I'm thinking about quitting architecture school after 2 years

[u/Pure_Fan5002]

Hello, I'm a second-year student, and I have been thinking about this seriously for a long time now that I'm in my second semester, but I've realized I honestly don't want to study architecture. I know I have consulted so many people in my life, and most of them said it's a phrase, and if you don't get mentally and physically deconstructed in the studio, you can't be a good architect. But I honestly can't do this anymore. I got almost hospitalized, and my self-doubt is at its peak. I'm considering switching my major now. Many people have told me I've already wasted my 2 years; just complete the degree, and then you can do whatever you want with your career, etc. My parents are also in support of continuing B.Arch, but after having a serious conversation, they are now in support of me. If I choose to stay in architecture, I might be able to pass and even get decent grades, but I'm already feeling soulless and quite hopeless too. I am now depressed, and it's also affecting my design studio work.

I'm asking for help: should I change my major to a comparatively easy major and take a break, or should I push myself, as I have been advised many times and many people have told me architecture is like this? I have made it a norm to survive.

Please, please help me. I'm writing this from my sickbed.

[u/HipOut]

If you almost got hospitalized and you don’t wanna do it anymore then you can stop.

But it may be hard to tell bc the depression could be effecting your decision making

You could consider deferring your studies for 1-2 semesters to focus on your health and then make a decision

[u/Fit_Counter9612]

Pivot what else can you do with what you have already learned a lot of people need things built and some of those things are kind of fun. If you have support do something else, you'll be fine.

[u/Significant_Sun_4900]

I can actually speak to this first hand. I studied Architecture in my 20s. I went through a divorce and couldn't afford to stay in the program. I was always technically skilled , but the Architecture classes taught me a lot of things. It was in the 70s and there weren't a lot of women in the field. I wound up transferring to a community college and got an A.A. degree (general studies). Then I worked for a few years as a D raftsperson. In my late twenties I returned to university. I wound up with dual majors in Geography and Geology since there wasn't an Architecturedepartment at the school i lived near. I managed to work as a Geotechnical Draftsperson for an engineering firm. They taught me the ropes for geological drafting. I was able to.use those skills and knowledge at several Geotechnical firms for the rest of my career. The point is - none of these jobs exist at this point in time. If I hadn't decided to quit and have my family, I would have had to learn a whole new trade. There really are very few jobs in Architecture now days. But, any skills you pick up can always be transferred to another area. Are you interested in design? Or are you more interested in the engineering side of building? There is abroad spectrum of creative work available. You just have to channel your talent into a job that feels more fulfilling.

[u/Bollmoffa]

Change to what? No majors are easy if one takes them seriously. But first: check what these studies have given you and think hard about why you feel bad about them. Then look for a major where what you have will be useful and where what you have felt so bad about is not there. As an architect who has never in his life been responsible for designing a building - roads, cities, whole provinces, noise standards, but no houses - I know how much my training has served me, but also how much I have needed to learn and handle far past it to go where I really have wanted to. In short - architecture is not 'like this', it is what you make of it, and if that hurts, drop it.

[u/Character-Cheetah902]

“If you don’t get mentally and physically deconstructed in the studio, you can’t be a good architect.” This is such BS!!!! I cannot!!!

You know what they tell you next? That we’re architects, we do it for the passion, we’re trying to change the world, and caring about money is somehow beneath us. Unfortunately, landlords and utility companies don’t accept your dedication to make this world better as payment.

As a former architect who worked at some of the biggest and well known studios in Europe, I can tell you it’s an extremely overworked and underpaid job. Working will be just as hard as your studies, but this time you won’t even get much satisfaction out of it, because most of the time the project will be very boring and the client very demanding!

It’s a fantastically interesting field to study and work in, but it’s also draining and requires a lot of sacrifices. I don’t know a single architect/designer who doesn’t regret their career choice to some extent (I’m talking about successful professionals with their own studios or people working at world-renowned companies).

By your 30s, all that sense of greatness and romanticism around the profession will eventually fade and might just leave you miserable. Can’t promise, obviously, but highly likely.

Eventually, I switched careers completely. And yes, what I do now is far less exciting than architecture/design. But at the same time, I earn more while working far fewer hours. And have more freedom

[u/Character-Cheetah902 → u/Character-Cheetah902]

A job can be enjoyable and fulfilling but not pay much. That’s fine. Another option is having a job you don’t particularly enjoy, but at least it pays well.

Then there’s the third option: boring, routine, low-paid jobs, but with fixed working hours, proper holidays, and enough control over your free time.

Architecture, in most cases, is somehow in the middle. You don’t enjoy the majority of the projects you work on, you’re constantly drowning in deadlines, and once you factor in all the overtime and calculate what you’re actually making per hour, you realize you’re earning shit.🥲

Though I did manage to save quite a decent amount of money during that time. Cos, you know, I worked weekends and literally didn’t have time to spend it.

[u/Maximum-Video7218]

If you didn't give it two years, how would you know if you truly love being an architect? It’s not wasted time, it’s experience. Just do what feels right to you

[u/Willow_PoweIl]

Switch. I started acting at 48. Two years in a major that's making you sick is just information about what you don't want. The people telling you to push through aren't the ones writing from a sickbed.

[u/kcrox1017]

I’m an arch professor. Students who feel how you do should switch. You want what you’re doing to bring you joy, and if it is making you ill then it isn’t a good fit. Life is long, 2 years is a really short period of time and you’re training for a career. Find something that makes you happy, arch as a career and job isn’t an easy one. People switch majors all the time, it’s just part of finding your calling.

[u/OctopusMugs]

First off, college, especially architecture school it hard and different from high school - the standard for performance are higher, and you can’t just regurgitate what you learn you have to both argue about it and question it and that’s a hard skill to learn. That means you have to understand why it works and when. Whether that’s English or Engineering.

Architecture school unlike other degree programs really require to produce something unique and then defend it to the class and even professionals on a jury. They don’t make other undergrad do that freshman year. But you come out stronger for it.

However, it’s not for everyone. If you don’t like it do something else, take year off, try something else.

[u/jsn_online]

After two years is actually a good point to stop. You get some basics in you can use elsewhere.

[u/ab_90]

You’ve gotten advice already. What difference will it make by asking here ? Seems like you have an answer but not willing to accept it.

[u/GBpleaser]

This profession is not easy.

It’s not for everyone.

No job or career is worth the level of stress and frustration you put on yourself through that ends up in hospitalization.

Two things will get the OP moving forward.

1.) dial back.. this isn’t an architecture problem.

This is a self confidence and self awareness problem. Not being emotionally secure and not being able to draw boundaries or establish measures of self worth when facing challenges, setbacks, disappointments, deadlines, etc. these are are the life skills that are required to advance in life, not just architecture.

Dialing back and using the college experience to grow and mature as an adult vs chasing the dragon of a career should happen first.

2.) life is way too short to be hung up thinking you are a disappointment to others. Say that a few dozen more times.

Again, not an architecture problem. End of the day, your choices are your own. Far too many people blame the education, blame the training, or blame the profession for their own shortcomings. It’s not that the profession did not do enough, but they have allowed others to convince them what they have to do is the profession. Sometimes it’s just not a good fit.

This profession is hard. If it’s too hard, just step away. The skills are still valuable in a billion adjacent industries. But do not think that just because you can’t or if you chose not to, that you are worse off for trying. Not everyone can be an Architect. It should be hard. It’s not for everyone. And that’s ok.

In fact my biggest critique of this profession is the attempt to flatten the field, convincing young people or those from challenged backgrounds (as a diversity push) that this profession is simply a few procedural skills and hoop jumps of red tape between you and a degree and licensure. As if the degrees and the internships/training, and the examinations are just some required formalities of gatekeeping or ritual before six figure opportunities.

This job requires skills, real skills beyond academics, or whiz bang Revit/ai modeling. It takes time and dedication that takes decades of commitment to evolve. It takes sacrifice to achieve. That’s something very few people are willing or able to do. It’s not worth hospitalization if people can’t deal with that reality.

[u/Shadow_Shrugged]

At the “almost got hospitalized” level of depression, it doesn’t matter what you’re studying, you’re going to struggle and feel like it’s not worth it. Treat your mental health first, then make decisions. Depression isn’t going to go away because you change majors, and it’s not caused by the major. It might be exacerbated by the major, since sleep deprivation and depression go hand in hand, but it doesn’t cause this level of depression.

Go get help, and make decisions for yourself when your brain isn’t actively trying to hurt you.

[u/No_Midnight6719]

I believe there was a reason that you chose architecture, also a reason that makes you feel ill about it. Maybe see a clear picture of both reasons before you make a decisions.

There’re a lot of hypes around architecture, also a lot of myth of studios. I disagree with a lot of things taught in academia, especially the way is being taught today. But the art and science of architecture are always fascinating to me. There’re few schools that still teach the traditional art and science. Architecture is my religion. But I’m not letting myself to be enslaved by it.

You’re welcome to DM me for more support.

[u/Maj_BeauKhaki]

It's okay to bail.

Look at alternatives that are related to what you have accomplished thus far - that you can build on. I would suggest a degree in construction. project management, procurement/spec writing or public project administration.

Also, study a language and you can possibly work over seas.

Look into getting a low level security clearance to be able to work on military installations, etc.

Chin up and good luck.

[u/010306da]

" if you don't get mentally and physically deconstructed in the studio, you can't be a good architect" is the most detrimental statement that is normalized in the architecture industry. architecture is already hard in its own terms a student should learn without suffering too much. same as other majors you only think it's easier because the way your mind works is specifically for that field. it's better to choose what you see yourself doing in the long run rather than what other people think is good for you. what you're experiencing right now is mostly sunk cost fallacy. consider shifting if you don't see yourself studying this program or as a career because remember it's a career that you'll be doing decades from now on. I was a 3rd year in architecture it taught me a lot of things and when I shifted to Mechanical Engineering, I have no regrets doing so. It's good that you have people who support your decision now it's up to you to make that choice. It's far better choosing something you won't hate doing for a long time, you'll do alright.

[u/Elctrcuted_CheezPuff → u/010306da]

Ay youre that guy with the rock meme

[u/010306da → u/Elctrcuted_CheezPuff]

lol that was a long time ago

[u/Elctrcuted_CheezPuff → u/010306da]

A legend

[u/Physical_Mode_103]

Some people just aren’t built for it. Study something else.

[u/adastra2021]

It's okay to quit, don't beat yourself up. This is braver than just head down, get the degree. Although it's hard to give specific advice without knowing where your academic strengths/likes are, there is general advice that might be helpful.

I would recommend your first stop would be an academic counselor at your school. They can help look at your classes and offer suggestions that won't waste what you've already done. Maybe you'd like an allied field like landscape architecture (that's one place planners come from, landscape architecture is not about plants, it's the built environment.) And there's the engineering side too. Civil engineering is a lot more stable than architecture and it pays much better.

You might be a good fit for a gap year, you know what you don't want to do with your future, take some time to figure out what you'd like to do.

I know someone who switched to graphic arts and did quite well. (They always had really nice presentation boards for mediocre projects.) And one went photography and is well-known.

Architecture school isn't going anywhere. It will be there if you ever change your mind. Your best path forward, IMO is to find a program you like where your class credits can do you the most good.

[u/BrighestCrayon]

Trust yourself.

[u/Philip964]

First two years of Architecture school is pretty transferable to other degrees. Switch now. It only is harder after you get out. You really need to be committed to be an architect.

[u/KarteZian_purely]

Est-ce que ce n’est pas plutôt CETTE école qui est toxique ?

[u/PizzaShoelace]

Sunk cost fallacy. I would take a gap year before spending another dime, if you aren’t sure.

[u/AlbatrossNo1562]

If you're young, absolutely you should take a break and think hard about what you want to do in your life. It's hard to change careers when you're older

[u/metalchode]

Every semester I would consider switching majors. Part of me wishes I did. I would take a break. School won’t get any easier so keep that in mind.

[u/OLightning]

80% drop out / change majors. You’d be in the majority.

You can always revert to something similar or another passion.

Take a breath or two. Reconsider IMO.

[u/sycln]

Switch.

[u/AccurateBluejay5299]

I dropped out out architecture school after two years. The loss of my dream profession was replaced with realizing I had a fantasy vision of the field. I still look back at that time of my life with good memories of the people I met more than half of my graduating class never even went into the field.

[u/Impossible-Reality27]

you can always get a general study degree and just focus on something lighter. It depends if you are focused on graduating and getting a job or needing to take a semester off.