Choosing to pursue a career in any field shouldn’t be taken lightly, as it can determine the path we will follow for the rest of our lives. This is particularly true when it comes to the industries of architecture, engineering, and design. Even when we might think these are the fields we want to grow both professionally and personally, there are some important questions we should ask ourselves before starting a degree program. Answering these questions will help us get more clarity on the choice we make, as well as helping us figure out whether a career in architecture is truly our passion.
Am I Slightly Interested in Another Area/Major?
This is something that every future student of any field should ask themselves before starting a program. For one thing, many programs allow students to collaborate with other fields, for example, architecture and engineering. This might be a great way to get a bit of experience in both and choose one. On the other hand, we might not have the chance to work on an area of our interest, and we might be better off applying at a different program, one that is closely related to our passions.
How Much Time and Money Do I Want to Spend?
Another important aspect we need to keep in mind is how much time and money are we willing to spend on our degree. This is because there are many architecture programs being offered, each with a different structure and cost. For example, we might be looking for something short term, so we should be looking for a three or four-year program. If we are interested in a longer and more thorough program, we should then look for a five year plus master’s program. The term of the program will also have an impact on the costs, so we should weigh that in, too.
Am I Interested in A Study Abroad Program?
One of the main reasons students look for an architecture program is because many offer study abroad programs. If we are interested in studying abroad for any given period of time, this is something we should include when looking for schools. Studying abroad can give us a lot of experience, as it can help us grow academically, professionally, and personally, too. However, if we are not interested in this, we shouldn’t worry about it too much.
What do the Professors of the Program Offer?
One last question we shouldn’t ignore when looking for a school is what the professors of the program offer to their students. This is a very important part of our school research we must prioritize. Each professor has different skills, different areas of interests, and different passions that will undoubtedly influence their pupils. Therefore, looking for the body of professors at a school we are interested in will help us learn more about them, about their experience in the field, about previous and existing research projects, and it might make our school-choosing program much easier.
