Career Advice

[Torsen]

Hello good people of TP. I would appreciate your opinions, advise, and knowledge.

I am at sixth form and doing my first year (year 12).

I have taken Maths, Physics, Art, and Psychology.

I was originally planning on taking Maths, Physics, and Art to A2, and drop Psychology after completing it at AS.

However I recently had a test for maths in which I got a mark of 13%, I then did a retake and got 8%. I did try and I've decided that basically maths is just not for me, it's too hard. I seem to have a mental block for it. So because of the test failure I have to drop it anyway.

So I went to see the head of sixth form. He told me that I cannot pick up History four weeks into the course to replace maths because they have already done too much work. He seems adamant I'm not doing History.

So basically I want to do Architecture at university. But is three A levels in Physics, Art, and Psychology going to be enough? I would have to take psychology to A2 even though I didn't want to.

Just want some advice and other options and stuff really.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post.

[lekizz]

I had to laugh at the tremendous 'improvement' in your second maths result, but obviously it can't have been funny at the time

Don't worry too much about not following maths through to A level. Just make sure you get good grades in your remaining subjects. Architecture courses are very diverse in their requirements but generally they are looking for intelligent, creative, hardworking students. Some universities will favour engineering/maths so maybe, as a piece of advice, you should avoid applying to those places!

Keep up the drawing and the creative pursuits. Keep observing and keep thinking!!

[RanjeetS]

Hi there. Just thought i would give my two pence. I have just finished my Ba(Hons) Architecture and graduated from the Uni of Manchester.

To be honest I dont really think it matters what A levels you have as long as at least one of them facilitates some kind of 'creative ability.' By that I mean art, graphics or design tech. I had only an AS in art, and A levels in Maths, Physics and Classical Civilisations. I got B's in everything (although they were a total of 20 odd marks from all being A's). However, Manchester, i think, offered me the place becasue of my 'portfolio'.

Basically a portfolio is a compilation of your creative works. I had recently been to India so i did some sketches whilst there. Also, I had other 'gunff' from the Art AS.

In my opinion, most Uni's dont care what you have at A level, as long as you show a design abilty. A common misconception about Architecture at degree level is that you need to be some kind of Maths and Physics whizzo...well thats what my careers advisors told me anyway. When i got to uni there were a couple like me but the majority had done art, design-tech, graphics, sociology, psychology, history, classics... but no subjects like the sciences and maths. I mean dont get me wrong a fair amount had done maths & sciences, but the majority had'nt. In the end those that found the course the hardest were those from a maths/science background (unless you were really creative out of college hours).

My advice is just get the grades. If you can get A's in any subject then go for it. Psychology isnt that bad. Maybe at the start of the A2's you could pick up history at AS. This might help. Also, keep a portfolio. I know it sounds sad but just draw random stuff, make models of things etc ... thats the main thing.

[Torsen]

Thank you both of you who posted.

Especially ranjeet, that post has been really reassuring and useful.

just out of intrest, how much maths is really involved in the course itself?

Thanks loads

[RanjeetS]

If you do a BSC (ucl amongst others does it) then expect a fair amount.

If you do a Ba...which is what most newbies tend to go for then not really much. In my three years, the max that i did was basic trig to work out some triangles. But then again it depends upon the complexity of your project. If you end up designing some amorphous blob shape theatre with no straight lines, and a 500 space car park as opposed to a red brick warehouse... then you may expect more...

Oh and also, try to secure yourself a two week placement (or similar) in the summer working at an architects firm. It will definately help (it shows the interviewer at uni that you genuinely are interested in life as an architect). Dont expect to be paid, hence why i said two weeks only...

Also a placement now, would pay dividends in the future. You could go back to them every summer (thereby increasing your experience..which is good for securing your year out (4th yr)), and maybe ask for a small wage...

[Torsen]

Thats a very good idea.

How would I go about contacting/getting involved with an architects office?

also what is "research level" on the league tables of uni? higher seems to be better, things like 5A and 4aE and stuff, I don't get it.

What uni's would you say I should look at? Apart from Manchester

and a final question mate, what are you doing now? are you going to do the final two years?

[RanjeetS]

Well just ring around some local offices(try the 'ribafind' engine...it will locate local architects). Find a medium sized practice and ask to do some kind of placement over summer. Say that you dont want to be paid (this is a bonus especially at the moment) and you just want to look at what architects do, what skills you need to learn, ask about life as an architect and that you can help with basic admin and chores.

Got no idea about research levels etc (we didnt have them in my day...god i sound old).

Well university wise youve got a massive choice. Bath, Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester, UCL, Liverpool are all top ones. I would say that any 'red brick' uni is good. If you want a 'studio culture' then liverpool would be a good one, but if you can manage minimal uni time and prefer to work at your pace, then somewhere like manchester is good.

Others to consider are the london poly's and DMU, but if you look in the tables in the guardian and times, then that seems to be enough.

Yeah regarding life now...

Well the economy is pretty mashed right now. Less practices are taking on year out students (and you have to do a minimum of 3 months work otherwise you cant go back to uni), and unfortunately i have been unable to secure one. Lots of people are in the same position, so im currently looking to do work experience abroad. I want to do the rest, but for the moment all eyes are on the placement.