Calling bee - training as an architect in Ireland?

[Delster]

I think you mentioned before that D is an architect? Could you tell me more about it? A young person I know is considering being this as a career choice. As a small child his parents designed a new house and I think that sowed the seed for him to want to be an architect.

Thing is, anyone I know who pursued this route was BIG into art. They all did art for their Leaving, took a year out to make portfolios, couldn''t decide between architecture and art college etc etc. This young guy is not an arty or designery person at all. His favourite subjects are Maths, Psychics, and Chemistry. He doesn''t draw, paint, sculpt, or do anything remotely creative (no music, writing, nothing like that - so far as I know). He has never taken Art beyone primary school. In short, he is nothing like the people I know who went on to do architecture!

He did Tech Drawing for his Junior Cert and likes the subject. He got on great in the exam - he''s super bright and got on great in all his exams! Nine A''s and a B in his JC! He has done work experience in a draftsman''s office and loved it. I think the draftsman''s office work tied in really well with the Tech Drawing he''s done in school. He''s also considering maths/psychics degrees and accountancy (the latter I think purely because a few family members are accountants).

Do you think he''d be a good fit with an architecture degree? Would he struggle because of his lack of interest in art and design? I think I might be prejudiced into thinking he wouldn''t be a good fit with this career, purely because my acquaintances who did it were so different! Any advice? I''d really appreciate it!

 

[Delster]

Just bumping cos I noticed you''re online bee!

 

[bee*]

Sorry just saw this now-slowly going through the different boards!

D was big into art also and always has been. From what I know, depending on the different colleges, some use a lot more cad based drawings and others will use a lot more hand drawing based so having art would be an advantage. I''m not sure where they''d be going to college, but in Dublin I know that UCD was definitely more arty whereas DIT is more cad based. D had carried out work experience in an architects office for three summers also so he knew it was definitely what he wanted and I think from speaking to him that he would definitely advise anyone who''s thinking of going into it to do the same and get experience. In his first year, they had to draw quite a bit from hand, not of houses or anything like that, but of different objects and then a lot more was cad based.
Once they graduate after the five years, they have to work for two years and then sit their professional exam. D had to attend lectures one day a week for that and then he''s sitting his exam saturday week (fingers crossed!!). Then he has to design a project from start to finish (it has to actually be built) and then once that''s happened he''s a fully architect!

I think that your friend might struggle a bit with the lack of art and design as a lot of it is designing different items and in the first year especially there is a lot of arty things like drawing fruit etc.
D''s asleep now (long day in work!!), but I''ll check with him tomorrow and see does he have any advice. I''d say that getting some experience in an architects office would be the main thing. Hope that helps a bit!

 

[Delster]

Thanks bee, I really appreciate hearing your perspective! I was wondering was I being harsh on the poor kid (in my own head, that is, I''ve never said anything to him).

Would really love to hear D''s thoughts! And sending him lots of good vibes for his big exams, I''ll be thinking of him Saturday week. Those professional exams are scary. I know someone who came top of their year in the whole university and then failed their professional exams to be an actuary at the first attempt!

But it''s all worth it when you get there in the end...

 

[bee*]

Yeah hopefully he''ll get it! He hates studying so I''ve had to do a lot of nagging the past few weeks to get him to look at the books

I''m dragging him into the library with me all next week so he''ll study!

Just even from my point of view as a gf, he''s had to do so many all nighters for a lot of his projects so it can be hard and I imagine even harder if someone isn''t 100% into it. I''ll check with D tomorrow though and see what advice he can give.

 

[Delster]

Just bumping this to say I hope D''s exams went well for him!

I did think of him at the time so I hope the good luck vibes worked!

 

[bee*]

thanks Delster for thinking of him! He wasn''t too happy with the first section as he ran out of time and he said that his timing was all over the place for it, but he was happy with section 2. I''m so hoping he passed. Typical man doesn''t know when the results are out though

 

[Delster]

I''m sure he did just fine! I know for myself I always over-estimate how badly I''ve done in exams, probably he''s doing that - I think it''s human nature!

 

[bee*]

I''m the exact same. I have a feeling that he passed. I just can''t wait to find out when he gets the results!