Joix

This is my first time seeing this area on majors on CC. I have been reading the architecture major forum with much interest and nostalgia.

I studied architecture over 20 years ago and my embryonic career came to an end with the last recession of the early 90s. I remember a bunch of us back then who had recently graduated (the highest paid amongst us making a measley 21K/year!) discussing the ends of our careers.

Sadly, that came to pass for many of us.

Of those few who managed to stay in the industry, very few practiced architecture....most are in construction management, facility management and development. At the time, we thought it was the end of the architect -especially the way it was taught in colleges back then. What unis did not tell us was that when you got out, architecture was essentially a commercial venture and that you should only get into it if you have an entrepeneural spirit. So forget the high falluting design ideals!

I spent too much money and too much time to obtain my education and there was very little pay off. If I had known then what I know now I would have studied civil engineering with a masters in construction management or real estate development.

Personally I thought the architect was obsolete 25 years ago....I am surprised that students are prepared to invest so much in this career. The BArch is such a hard program and consumes all your time (I dont ever remember attending one campus party in all my years as an architectural student!). One of the hardest thing was seeing people who did only 4 years versus our 5 years, come out of uni was substantially more income than us. And their careers rose exponetially to ours.

someone talked about an architect making 100K at 40, really that's not much. Some majors can get you close to that within 5 years on graduation. You really have to have a plan B if you are to major in architecture.

just my 2 cents!