Architecture is a highly specialized discipline that exists at the intersection of engineering, design, ergonomics, and environmentalism. There are a number of schools in the United States that will offer you a full curriculum in architecture and advanced degrees that will launch your career as an architect in style. Choosing among the available architecture schools may be difficult, but there are several things that you should take into account:
Cost: Can you afford the architecture school’s tuition? Before you decide that you can’t, know that there are a number of ways in which you can fund your education at architecture schools. Many organizations, the United States government foremost among them, make grants, scholarships, and loans available to prospective students who can show financial need or particular promise based on prior performance. Go to the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) Web site and fill out the FAFSA form, which allows you to apply simultaneously for a large number of funding options. Understand that student loans will need to be paid back after graduation (though the interest is usually low), but grants and scholarships are essentially free, so target them first.
Location: Do you need to consider only architecture schools close to home? You may have a local job that you can’t leave or need to take care of an ailing relative. In that case, you’ll want to consider architecture schools within easy commuting distance, less than an hour’s drive each way if possible. (Remember that you don’t want to use up all of your studying time driving to and from classes.) Or, if you elect to move away from home, ask yourself if the school is in a place where you’d like to live. Who knows? You may like it so much that you’ll stay there.
Prestige: Do the architecture schools you are considering have strong reputations? Will employers be impressed by the school’s name on your résumé? The more prestigious a school is, the more expensive your education will be. However, you are likely to land a higher paying job that will more than pay off the extra expense. And, it may speed up the transition to your architecture career if the school is recognized and respected.
Staff: Are the teachers at the architecture schools you’re considering impressive? Remember, these are the people who may make the difference in getting your first job with their recommendations.
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