<p>I’m a senior in high school and planning to become an architect. I applied to a couple different schools including the Delhi State University (NY) and Boston Architectural College. I don’t feel the need to apply to any top schools because you still get the same license when the schooling is over…</p>
<p>The program at Boston allows you get all the requirments (credits, hours in field) for licensure right after you graduate. Most people apply for their liscense right after the 6.5 years they spend at BAC. I was just wondering if anyone can comment on that.</p>
<p>Delhi doesn’t have the same program, but I still like their program too. I would have to get my bachelor’s and then apply to a proffesional school like BAC SUNY Buffalo for another 2+ years plus do a bunch of internships. I also heard that Delhi gives out lots of scholarships, and just sent in an personal essay to see what I can get scholarship-wise.</p>
<p>Although my extended family are all contractors/builders, I’m still the first in my family to go through the process of becoming an architect. If anyone can give me some advice or comment on either of those schools that would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>i think going to a top school can make a big difference in terms of the type of education that you’ll get as well as the connections you’ll get afterwards. ultimately it comes down to the individual but schools with better resources and a better student body will give you the potential and opportunity to become an exceptional designer. delhi’s program is simply a BA in Arch. if you’re looking to get licensed soon and if you know architecture is what you really want to do, pursue a B.Arch degree instead.</p>
<p>Chris, not to underestimate the importance of a license, but in my experience an individual’s quality of work, compensation and ultimate potential as an architect have very little to do with how soon they get licensed. Focus on getting the best education, and it doesn’t have to be Cornell or Rice, there are a lot of really good schools out there. If you decide that is BAC, then go for it, but don’t just do it to speed up your registration.</p>
<p>Agree not to speed up your education. Being in Architecture field requires a lot of time and passion to create good work. </p>
<p>I think top schools plays a role in our field because- top schools usually/most of the time have prestigious architects as their faculty members. I know that going to my school, thomas mayne is one of your faculty members and Hitoshi Abe is our director for the program. Different schools have unique designs styles and I think choosing a school based upon ranking and their course curriculum is important.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. I may not have been clear on why I am interested in Boston Architectural, I do not want to go there simply because it is faster than most other schools, although that is a bonus… I chose BAC because when I went for a visit, there were a lot of things that I did not see in other schools.</p>
<p>Most teachers work in firms throughout Boston and come to teach at night. The program requires you to work in one of those firms as part of the curriculum (though I’m not sure of the teacher involvment) and then take classes at night 2 to 3 nights a week (3 hours each night).</p>
<p>The program I’m starting which is “academic only” has more classes for the first semester and then goes into the program above after the first semester.</p>
<p>The school does not have any dorms, sports, or cafeteria etc. I guess it’s a “proffesional” school.</p>
<p>I do like the idea that you don’t have to transfer to any other schools and the experience of working full time in firms while your being schooled. I reasoned that if you learn something and then apply it right away then that is better than learing for 7+ years and then starting out new in the real world.</p>
<p>Can anyone comment on that or give any insight to BAC. If anyone knows about BAC or knows anyone that went there I would greatly appreciate some information. My e-mail is <a href="mailto:csmith0718■■■■■■.com">csmith0718■■■■■■.com</a></p>
<p>I’ve not found much talk here on any school that is not at or near the top of the pile. Wonderful places and all, but not everyone can attend. -If you find a forum that discusses other arch programs please come back here and tell us where it is as this place is littered with unanswered requests for info on the ‘lesser’ schools. There are other valid pathways like what you are exploring. The Arch Dean at (I think) UMaryland told me it’s good that there are so many different pathways and different schools or the planet would be covered in identical buildings… Then he said find what works for you and don’t look back.</p>
<p>I looked into BAC, but only briefly as it felt to me that a day job and night school living on my own was a bit more than I was ready for, so I can’t really help you on that.</p>
<p>As I understand it (and please any Architects out there correct me if I’m wrong), there are three components to becoming licenced;
Education, minimum accredited would be either a BArch, or an MArch after a BS, quickest is a 5 yr BArch. Been told the future industry standard will be MArchI or MArchII.
Job experience, I’m not sure on the details but it seems to be three years min. Don’t know how it’s tallied.
Exam, once qualified to sit for the exams you have to pass them. I found and interesting site through the NAAB that gives the pass rates for all the schools for all the different exams. Very interesting. The varying numbers of takers from each for each of the different exams, plus the fails indicates that it’s not a slam dunk.</p>
<p>OK, thinking out loud here, BAC overlaps the school and work to get you ready in 6.5 yrs. Are you working 52 weeks a year? Is the school year round also. How does that work?</p>
<p>Plan B could be a 5 yr BArch at a co-op school, have you looked into any?. Working the required co-op semesters plus summers could get you done in 6.5 years as well.</p>
<p>The only kid from my town to get and arch degree did so at UCBerkeley. Got his BS in Arch in 3.5 yrs. (had lots of hs AP credits and took classes at Berkeley one summer). He plans on going back for a MArch, but wanted to get the work experience out of the way first. He’s having so much fun working in LA the last four years (lives 2 blocks from the ocean and rides his bike 1 mile to his office) that he says applying to grad school isn’t even on his radar yet. </p>
<p>I only have limited knowledge of the BAC (despite the fact that I study in Boston), but here is what I know. As others have discussed, the BAC allows one to work at a firm, as well as on their IDP hours. The greatest caveat to such a program is, while you will be obtaining technical knowledge, it doesn’t delve into design theory or architectural concepts (which really are quite important). Also, (I could be wrong) but last time I checked, the BAC doesn’t have studios. Finally, the entire structure of the program is very “loose” i.e. you can finish your degree in 9 years if you wanted, no academic is going to regularly check up on you. A point of concern I have for you is that it is 7+ years long; as you are just coming out of high school, are passionate and committed enough to stick around that long?</p>