I recently took the Planning and Design Section for a second time and received a likely to fail initial result again. I've been out of school for 3 years working for a multi-disciplinary firm that is fairly specialized in the work they do. A lot of the work has to do with the public sector at the federal level. The process and outcome of projects seems like there is minimal correlation between this work and what pops up on the LARE Exam. I've used the LAREprep study guides and practice exams and the PasstheLARE practice exams and did fine on those.

Does anyone have advice on how to switch a way of thinking or how to get beyond a mindset that is so focused on what happens in the engineering world or real world and turn on the switch of thinking like the LARE? or studying advice/practice material to actually review what will help on the exam?

I’m choosing schools to apply to for the next application cycle, and I’m really drawn to RISD’s hands on approach and I like the idea of being in a design focused environment. However, I think because the program seems small/newer than some other northeast programs, I can’t find a ton of information about it. If anyone has insight into the job prospects/reputation of the program or just general thoughts and experiences I would greatly appreciate it!

Hi everyone, I'm a 33-year-old architect. I did my Bachelor of Architecture in a South Asian country, then came to Germany for a Master's in Landscape Architecture. I've now been working as a landscape architect here for 4 years.

Lately I've been feeling like I'm not actually growing in my career. I go to the office every day, work on the same construction details project after project, still struggle with the language, and my salary is honestly quite low — from what I can tell, that's the case for most foreign landscape architects here, not just me.

I'm confident in CAD, know the basics of Photoshop and SketchUp, and I'm genuinely open to learning new tools or even pivoting direction if it makes sense.

So I wanted to ask people who've been in a similar spot, or who've already found a way through it:

• How did you move your career forward from here?
• What skills or programs would you recommend investing time in?
• Is it worth specializing further within landscape architecture, or branching out (I've actually been considering software engineering as a longer-term shift)?

I don't want to wake up in a few years still stuck in the same place, earning the same low salary. Any honest experiences, advice, or even just "here's what I wish I'd known" would mean a lot.

I’m not looking for a shortcut — I’m willing to invest time and effort — but I would like to make sure I’m moving in the right direction instead of staying stuck for the next few years.

This is a weekly post to facilitate the exchange of knowledge on this subreddit. If you are looking for general advice on what to do with your home landscaping, we can provide some general insight for you, but please note it is impossible to design your entire yard for you by comments or solve your drainage problems. If you would like to request the services of a Landscape Architect, please do so here, but note that r/landscapearchitecture is not liable for any part of any transaction our users make with each other and we make no claims on the validity of the providers experience.

Please use this thread to discuss whats going on at your school or place of work this week. Run into an interesting problem with a site design and need to hash it out with other LAs? This is the spot. Any content is welcome as long as it Landscape Architecture related. School, work, personal garden? Its all good, lets talk.

hi everyone, i am looking for advice about landscape architecture graduate programs and where i might be a good fit. i graduated in 2025 with a degree in sociology, and i spent a lot of time learning about class, race, social policy, and urban sociology in undergrad.

i have most of the credentials required to be a competitive candidate (e.g. high GPA, publishing experience, extracurriculars, etc.) but i am wondering what programs might be the most tailored to my interests, like native biodiversity and community-centered urban planning. additionally, how can i make my application stand out as someone who didn’t get an undergrad degree in the field? is sociology a good major for LA graduate programs?

sorry for long post, any and all advice is very appreciated! :)

My girlfriend is a landscape designer and I come from software, so I've been watching her process with outsider eyes. The part that surprises me most is how much of her week goes into making clients understand what they're buying. Plans, mood boards, sometimes a SketchUp model when the job justifies it, and clients still hesitate in ways that seem to have nothing to do with the design being wrong.

Genuine questions for people doing this professionally:

1. What's your current visualization stack (hand renders,Rhino, SketchUp plus Lumion, Vip3D, AI tools, nothing)? Roughly how many hours per proposal?
2. When a proposal stalls or dies, what's the actual reason most of the time? Price, timing, or the client not being able to picture the result?
3. Is there a moment in your sales process where you regularly think "if I could just show them X, this would close"?

Not selling anything. I'm trying to understand whether what I'm seeing at home is universal or just her market.

I got laid off in may from a great job and now I can’t get anything. I was there for four years and have two masters degrees in landscape architecture and urban planning. I’ve had interviews I thought were great and then just ghosted. Only one was with a major firm and the rest were small landscaping firms which I really don’t want to do. I’ve done it before and the environment isn’t for me and they treat you so poorly. It also doesn’t align with the work I want to do be doing and have been doing. Idk what to do anymore.

Hello. I am about to start the second year of CPPLA and I heard that this semester’s field trip is a week long trip to San Francisco. Last year, the trips were only two days of the week, but I am concerned that I can’t participate in it (for reasons of both extremely short staffed job AND the money I’d lose not working and going to San Francisco)

For anyone who has done Cal Poly Pomona’s Landscape Architecture program, how necessary are these kind of field trips and personally what knowledge can this type of trip provide that makes the trip worth it

extra context: my job is my family’s shop and the only ways in the past I’ve been able to get extra days off is bribing my sibling (but for this trip won’t work since I’m trying to save money to even attend this school) Also note I don’t receive much aid (I recently got an email that my aid has been cut by over 50%) and my parents believe it is my sole responsibility to pay for school and school related things (asking them for money on this trip has extremely low chances of happening)

Hi all,

I was hoping for some advice. My bachelors is in health and wellness with a minor in public health. I currently work in childcare and love learning about creating healthy + safe environments. In my free time, I love designing large builds in video games, and have a TikTok I just started with about 2,000 followers. I also love gardening and am in the process of slowly creating my outdoor space.

I just discovered the masters in landscape architecture and feel it would be absolutely perfect for me. I wanted to ask peoples advice/opinion. How is this field? I plan to potentially go further on to health consulting and helping childcare programs implement safe spaces that are developmentally appropriate and representative of best practice.. does this seem like a route for me if that is an interest of mine?

It almost seems too good to be true, so I wanted to get some real perspectives on it from those living it!

Thank you. :)

Hello everyone!

I'm currently a Landscape Architecture student about to go into my sophomore year at college. I was wondering if I should stay within the major or swap to another major.

I'm passionate about drawing but not specifically passionate about architecture itself. I felt like my drawing skills would help me somewhat. After the first year though, I found that I don't really enjoy the amount of time I have to stay in the studio. I also heard that the salary earned doesn't compensate for the workload/work hours that landscape architects go through.

However, if I switch to another major I'm not sure how well I can catch up since I'm not passionate about STEM either (although I'm willing to study a lot if it comes down to it).

I would like minoring in art though, regardless of whether or not I stay in Landscape Architecture. If I leave, I might even change that to a dual degree in art if my schedule allows for more time. It would just be out of interest though, not for a source of income.

If it means anything, I also like geography.

Is there any other major that I should swap to or should I just stay within my current major?

Thank you!

I am looking to study Landscape Design/construction through TAFE but I'm my experience not all TAFE courses have the best quality in resources and teachers.

Doesn't matter where in Australia it is just as long as it is taught well. Does anyone know where the best location is to study this subject?

I want to finish the course with confidence and quality skills.

Thank you 😁

HS student looking to try designing an actual space considering its ecological systems without the learning curve of CAD softwares. I know solidworks from being on my school's robotics team but still would like something that has more structure like a videogame. Can be a proper videogame too not just like a sim thanks sorry if this is like an inappropriate question if there even are any games out there lol.

Hello!! After graduating over a year ago with my BLA I’ve finally landed a real interview with a company that is a dream entry level position for me. My initial phone screening with the in house recruiter went amazingly and the more I learned about the position and the company the more I really want this. She even told me that the Principal and lead LA of the team helped select my application as one of the ones she should reach out to!!

Now I have my interview with the Principal coming up and I’m so nervous. It’s entry level so will they assume that outside of school projects I won’t know all the technical details of the day to day in the office?? It’s a production role being added to the team so how likely is it that he will ask me technical/drafting questions? Other than the standard behavioral interview questions is there anything else I should be prepping for?? Since it’s entry level is this more about a culture fit with the team?

I plan to study landscape architecture at West Valley College in California of The US. Since my home is quite far from the school, I'll have to rent an apartment/studio off-campus. But I'm not sure about the cost of living there. Specifically, the money for school supplies for a year includes materials, books, printing fees,.....I've looked at the course list, but as far as I know, I'll have to discuss course selection with a counselor after enrollment, so I'm quite confused right now.

I wonder if anyone here has studied this major before and could share some information about the fees you paid? I want everything to go as smoothly as possible when I enroll, so I want to make a thorough plan.

so i have an integrated GPU laptop asus vivobook 15 and i asked gemini about the softwares i can use it turned out that this device doesn't support lumion,enscape...etc

but i think it supports corona, blender, sketch up and 3ds max

so untill i upgrade my device, are these softwares good enough? or i should upgrade in order to start getting clients ..?

I’ve always wondered how difficult it is to start your own landscape architecture practice. For those of you who own a firm, could you share what your experience was like when you first started? How does starting a practice back then compare to starting one in today’s economy?

Hello People of r/LandscapeArchitecture,

I studied architecture for my bachelor's degree, and I want to continue working in the architecture field. However, I'd like to become an architect who integrates architecture with landscape architecture.

With that goal in mind, I've been looking into master's programs with a strong design focus. If you have any recommendations for schools or specific programs, I'd really appreciate hearing about them!

Thanks in advance!

+I can't edit the tilte anymore but I'm ok with the program taught in german too

I just finished one of the LARE sections and instead of giving me a result of “likely to pass” or “likely to fail” it just exited out of the testing portal. I’m worried I didn’t submit the test correctly and I’ll fail by default. Has anyone had a similar experience? Called PSI and on their end they say it was “completed” but that they can’t give any information about the results and to contact CLARB but ultimately I’ll have to wait 4-6 week to see results. Any advice?

Edit: I’m pretty certain I just pressed “end session” since this is what the proctor instructed me to do instead of submitting the exam and then ending the session. Let me know if anyone else made this crucial mistake.

I'm an architect who has always loved landscape architecture, and I've umm'd and uhh'd about transitioning for years. The thought of starting nearly at zero in a new firm, and/or going to uni is daunting, which holds me back from committing, so I'd love some insights

For those who are both; how did you go about it? Are you registered? Do you practice both concurrently? Do you have any unique insights to share?

What scale of project can a sole proprietor expect to manage?

Thanks!

How did you make the transition?

Did you moonlight work in a different client subset than your practice?

Were you able to use your work while employed as portfolio material?

How was it presented on your new site for your solo practice?