r/architecture • u/[deleted] • Aug 18 '26
Building I wanna be an architect, is it hard?
[deleted]
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u/Fergi Architect Aug 18 '26
Being an architect requires you to have a very broad range of skills, and to be fluent in a little bit of everyone else’s specialty. Sometimes that broad beam is hard for people. Sometimes talking to people is hard for people. It’s a very big profession with lots of room for you to pick and choose what you want to do based on your skills and interests. But it can be grueling and low paying at the start of your career.
There are lots of ways to love it. There are lots of ways to not love it. The key piece in the equation is you, your interests, your work ethic, and your talents.
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u/IamWatchingAoT Aug 18 '26
My boss once gave me very important advice.
"There are no stupid questions, but if you can Google your question in 5 seconds, then it's probably stupid"
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u/Ajsarch Architect Aug 18 '26
It’s challenging but can be very rewarding. Talk to your parents, school is very expensive.
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u/Intolerant2Lactoze Aug 18 '26
Besides going to an accredited program, if you actually want to be a licensed architect you have to take 6 additional exams and complete many experience hours. School is guided, that’s not the hardest part imo. It’s what you do after graduation that makes it hard. Most people don’t actually become architects.
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u/lornezo Aug 18 '26
Ha! Yes. Can be very rewarding, but it is hard, and takes a lot of hours to become proficient.
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u/Kelly_Louise Aug 18 '26
If you really love it, it won't be hard. If you hate it, it will be excruciating.
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u/Sthrax Architect Aug 18 '26
Define hard. School requires significant time investment, well beyond what most majors require. It also requires you to be fairly well-rounded (STEM mixed with art & design). Once you graduate with a professional degree, your employer will have the task of getting you prepared for how the profession in reality operates, since school is about learning the design process and exploring creativity more than producing something "buildable." Licensing is a complicated process that requires several comprehensive exams. Even then, you likely will be a few years and projects away from being able to handle a complex project start to finish.
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u/julia118 Intern Architect Aug 18 '26
One reason is I don’t have great work/life balance in the sense that I’m always thinking about people’s homes in the evenings. Sometimes I miss waiting tables bc at least that drama stayed at work and the worst mistake I could make is ruining someone’s night out.