architecture or marine biology?

Question

which career choice would be better

Answer 1

As someone who started school as a biology major and ended up with a degree in architetcture, let me give you some basic information so you can make up your mind.

First, architecture is NOT a particularrly well paid proffession. There are plenty of high school teachers who start at a similar salary. Making in the $40,000s 5-10 years out is probably about right and they typically are maxing in the $60,000s. (in much of the counrty).

Next, if you are an outdoor person, realize that you will be spending most of your time sitting at a computer, with not that much feild time.

Hours in architecture firms can be long, overtime is the norm, and it is a high stress job often.

You will be spending a lot of time designing buildings that are not that much fun. And much of your first couple years learning the art of bathrooms and staircases....

School is typically 5 years (Bachlors of Architecture) or 6 years (Pre architecture undergrad and Arch masters). School is hard, and lots of people are pushed out of the program. My school started with 150 people and greaduated 60. Expect to have very little social life, pull a ton of all nighters, and just generally be abused by your proffessors. It is the hardest undergraduate degree at many schools, requiring students to take 16-18 hours a semester for 5 years to meet the requirements. And some of these classes are under houred. Your "studio" which is the most important architecture class will get you 3-5 hours a semester, but you will be in class 12-15 hours a week and your projects will keep you at that desk often over 60 hours a week... In addition, architecture students have to be good at a wide variety. You have to be artistic (draw and build models), you have to be good at math (structures and systems), you have to be good at softer sciences (philosophy and history.)

Now, if you have always dreamed of being an architect, and spent hours doing models and drawing as a child. If you have always wanted to do it, then do it. Otherwise, I would not.

Good luck with your decision...

Answer 2

architecture for sure

Answer 3

Arch. for money, probably. Depends on your interests.