Architecture is a very unique degree. If you are going to go to Architecture school know that it will often attack you with unusual surprises. So it’s always good to know some basic things to be mentally prepared and to train yourself before starting school. Let’s dive into some of the things you should know before starting your academic year:

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Extensive workload:

Every new semester is going to hit you hard with more and more workload. Be prepared to spend sleepless nights sitting in front of your computer for hours. You must be comfortable working very hard, and the workload will only increase with time. So don’t fool yourself with shortcuts or advice that says otherwise.

Multitasking:

You will have to be very good at multitasking. Developing a design, making 2D drawings, 3D modeling, rendering on your computer, making a physical model, and preparing your presentation, along with all other academic activities, will require you to be very fast and good at distributing your time among a whole bunch of different types of work that require different skills.

Be prepared to accept criticism:

Almost everyone you meet in your architecture school will criticize your work, which will continue throughout your architecture life. That is how architecture works. Your designs get developed after every criticism. So don’t think of criticism as something negative but think of them as opportunities to develop your design. The friend who criticizes the most is the best type of friend in architecture school.

Communication Skills:

Architecture is all about human communication. You will have to communicate personally with your teachers and peers during studio projects. You will have to collect data about the site, people, and society from different places. You will have to present your project in front of a jury board and a whole bunch of people from your school. So you have to use communication as a tool. If you want to work on your shy nature, now is the best time to do so because there is no place for shyness and holding yourself back in architecture school.

Being Up to Date:

Architecture requires a lot of attention, you see. You will have to be up-to-date with all the new buildings. Visiting ArchDaily as soon as you wake up, learn the latest software, and learn about the new design trends. Overall, you will have to be very smart in handling a lot of information every day.

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Get ready to read a lot:

Architecture is not just about thinking and being creative. It requires lots of reading on your own. The teacher might show you a pathway, but you will have to study a lot as soon as a new project is introduced to your studio. Types of your project, program analysis, a whole bunch of research papers, materials, and many more topics you will have to cover before starting designing.

Treat every project as if it’s your best project:

Sometimes you might want to give up, or some semesters you might feel tired. But be very careful with your projects. Go all the way. You might think one project is less important than others, but remember these projects are going to shape your future, and you will design only a few types of projects during architecture school under expert supervision. There are so many more types of buildings that you need to learn in school. So treat every project with the same care because you might not get another chance.

It’s okay to feel dumb:

It’s all right. Even the best architects probably have thought of dropping out of architecture school. You will feel really stupid, especially during the crit period. You will question your worth every day. But do not sink into those thoughts. You will feel frustrated, but after you finish crying, get up from your chair, look outside your window, grab a cup of coffee, and sit your ass down in that chair. There is no other option.

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Having a healthy eating habit:

This one is never given enough importance. You will have to work very hard for weeks. Those sleepless nights before a jury will want to crack your body. But you cannot get sick or tired before the jury. Your body needs fuel. Remember to eat healthy, nutritious food regularly, and never skip a meal. Following this will help you in the long run.

Document everything:

Take photos of all your projects. Keep all of your old sketchpads and notebooks. You will need your work files in your professional life. Documentation is very important in architecture. The firms you will apply for a job, the university you will apply for higher education, and the clients you will be working for will want to see your work. So document everything.

Backup files:

Learn to keep backup files for everything, especially when you are working on your computer. Keep backups of your softcopies because your PC is going to crash now and then with so many heavy files and heavy software working in the background at the same time. It’s even smarter to have multiple backups in different places. Upload one file on Google Drive and keep another on a pen drive.