100. ...you have a tent pitched in studio, but still don't go to sleep.

101. ...doing models all night long excites you.

my friend also goes to usc and is a first-year architecture major. you guys work in a damn dungeon and that stairwell is creepy. i could tell he was also going insane when i last visited because he asked me if i wanted to try cutting a block of wood for fun (the twisted look on his face was a sorry sight).

HAHAHA....T_T
i'm entering cal this fall as an architecture major
i heard it was stressful, but just reading that list makes me wanna cry -0-
some ppl i know in architecture say its a crapload of work,
but yet they love it at the same time...?
ugh- stress....

heading into university i wanted to get into architecture myself.. i was a great draftsman in high school and one of the top students in physics and math too but after getting introduced to urban planning.. ive changed my goal not to go for architecture but to try to be an urban designer

but yeah.. ive heard architecture is super time-intensive because of all the project work that you have to do but i wouldnt worry too much about socializing cause i think you get to work with other architecture students too or at least hang out with them so you could probably work in some social time with them while youre doing your work

*nods head* it is extremely stressful, i'm only a 1st year so its still okay but when i see all the 3rd years in studio...and i know thats gonna be me i feel like hitting my head on something hard. it's fun and all but really just tiring. Most of the architecture students are a little insane, we don't notice it lol but other ppl do. oh yea dun get a car if u r gonna major architecture. you wont drive it often cuz ur always sleep deprived.

Haha! I hope my friend doesn't read this forum. He was apparently so sleep-deprived a few months back that he completely nodded off on the freeway and the next thing he knew there was an angry Chinese man screaming down his throat for rear-ending him. I guess as long as you truly enjoy what you're doing it's all good but that's some hell you guys are put through. My friend is basically in the same situation as you and also considering changing majors but he has no idea what he'd change to.

I have to say EVERYTHING IS TRUE. Very thorough list. I'm in my third year and I've completed my degree requirements which include 4 studios and one introductory course which might as well be a studio (at a 4-year, not a 5-year professional).

I can tell time based on the color of the sky outside studio windows, and know when dawn's about to break by the sound of the garbage trucks backing up outside the building (yes, we can hear them loud and clear from the 8th floor of our tower). My boyfriend (yes, also an architecture major, as indicated by #21) bought an inflatable queen-sized mattress for studio, and we basically lived there for a semester with our space heater, mini-fridge, and various bathroom supplies. For some reason (probably runaway x-actos) the mattress wouldn't stay inflated throughout the night after a while, so we'd wake up to a flat, lumpy heap of plastic.

Nights definitely get longer... but the constant lack of sleep grows on you, and it's impossible to feel productive if you get more than 4 hours of sleep. BUT, after going through it, it's bearable. Just gotta find the right friends who work hard and can keep you company in studio.

same. i remember seeing her post this somewhere before too.

hey....im not an architecture student, but i will be one when i finish high school.

im quite surprised by the amount of time needed in this course , nevertheless I AM NOT SCARED!!!

haha, well just wondering, since u guys are doing this course, it would be great to post some of your models? designs?????

inspire me

it IS stressful... and tiring... T.T coffee has become my constant companion when finishing plates... and having two hours of sleep when meeting a deadline is already considered a gift...

i'm already in my fifth year (was supposed to graduate this month, but then, i dropped my thesis a little before my deliberation date because the pressure/lack of sleep became too much for me... btw, bs architecture is a 5-year course in our country)...

im a second year architecture major. omg.. the things on the list are soo true. i really think redbull and other energy drink companies should start sponsoring architecture students cuz thats who they make their money from. im sorta considering changing my major this year. i love architecture but i don't think my body can handle this much stress. but i feel like the 2 years seem like a waste if i change majors now. i dunno.. im still thinking about it.

T_T.. this topic is so discouraging.
I'm entering university as a freshman this fall at Cal Poly as an Architecture major and I'm scared. I like having a life :[

lol sorry if its discouraging, i like having a life too. It's not like you completely lose your life, it just kinda declines year by year. and serious architecture does drive you insane, well that's what i think. Once i get a break from school or once i feel free from all that work! i act like sucha kid again. it feels like i havent been out in ages! but i like architecture, it is fun and there's nothing else i could think of doing. but yes architecture is tough, you really do kinda have to deal with seeing your friends less and less...

2nd year here, its really stressful but its extremely fun and intriguing if you like it
i dont see myself doing anything esle beside studio work
if you're one of the few people who are passionate about architecture, you will definitely succeed

next semester i have classes that go from 9 in the morning to 9 at night.... its intense...
its also required for all undergrad students to get a masters in architecture... so yea
if ur going for 5 year program, you're gonna have to do 2 or 3 more years at a grad school... and yea grad school is really expensive

wohoo
i am so looking forward to it this year = =''
pulling allnighters is jus a no biggie isn't it
lol

but yea..i heard its stressful
im going to syracuse's architecture program
hahaa
everybody there keeps talking about pulling allnighters and downing on redbull and cofee
oiii x]

i wanted to major in architecture until someone who majored in architecture at usc told me how hard it was. he told me that the class started with 120 students and only 80 remained by the time of graduation. and he said that they made boys cry because the architects that come in to critique the students' works are VERY harsh. that scared me pretty badly. lol

It is required for undergrads to get a masters degree? Really? I thought if you do the 5 year program you don't have to.. since you get a professional BS degree? I guess not.

wahhh~
i still want to get into this field.
i heard it was intense..
dang. oh well. im still looking forward to this! =D
already lacking sleep in highschool.
i guess 6-7 more years of lack of sleep can wait?

haha jkjk. but yeah. DANG!

firms these days dont really hire students with a b of arch cause its so easy to get one, however i believe its possible to take the license test with the b of arch

So, since we all agree that we don't get to sleep much........ what are some ways you can tell that you're losing your mind in the middle of the night?

1) I get really giggly at everything. Like... random misfortunes that happen to me throughout the night appear so ridiculously funny.
2) I can feel my bones tire and every single position (even lying still) seems to hurt.

Just wondering... since I've been awake for 28 hours now and won't be getting any sleep until at least 7 more hours. :T

RED BULL = solution to all time management issues
i can work up to 28 hours in one day... yes its possible with red bull

hahahahahahahahahaha
oh man memories

damn straight, i was architecture major

i remember those late nights for design class / portfolios / structural engineering courses which i spent 4 days with no sleep finishing the work during finals / midterms week

well, i decided to get out of it, since i wasn't interested enough in doing it for the rest of my life and spending it in this kind of lifestyle.

+ the pay .... i swear, entry level archs are so underpaid!

anyway im a dual (electrical+computer) engineer major now

good luck to all you current and prospective Architorture students.... mwahahahhahaha.

oh yeah.. about the critique of your work very harshly comment.. it's true... little mistakes CAN get people killed ya know.

it's a really hard fall if you don't get into a good firm after you graduate because if you don't, you're gonna be underpaid and everything.

my friend's in architecture, he calls it archi-torture when it comes to all-nighters at the studio

OMG i'm planning on doing architecture in uni
I currently take two art subjects at school, so trust me I know what it'll be like

im now in my pre-u n im very interested in this course
*regardless all the negative points..im still interested in it*
so i would like to know where is the best uni to futher my studies ( for degree)
any recomandation....??..i hear alot bout AA , any1 have more opinions?
although usually the top archi uni are located in western countries...but is there any good uni in asia? ...like korea,hk,japanese ( but i hear japanese system is diff, coz they build their buldings vertically)...singapore?
i would like to do some researh from now on...so all info are very much appreciated...
thanks in advance

well... im undeclared and i was planning to switch to architecture as soon as i started at Cal, but now i'm kind of scared.

HI, I have a question!!! Please help.

I am studying INTERIOR DESIGN currently in Sydney, Australia. I am planning to take my masters in the U.S.

IS IT POSSIBLE AFTER FINISHING A BACHELOR IN INTERIORS TO TAKE ARCHITECTURE AS MASTERS?

oh wow..

i'm going into architecture at columbia this september... and now i'm getting a tad jittery !

>__<

hey guys, Cal Poly Pomona offered me a spot in their Architecture program this fall. I am agonizing over accepting their offer. I wonder how hard is the architecture program at Cal Poly Pomona...and does anyone here is going there? i wish to know more insight architecture student life from you guys. thanks...

my boyfriend was thinking about architecture long time ago but a lot of friends told him it's not worth it because it's an underpaid job. and too much competition..but then...every major has competition.

I'm starting my architecture life for the first time at UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON in 2 more days...don't really know if i'm excited or nervous...but watever lies in the future..i shall conquer..haha

yes

Omg............. plz come back and answer this!!!! how is it hard work.. wut exactly do u do? is it mostly learning bout vocab or how to draw .......?!?!?!

Um... depending on how much you like the work it is not hard at all. Its worth all the effort to become a architectural designer.
In your first year of architect school you definitely take core classes like economics, history and all that crap with two or three design classes which make you work your butt off. First Design studio was almost like torture in the work load but it had its fun times. 2nd design studio was pretty fun and the construction methods classes were very interesting. You dont really LEARN how to draw but you do get some practice drawing. Its mostly abstracting thinking and putting your ideas on paper. THe only real drawing you do is hand drafting which is the basics. Look forward to doing alot of designing on little napkins, coasters and trace. Then doing real work on the computer. The vocabulary comes naturally as you progress in the program.

thank you that was encouragingg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

im a first year at uCLa new architecture program this year


btw, no offense to you soompiers

but the best place for architecture information is collegeconfidential.com

get your answers there. i can answer any questions regarding applications for ucla undergrad program.

40. ..."scoring" involves an X-Acto blade

XD

ok I'm doin arch in uni this year, and OMG there's SO much workload
I think I'm gonna die, I'm not gonna drop it though
my brain's numb

You know what's truly sad? I'm not even an architecture student, and I can actually understand and agree all that was said.

Im not an architecture student but Im an interior design student. (no I do not just decorate like the shows on tv. its similiar to what architectures do, but in an interior space.) Im a junior in the program. the workload is a lot, definitely. But you have to have good time management or else you're going to be overwhelmed. do not be discourage by the workload because if you really love architecture then you're going to be able to stick it out for four years. it gets better though but the first year is the hardest, you dont really know what you're doing and its a new thing. but over the years, you're going to gain experiences and how to handle the projects, you're going to do great and it wont be as overwhelming as you thought. that what happened to me during my first year. But now its better, less stress. hehe
good luck!!! =D

lol im a fresh interdesign student and i must say that was very encouraging! the workload consumes a lot a lot of time!

haha...nice to know theres a bunch of Archi here.I still remember the days after giving the Design problem we all say "see you next month"..
i almost fainted twice in school.
still remember our dean says "we are the one who opens the broadcasting studio and the one who closed".funny but true..

It seems like I'm the only person (so far) who has been in architecture for the longest time, 4th year, 2nd semester (woot?) So I'm gonna impart a bit of my wisdom to everybody who's starting out or thinking about going into it. (It gets better as the years go by) Architecture is not a joke. However, schooling itself, is often impractical as far as the design concepts that everybody stays up so late doing. In the real world, schematic design/design development is only 15% of the time that's actually spent on a project. What does that mean for us in school? Everything we do that takes up a whole semester is usually done in about 2 weeks or at most a month, depending on the project. Very little amount of people realize this and will actually spend their 4 or 5 years doing all-nighters and crying over bad crits by architects that are really there to show off what they know. Who is to say that they are the say all end all of your project?

That is one important fact to keep in mind. Architecture is VERY VERY opinion based. I could hate the project that you love and vice versa. What single building can be agreed upon as the greatest building in the world? Not one. I don't want to drag that on any longer so when you are feeling really tired and you want sleep, just go to sleep. It's only school. And speaking from experience, you can pump yourself full of caffeine, drugs, etc. but when your body needs sleep, you will sleep, and health-wise, that is the worst possible thing you can do to yourself. Sidenote, what is the point of doing all of this to your body for school only to have your health be totally horrible when you're trying to get a job in the real world?

Now I know I probably sound cynical about the whole thing but that's really what architecture will do to you. Professors will hate your projects that you love, destroy models that you took so much time to make, and pieces of garbage that you think will fail will probably be held on the highest pedestal. What does that all mean? It means that while it would be great to be another Frank Lloyd Wright, Gehry, Meier, Johnson, Pei, Eisenmann, Rogers, Foster ... the list goes on. There is only one of each. And when they pass on, their firm will die with them (potentially) while more practical firms such as SOM has survived its partners. So yes, while I'm not totally arguing against the concept of design, in terms of practicality and being able to put food on the table, it really is about making architecture a business. I'm gonna stop here, I can probably go on and on, but I don't want to sound like one of my professors ...



Not really true. Firms do hire students with b.arch because they have to start somewhere. As far as the licensing goes, you are looking for the requirements for your state, or in some cases, your country/province/etc. It really varies from state to state, some states require that you fulfill the IDP (intern development program) and even then only allow you to take the test 3 years AFTER you have graduated. (I'm speaking based on knowledge on NY requirements, each state varies and the licensing is for practice within that state ONLY; international people, sorry, I don't really know about that just yet) So yeah, firms are looking to hire students right after they graduate because that's while they are still fresh. As far as how much we make, it really depends on the firm. Larger firms obviously pay more because they have the power to do so, while smaller firms probably can't afford to pay as much. Last I heard, the starting was about 40k-50k, larger firms like SOM are at even high 40's to mid 50's. So it varies as in any other industry. Then of course if you plan on starting your own firm ... but that's another story.

This went on kinda longer than I had expected but keep in mind what your goal of studying architecture is and you'll get through those hard nights or days of no sleep. I've thought about getting out so many times I've lost count. I probably will continue to think about leaving it but sometimes I'm just in too deep. I majored in Architecture in HS for 2 years, gone to architecture programs across the country, did summer programs, the works. Why would I leave it? I wouldn't. It's architecture. I love to hate it and I hate that I love it.

haha i had a good laugh at this. i quit arch after my first yr at calpoly. it was really starting to ruin my health. and as everyone says "it only gets worse" i realize that it is true that we wont be doing everything by hand in an actual firm and that everything will take less time as the person above me has stated, but seriously, i didnt think it was worth it. you only make 40k a yr until you become project manager. i didnt wanna go through 5 yrs of hell for that. i also plan to switch to computer engineering like someone else has stated on this thread.

I'M AN INCOMING 5TH YEAR ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS...
and i'm now preparing for my thesis...
though dis course is A BIT OF STRESSING...
still i love my course...