CollegeBoundVet

I was wondering if there is anyone out there who is in school for Landscape Architecture. How do you like it? How can I prepare for the courses? I plan on attending the University of Illinois in Urbana-champaign.

cheers

I'm not a landscape architect, but I often collaborate with them. Working with a talented landscape architect is a real pleasure.

Are you heading to school next month? Or do you have a year to prepare?

If you have a year to prepare, you might think about working in a nursery. The best landscape architects have amazing fingertip knowledge of what will grow where.

Another thing you can do is visit famous gardens--both private resdiential gardens and public botanic gardens. Although you will learn much by viewing photos, seeing gardens in real life is critical to your development as a designer. You might visit a few of your favorites in several seasons, for example.

When you get to school, be sure to sit in on the critiques of older students. Try to find out which students are considered to be the best designers--and make a point of keeping up with their presentations. Design students can learn a ton from the peers immediately above them.

Good luck. It is a great profession.