| 1. |
Meet
with your high school guidance counselor for
advice on courses to best prepare you for an
architecture program in college. Realize that you
will need to take extra courses in math and
science. If you hate math, seek another career. |
| 2. |
Maintain
at least a B average. |
| 3. |
Contact
colleges well before your senior year in high
school for admission requirements. Make certain
the schools are among the 105 schools of
architecture accredited by the National
Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Some state
licensing boards will give only partial academic
credit to students from non-NAAB schools. |
| 4. |
Decide
if you want to enroll in a five-year Bachelor of
Architecture program, which is the most popular
type today. Other options can include receiving a
bachelor's degree in a related field followed by a
two-year Master of Architecture degree, or getting
an unrelated bachelor's degree followed by a
three-to-four-year Master of Architecture degree. |
| 5. |
Apply
to several schools whose admission requirements
you have met. Make certain you send in all
requested paperwork. |
| 6. |
Work
toward receiving your degree with honors as soon
as you have been officially accepted. Since
competition among student architects is intense,
this will be to your advantage later on. |
| 7. |
Work
part-time and during summers at architectural
firms, even if the salary is minimal. |
| 8. |
Learn
computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) as soon
as possible. An increasing number of firms are
requiring that knowledge. |
| 9. |
Look
for a position as an intern-architect well before
you graduate. Get letters of recommendation from
professors and supervisors at your part-time and
summer jobs, and include pertinent computer skills
on your resume. You'll need to spend about three
years in that position before you can take your
state's Architect Registration Examination (ARE)
for your architect's license. |
| 10. |
Prepare
intensively when the time comes to take the ARE. |
| 11. |
Send
in your application for the exam well before the
due date. |
| |
|
Tips: |
|
Note
that individual programs of NAAB-approved
architectural schools will differ, so choose
carefully. |
|
Realize
that the licensing requirements of individual
states may vary. |
|
For
further information about education and careers in
architecture, write to: Director, Careers in
Architecture Programs, The American Institute of
Architects, 1735 New York Ave. NW, Washington, DC,
20006. |
| |
|
Warnings: |
|
Be
prepared to work long hours, including nights and
weekends, during job deadlines. |
|
Be
prepared to take frequent refresher courses as
technology advances in the 21st century. |
