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I wouldn't presume to tell you what is "best" for you. I don't know you. All
I'm saying is that if you feel you have other options, you should seriously
consider them and compare the life you will have in them compared to the
life of an architect. I've never been one to focus solely on money, but as
you get older you do look back and imagine where you could be living, or
what you could be driving, etc., if you had applied your abilities in a more
lucrative field. Personally, I have no regrets, but you might want to go
into this with your eyes open.

In Canada for example, the very most financially successful architects (a
literal handful) make as much in a year as a run-of-the-mill corporate
lawyer, and there are *hundreds* of them. The really good lawyers make *way*
more than that. There is very interesting data about income available from
the OAA that may *SHOCK* you. As office staff you'll top out at 75K in
today's money in about 20-25 years. Lots of other fields pay that in a
couple years, and keep climbing. There is a very high risk-to-reward ratio
in this business, considering all the time spent in school, job security
(giggles), and liability.

Don't get sucked into a field because of the common, romantic, and
unrealistic notion of what it means to be an architect, only to be one of
the many who drop out at some point and have to start all over again. That's
all I'm saying.

 

One thing to consider before it's too late - hopefully this hasn't
already been covered, I haven't followed the thread in detail - is
that it is almost impossible to register without a B Arch. The M
Arch. is good too, of course, but can be a bitch to get into a decent
accredited program. Make sure you'll be able to get Professor's
recommendations, keep grades up, and don't do anything too practical,
or you're sunk before you start.

 

I will have my B Sc. Majoring in the Architecture program (I think that's
the designation) from Ryerson. And then I have UofT and Carlton which will
grant me admission to their M Arch. In practical do you mean working
drawings and such for my portfolio? I have an artistic portfolio that I
believe shows my creativity with little to do with architecture. I gave up
an offer at McMaster's Fine Arts Faculty because I did not know how I could
apply it. Now I found somewhere where my creativity can be applied and I
like every aspect of it. But yet again, whether I will go on to my masters
is a totally different thing.

Chris

 

I have toyed with the notion of becoming a teacher at a local college. I
also knew that once I became an architect I would only become a teacher
anyway and freelance in my time off or vice versa.

I dont care for money. I do care about making a living. The only doubt I
have is that there is a lot of time and resources that must be put into
this. This worries me because I dont want to be 30 when I get out of
school. Plus the years of internships which I wouldn't mind. I would have
my whole youth lost in school. Any how I am rambling...

I was defensive before, I appologise. I am greatful for your insight.

Thank you

Chris

 

Alot of architects end up teaching as a way to make better money, and stay
fresh.

It's a very LONG haul, indeed. I decided to be one in 1980. By 2000 I had my
practice, such as it is. I've also come to the conclusion that you haven't
done it all until you've done it for yourself, that is, run a practice.

So we're "cool"? Good.

I repeat my advice to go to the SPOT meeting and I'd add that I would attend
some "crits" at the UofT before you apply. It'll give you a sense of what it
will be like in school. It's not nearly the gauntlet it used to be when it
was a 5 year program, but the ferocity of the criticism may surprise you.
I'd spend a day or two just attending crits- not just the year-end ones
either. Hang out at the faculty and get to know the schedule.