flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
Currently Reading

The College Years

Life of an Architect Podcast

The College Years


By Bob Borson, FAIA | June 27, 2018

In this second episode of the Life of an Architect podcast, we turn our attention towards the college years. I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992, while Landon received his diploma from Virginia Tech in 2016 … so how has college changed over this time?

There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to architecture school:
• How do I pick which college is right for me?
• Is it hard to get admitted?
• Is there a portfolio requirement?
• Will I have a social life?
• What sort of classes should I take?

Here’s a hint … don’t take a Kung Fu class like me – but I cover that in far greater detail around the 32-minute mark.

Attending architecture school has been one of the most requested topics over the years – I receive at least an email a day from either parents, high school students, or even grade school age kids. I have written dozens of posts on the subject over the years and it seems like I can’t cover enough angles to address what appears to be a never-ending stream of questions. When Landon and I recorded this episode, we were easily on our way to a 2-hour episode, which nobody (including me) would ever be able to sit through and listen. Eventually, I was able to edit it down to about 50 minutes but you will hear that this episode ends rather abruptly – another lesson along the way as we work towards honing our podcast chops.

For all the people who express some displeasure when I introduced the podcast – it’s going to be okay. I will still be writing blog posts and the idea will be that I will alternate between podcasts and blog posts. There are a bunch of new people that are specifically here because of the podcast … but between podcast episodes, please feel free to join in and be a part of the conversation via Twitter and Facebook. If you like the podcast, it would mean a great deal if you would rate it over on Apple Podcasts. Since we are new at this, we are having to dig deep to help build some engagement.

Links:
University of Texas School of Architecture
Virginia Tech School of Architecture
Architecture Schools – Where to Study
Architecture Schools (US) Ranking 2018 … fairly subjective but works as a starting point when doing your research.


So … what happens next? That’s a great question, and depending on your objectives, you have some priorities to set. I can tell you that high school guidance counselors have it all wrong and there is a place for almost anyone who has an interest in architecture and a willingness to put in the work. It really is that simple as a starting point and making the decision on where to go will not be the most difficult decision you will make. Figuring out what to do with that education will be a much bigger deal … but we’ll get to that in another episode.

Cheers,

boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category


Life of an Architect Podcast

Life of an Architect Podcast Ep. 124: Show Me the Money

I get asked a lot about how much money an architect makes. Without understanding a few parameters, that’s like trying to buy a car by the pound. I spend a fair amount of my time discussing the architectural marketplace, where we can find value, what’s the going salary rate based on skill set and experience, and how badly we need this spot or that spot filled.


Life of an Architect Podcast

Life of an Architect Podcast Ep. 123: Interviews Just Aren’t that Hard

You’re about to graduate from architecture school, or maybe you already have a job, and you’re just simply looking for a change. Going through the interviews in an architecture firm is just part of a sequence of activities toward getting a new job. There are some things that are worth knowing before you step into the room. Welcome to Life of an Architect Episode 123: Interviews Just Aren’t that Hard. 


Life of an Architect Podcast

Life of an Architect Podcast Ep. 121: Material Selection

When you think of a building – whatever scale or project type – the items that go into creating that building are most frequently associated with the materials that are selected that define the appearance of the building. Brick, glass, wood, and metal are all great choices. But the decision on what to clad your project in goes a long way toward deciding things beyond the appearance.

halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021