It is an age old question that prospective architecture students, parents, and friends-of-architecture-students want to know: What is a 'crit', or a 'jury' at architecture school, and how do they work?
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Mental health issues and the plight of stressed-out architecture students are fairly well-discussed. But how can we begin to change things? And, whether you're at, or perhaps thinking about going to architecture school, how can you support and look after yourself, so you can live your dreams to your full potential?
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There are quite a few things you don't get taught at architecture school. You can't, and shouldn't expect to learn everything there ever was to know about architecture in a period of about 5 years.
This week, we're starting things off with: 5 things you won't get taught at architecture school: the work edition.
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Hhow do you feel about group work?
In my experience - both as a student and as a teacher - there are two kinds of people at architecture school, those who love group projects, and those who begin trembling with anxiety at any mention of working with others.
Unfortunately, all it takes is one bad group project experience to tip those in the first group into the latter group. And going back the other way isn't such an easy slope to climb.
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This post isn't about content - the quantifiable 'stuff' you'll learn at architecture school or in practice - or about how well architecture school 'prepares' you for practice. Instead, I'm going to unpack for you:
- why I think it is a myth that you learn more in practice;
- the conditions that perpetuate this myth; and
- why it's a dangerous way to think - not matter what stage you're at in your journey.
Instead of falling prey to the myth, you can choose to be strategic in your education, and take the driving seat in your architectural journey.
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Your first year of architecture school will be exciting - there's no doubt about that! But it might also be daunting, and even overwhelming at times.
The class structures, workload and expectations are probably very different to what you have experienced before, either at school or in the workplace. In fact, even if you have studied at university before coming to architecture, the expectations and intensity of the studio environment can catch you off guard.
In this post, I'm going to share with you some of the things that might be different at architecture school.
I'll let you know:
- what to expect;
- what the workload is like,
- how you can manage your time.
I'll also talk through some ways you can prepare for and manage them - so you can focus on doing your best work!
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I think I want to study architecture, but I’m not 100% sure. I'm worried this decision make or break my life!
Let's have a look at what happens if you choose to study architecture, and at what might happen if its turns out to be the 'wrong' decision.
Read MoreSo when people ask "don’t I need to be good at drawing to go to architecture school?” my response is often that they are asking the wrong question. The tasks architecture school will require you to complete will be vast, and drawing is just one of a number of skills which you will use to carry out your projects.
What you should be asking, is 'if I am going to go to architecture school, what unique mix of skills do I have, and how can I strengthen them while adding new skills to my base?' Now we can start thinking about how your ability in architecture is made up of many different skills, knowing how and when to use each, and how they integrate together.
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