Career Advice: Engineering or Architecture

[Dovi]

So I'm currently in 2nd year biomedical (basically electrical) engineering at varsity, and haven't had the greatest year. I've had a few good results, but I threw a bit of a fanny wobble at the end of first semester and left two exams blank, resulting in me completely outright failing those subjects (no chance at getting supplementary exams for them). Completely regrettable, but I was pretty unhappy at the time.

So now seeing as I have to repeat a year anyway, I'm debating about changing courses to architecture which I always wanted to do originally. Thing is I decided to do engineering based on advice from others about there being such a shortage of engineers and the ease with which they find jobs, good salaries, blah blah blah. Basically it just has good career stability, and it's a pretty versatile qualification to have, especially if you pair it with an MBA or something later. Architecture on the other hand is pretty linked to the economy, and there's not really a shortage of architects. Plus as far as I know, architects often don't have as good a fixed salary as electrical engineers.

I'm more interested in architecture, but content to finish my engineering degree if it's a wiser option. So at this stage it's really based on which is a better career move, not so much a question of which I'll enjoy more. Anyone got any suggestions on the two fields?

SIDE NOTE: How important is your academic transcript once you've graduated? I've been given the opportunity to have my two failed courses cleared but it would require me repeating this entire year, including the courses I had already passed. I like the idea of a fresh start, but I don't know whether having a fail-free transcript justifies having to pay an entire year's tuition again for classes I could otherwise already have credits for.

 

[noxibox]

My advice is to do something you enjoy doing because it's quite possible you'll be stuck doing it for the rest of your life.

 

[encrypted]

My advice is to do something you enjoy doing because it's quite possible you'll be stuck doing it for the rest of your life.

Best Advice. You can only really be good at something if you enjoy doing it.

 

[Cicero]

SIDE NOTE: How important is your academic transcript once you've graduated? I've been given the opportunity to have my two failed courses cleared but it would require me repeating this entire year, including the courses I had already passed. I like the idea of a fresh start, but I don't know whether having a fail-free transcript justifies having to pay an entire year's tuition again for classes I could otherwise already have credits for.

As far as academic transcript, from what I've seen, its not that important at all. Dont take the piss and do a degree in 10years though, be realistic. A repeated year is nothing, even a 6year plan is fine from what I've seen! I did my degree in 4years, but the dudes with 5-6 are equally as sought after, and post degree experience counts waaaay more.

I'm an engineer, but know quite a few architects. Honestly, like others have said, just do what you want to do. Architecture is damn hard work though, I've never seen okes put in so many hours as those guys.

 

[Picard]

Professor Higgins - My Fair Lady

If you can't appreciate what you have,
then get what you can appreciate.

I may not know much about this (actually I don't, for a fact) but it feels to me that you'd have to be a pretty good architect to make a good living, whereas you can be just a mediocre engineer to also make a good living.

 

[Kornhub]

I would rather go into engineering personally. Both are hard jobs though so choose wisely.

 

[Voicy]

If I could go back now I'd do architecture. It was my favourite subject at school - but I also went the elec. eng route. It's 10 years too late for me to make the change now.

If you don't have a passion for engineering, it'll be the worst thing you can pursue. Trust me on this. Having said that - the same goes for architecture.

 

[Cicero]

If I could go back now I'd do architecture. It was my favourite subject at school - but I also went the elec. eng route. It's 10 years too late for me to make the change now.

If you don't have a passion for engineering, it'll be the worst thing you can pursue. Trust me on this. Having said that - the same goes for architecture.

Architecture at school?

 

[FrankCastle]

You could always choose Industrial engineering which has some minor architectural principles built into it.
Its the easiest of the engineering courses,has the greatest scope and is the most sought after.

 

[Cicero]

You could always choose Industrial engineering which has some minor architectural principles built into it.
Its the easiest of the engineering courses,has the greatest scope and is the most sought after.

Bwahahaha, are you serious?! Are you an industrial engineer?

 

[hawker]

You could always choose Industrial engineering which has some minor architectural principles built into it.
Its the easiest of the engineering courses,has the greatest scope and is the most sought after.

Industrial Engineers aren't real engineers

They are Bcom students with maths - and even they call the other engineers to come do their maths for them /jk (I'm a Civil Engineering student)

@OP: Do what you will enjoy doing for the next 45-55 years.

No point in doing engineering if you love architecture. -> 2 years at the start of your career is nothing.

Rather do what you love.

 

[rodga]

good luck
you really need to make sure that architorture is what you want to do for the rest of your life

 

[Voicy]

Architecture at school?

Technical high school, ergo you do Technical Drawing from std 6 to Matric. Assembly drawings & section views, Lines in space, 3D drawings, 1 & 2 pt perspective drawings, etc. using drawing boards, french curves, etc.

Not the pretend technical drawing normal schools offer where you use a ruler and an HB pencil.

I suppose in a sense it was more mechanical drawings oriented (e.g. assembly drawings where you have to fit cogs/pivots/bolts/pulleys and then cut a section through it) than building architecture.

 

[proxilin]

It's a difficult choice. To clear things up, frankly it's BS that engineers find jobs easily because there is a shortage. There may be a shortage, but SA also doesn't have the money to pay for engineers, so you may find that jobs don't come as easily as people tell you. Especially jobs that you like, as a lot of the engineering jobs in SA are of a dull variety, not the "cool" side of engineering. I.e. you won't be designing robots as a mechanical engineer, you will probably work in a factory. I do however see that you are in Johannesburg, which is the best place for an engineer, so jobs should be easier to come by.

That being said, architecture is also a really tough course, as well as a tough career. As someone else posted, you will be fine being a mediocre engineer, but you have to be good to make a good living as an architect. It's not fun to design buildings that you love and clients hate. Engineers don't have that problem and is thus more straight forward in many aspects. It will also make working/moving overseas a lot easier.

But, do what you love, as long as you see that it is feasible. It's not a great feeling to realise you studied the wrong thing, because you will most likely get stuck with that career path forever.

Also do look into Industrial Engineering, it's a good choice for someone who wants to work in other industries as it can be applied in many contexts.

 

[Cicero]

Technical high school, ergo you do Technical Drawing from std 6 to Matric. Assembly drawings & section views, Lines in space, 3D drawings, 1 & 2 pt perspective drawings, etc. using drawing boards, french curves, etc.

Not the pretend technical drawing normal schools offer where you use a ruler and an HB pencil.

I suppose in a sense it was more mechanical drawings oriented (e.g. assembly drawings where you have to fit cogs/pivots/bolts/pulleys and then cut a section through it) than building architecture.

Ah fair enough.

 

[proxilin]

SIDE NOTE: How important is your academic transcript once you've graduated? I've been given the opportunity to have my two failed courses cleared but it would require me repeating this entire year, including the courses I had already passed. I like the idea of a fresh start, but I don't know whether having a fail-free transcript justifies having to pay an entire year's tuition again for classes I could otherwise already have credits for.

I strongly suspect your academic transcript does count for the first job you get. It's just an easy (lazy) way for the HR department to choose between candidates who are all basically the same. After you have experience though it won't even come up. But I won't recommended redoing classes just to get a clean transcript, that's just silly. Most engineers have some failed subjects somewhere.

Also, what if you repeat and then you fail other things? You can't keep repeating to make it look better. Someone is going to ask why it's taking you so long. Just suck it up and rather spend the time working harder to get a good acedemic record from now on, instead of wasting time repeating things.

 

[Palimino]

I'm more interested in architecture, but content to finish my engineering degree if it's a wiser option. So at this stage it's really based on which is a better career move, not so much a question of which I'll enjoy more. Anyone got any suggestions on the two fields?

I’m biased towards engineering, but (as others have said) follow your muse. If architecture is what sets you alight, rather go for it. I do need to plug engineering though. If you can, take some Mechanical Engineering modules, there is crossover to architecture (stresses, geodetic construction, etc.)

I don’t know much about architecture but I have never considered it particularly difficult. Mechanical Engineering + modicum of artistic flair +draughting office work (you do this sort of blueprint reading stuff in any Engineering course) + reading relevant books & subscription to relevant journals = architect. You just don’t have the paper is all.

Lose the perception that university is the ultimate. It’s not. Academics would like you to think so and society (and employers) accord a degree too much respect IMO. It’s like a driver’s learners license (jargon, basic tools & principles, etc.). You are deemed competent enough to practise more without making a total arsehole of yourself but you will need a few years of practise to become a driver. The point is that you can become a supremely competent architect (even better than a ‘degreed’ one) without the stamp of approval from a university. You just won’t have the bit of paper.

And besides, engineering has more bling associated with it than architecture. Bling is not a valid reason for choosing a career but, in this instance, engineering trumps architecture in terms of bling. Bling is important at your age.

 

[Voicy]

Your best bet is to get in contact with Arch/Eng firms and ask if you can shadow them a few days to get a feel for it.

But in order to decide which you'd prefer...ask yourself which you don't mind doing until 11pm on weekdays. You aren't going to make massive loads of money with either of these unless you're a partner in a firm one day, so keep that in mind.

If you don't mind selling your soul for money, go study to be a C.A. like every 2nd person (I'm not dissing C.A.'s, all of those I know earn more than I could ever hope to & I'd prolly do the same if I could choose again, but not one of my mates/family who are C.A.'s enjoy their work. Not one.)

 

[czc]

Technical high school, ergo you do Technical Drawing from std 6 to Matric. Assembly drawings & section views, Lines in space, 3D drawings, 1 & 2 pt perspective drawings, etc. using drawing boards, french curves, etc.

Not the pretend technical drawing normal schools offer where you use a ruler and an HB pencil.

I suppose in a sense it was more mechanical drawings oriented (e.g. assembly drawings where you have to fit cogs/pivots/bolts/pulleys and then cut a section through it) than building architecture.

It was the only homework I ever did.


Its just so sad that so many Engineers that studied for 7 years end up doing BS paperwork.

 

[Voicy]

It was the only homework I ever did.

Hehe, I remember staying up until 2-3am on a school night to get my drawings done. Absolutely loved it. Two of my class mates used to hand in my 'rough work' as their own and still score in the 70s.