Any architects on here?
 

...or former architect students. The Dude is a month into his Uni course and it would be nice to have a brain to pick occasionally.

Re: Any architects on here?
 

I'm a landscape architect. Well past university though. Architects and landscape architects operate in the same circles and the design principles are similar. No, we're not just glorified gardeners!

Re: Any architects on here?
 

LOL, I won't ask you for gardening tips then. So far it appears to be an intensive course, I'm not sure he knew what he had signed up for. Already some of the kids have pulled all nighters :ohmy:. When he went in this morning at 7 one girl had been in studio since 3pm the previous day.

Re: Any architects on here?
 

I'm a software solution architect, but I doubt that helps you. :o

Re: Any architects on here?
 

It might when we can't get AutoCAD or Illustrator to work.

Re: Any architects on here?
 

Haha, fair enough. :lol:

Re: Any architects on here?
 

Where is the Dude at uni? My son starts, hopefully, a civil engineering degree in the UK next year and that has some architectural components. I doubt he has any useful advice yet though, although at 17 he does of course know everything about everything.

Re: Any architects on here?
 

Ours is heading to a US school to do Civil and structural engineering next year. He just got stellar grades for his AP and SATs, so he's reconsidering his initial choice now.

Re: Any architects on here?
 

He's doing his Bachelor of Architecture at The Gerald D Hines College of Architecture at University of Houston. He stayed at home and in-state to save money. It's a 5 year course and we are hoping to get him through without taking on any debt. His GF is at University of Oklahoma and she's already down around $20,000 :ohmy: for her first year (out of state tuition plus food and board).

Saying that, along with application fees, orientation fees, initial supply list plus extra every week, this is certainly adding up.

I feel bad for him as he is literally just work work work from the minute he wakes up till he goes to bed and weekends. I'd worry it was just him if it wasn't for the fact the other kids seems to be doing the same. Quite a few students have already done their core classes at Comunity College so are only doing their 'major' coursework but he has a full schedule. On the flip side they are starting their 5 year course at age 21+.

He's actually not complaining too much although he is knackered he is quite enjoying the coursework and he understands how fortunate he was to get a place as the acceptance rate is quite low.

He had planned on getting a part time job while studying but that may have to be amended to a summer job. I keep hoping someone will tell me it gets better but a lot of googling suggests it will not :unsure: I just don't want him to get burned out.

I'm probably just being an overanxious mummy.

Re: Any architects on here?
 

When I was at college (in the UK) we occasionally had to do those late night studio sessions, but to do it 1 month into a degree seems a little crazy. I usually worked on my designs at home though, as those in the studio tended to just gab a lot about their designs, and drink loads of coffee or head to the student union bar for a beer.

Re: Any architects on here?
 

Hopefully he will find a balance. He wants to be there to get to know the students plus all his 'stuff' is there but then he has to drive home late or stay over which I know he will not want to do. I did tell him he could take a camp bed and sleeping bag just in case plus change of clothes and toiletries.

On the other hand being at home he can work late then collapse into bed, but he worries he'll leave something here that he needs there if he carts stuff home. Again I told him to have a duplicate set of supplies here so he doesn't have to worry.

I'm sure he'll get into the swing of it, just a bit of a culture shock just now. Not helped by the fact that all his other friends seem to be going to parties and football games and he's just not got the time.

Re: Any architects on here?
 

Well if he really wants to be an architect, there will probably be some late nights working to project deadlines, so it's a taste of what may be to come! Somehow, I've managed to avoid working more than 40 hours a week most of my career, and no late nights.

Re: Any architects on here?
 

I am on the uk part 3 course at the moment trying to get chartered as an architect. So i am done with 3 years uni undergrad, 1 year work, 2 years uni postgrad, and been working for about almost 2 years on top.

It's a really tough course time wise but they will pull through fine with some perseverence, and quick decision making. Better software skills help save time. In uni, it is far more subjective of a course compared to what it is like in a job. The challenges you face in each are completely different!

I spent endless days barely sleeping throughout uni. It was literally how it was written above... work work work nap nap work eat work sleep work.. i think issues like 'indeciveness, anxiety and how subjective the work is and lack of sleep all the time' makes it real hard. He needs to time manage effectively and work effectively.

A real job as an architect is hard work, not so difficult with design responsibilities but actually challenging when you deal with clients and contractors and planners and end users and other consultants. You are the middle man who manags everyone and is the administrator and agent to the client.

All the best to him