H.S classes and Colleges for architecture

[christie3]

First off, in August i will be entering my junior year of high school, What are some recomended classes that i shold take for my Junior and Senior years. I am thinking about taking some engineering classes but someone told me not too.

Secondly, I will be starting to look at colleges. Where are some good places to look at. I live near Philly so some local one's would be nice

[Matt in the Hat]

First off, in August i will be entering my junior year of high school, What are some recomended classes that i shold take for my Junior and Senior years. I am thinking about taking some engineering classes but someone told me not too.

Yeah, because there is no reason why you should know what you are talking about. What dumbass gave you that advise?

In no particular order I'd look at the following classes if available

Art History
Drafting (Hand drafting preferable - you have plenty of time to learn CAD)
Sketching
Computer Graphic Design
Physics
Trigonometry
Creative writing (great for concept presentations)
Small Business
Wood/Metal Shop
Theater Craft

Secondly, I will be starting to look at colleges. Where are some good places to look at. I live near Philly so some local one's would be nice

What's your budget?

http://www.teach-me-architecture.com/best-architecture-schools

UPenn has a great program if you have the coin and want to stay in Philly. There are also some great schools in NJ and NY, not too far.

[christie3]

Thanks alot Matt

[Mr. Warmth]

Yeah, because there is no reason why you should know what you are talking about. What dumbass gave you that advise?


The person that taught you to spell. :p

[Matt in the Hat]

The person that taught you to spell. :p

It's that awful English influence over here permeating my brain. Shoot me if I start using 'u' in the word color :)

[Dills]

First off, in August i will be entering my junior year of high school, What are some recomended classes that i shold take for my Junior and Senior years. I am thinking about taking some engineering classes but someone told me not too.

Secondly, I will be starting to look at colleges. Where are some good places to look at. I live near Philly so some local one's would be nice
my high school didn't offer any kind of drafting or other "technical" courses that may have helped me out. for those, i should've gone to the tech school across the street, had my adviser actually known that. but i had plenty of math courses, and took many a sketch class at night and on weekends. they ended up offering (well, required) drafting and perspective drawing courses my first year at drexel anyway. which provides a nice segue ...

i graduated drexel with my BArch, but that wasn't the only local school to provide a major in architecture. both temple (http://www.temple.edu/architecture/degrees.htm) and phila univ (http://www.philau.edu/architecture/) (formerly textiles) have bachelor of architecture programs. i know many people who attended/graduated from those schools. drexel (http://www.drexel.edu/westphal/academics/undergraduate/architecture/)'s program is unique, as it's called the "2+4 program" where you attend school full-time for the first 2 years, then with the school's assistance towards the end of the second year, you work full-time during those last four years while taking classes 2 or 3 nights a week. or there's always the strictly evening class, part-time program. UPenn (http://www.design.upenn.edu/architecture/bachelor-arts-architecture) has an undergrad arch. program, but it is not a BArch. i believe it's a BArts with a focus on architecture. you would then need to get your MArch in order to take your registration exams.

[christie3]

I have signed up for my classes. thanks to those who helped.

i have another question now.
what would be some summer jobs that would help my path towards arch?

[Dills]

I have signed up for my classes. thanks to those who helped.

i have another question now.
what would be some summer jobs that would help my path towards arch?
i was fortunate enough to know of a sole proprietor not too far from my house, where i worked part-time between my junior and senior years of high school. might be an option worth pursuing. even if you don't get to do actual "architecture", being in the office environment and familiarizing yourself with the goings-on is invaluable.

[fidlerre]

i was fortunate enough to know of a sole proprietor not too far from my house, where i worked part-time between my junior and senior years of high school. might be an option worth pursuing. even if you don't get to do actual "architecture", being in the office environment and familiarizing yourself with the goings-on is invaluable.
Plus, a CAD 'monkey' to help pick up redlines is an added bonus for them...

And will give you some true insight in to the profession being around other architects.

[Dills]

Plus, a CAD 'monkey' to help pick up redlines is an added bonus for them...

And will give you some true insight in to the profession being around other architects.
and running copies, or when i did it blueprints ... ahh, i can still smell the ammonia. ;)

[christie3]

i will keep that in mind for maybe next year. i need to focus on getting my drivers permit now and get just a simple job. im out of money to get Union gear

[Matt in the Hat]

i will keep that in mind for maybe next year. i need to focus on getting my drivers permit now and get just a simple job. im out of money to get Union gear

These are simple jobs. Would you rather bag groceries or learn something?

Start here
www.aiaphiladelphia.org

Send a resume to all the people in here close to your house
http://www.aiaphiladelphia.org/find/index.cfm

Focusing on getting your drivers permit is a cop out. Do you want this or not?

Edit to add: Christie, you do realize that you are getting advice from a local Philly architect and Union fan. Put 2 and 2 together.

[Dills]

There are other chapters of the AIA around the Philadelphia area that may be useful, such as AIA Bucks County (http://www.aiabuckscounty.com/).

Or, if you're in grades 2-5, the Phila Chapter is sponsoring week-long summer architecture camps (http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=01e6efc0-b351-433a-a18e-06703c263afe). ;)

And thanks for the props, MitH. :cool:

[christie3]

Or, if you're in grades 2-5, the Phila Chapter is sponsoring week-long summer architecture camps (http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=01e6efc0-b351-433a-a18e-06703c263afe). ;)

:cool:

I know Drexel has some architecture camps but its only for juniors and seniors

[Dills]

Also, you might want to find out about joining the ACE Mentor Program (http://www.acementor.org/). I was a mentor for a few years, so can speak from my own experience that the kids who truly want to be involved and learn about the architecture and construction industry will come away with a better appreciation of the field and be prepared to take the next step in their careers.

[Matt in the Hat]

I know Drexel has some architecture camps but its only for juniors and seniors

Something tells me that if you are insistent enough they will accept you.

What do you do at architecture camp? Sing songs about the Bauhaus around the precast fire feature?

[christie3]

Something tells me that if you are insistent enough they will accept you.

What do you do at architecture camp? Sing songs about the Bauhaus around the precast fire feature?

No but that sounds like fun!

From the little booklet that i got from them you talk to architectures, walk around and look at buildings and i think they give you a practice design project or something to work on during the week. i would check it but im in school

[DCSharksFC]

Virginia Tech has a top ten architecture program, and fairly on the cheap for out of state students, plus blacksburg is the most awesome college town of all time

http://www.archdesign.vt.edu/

<-----------but i'm a little bias :D