UnUnOctium
Expert Member
Architecture if you love art, engineering if you love maths.
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Career Advice: Engineering or Architecture
- Thread starter Dovi
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czc
Honorary Master
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.
I did the same, lol.
It was the only homework I ever did.
And Applied Mechanics (hated it). I found homework was not really feasible with technical drawing unless you had a full-size draughting table at home. Drawings were mostly A1 size but often A0. We didn’t get homework.
Unfortunately true (delete bitter rant). Take a brilliant engineer at the top of profession and turn him into a mediocre administrator because that’s the only advancement path for him.
wrinklyo
Well-Known Member
My daughter is doing 1st year architecture, working her butt off but loving it. Sometimes they work right through the night doing about 40 hours straight to finish a project, then they go sleep for a day. Freaky stuff. And don't expect to have any free time, except erratically. But she says she feels like she was born to do architecture. You may even get credits for some of the modules you've done. But, you may battle to get in because usually students are selected - my daughter applied with 1150 others, and only 120 were accepted. (That's at Tukkies)
I agree with the other ouks who said "do what you love." There's a saying, "Make your job what you love, and you won't work a day in your life." I'm an electronics technician, and I would rather be a beach bum, but it doesn't pay so well. But architecture pays and you can easily set up your own business and work from home, which means you can live anywhere you like where there's houses!
http://www.infoguru.co.za
The Information Guru
I agree with the other ouks who said "do what you love." There's a saying, "Make your job what you love, and you won't work a day in your life." I'm an electronics technician, and I would rather be a beach bum, but it doesn't pay so well. But architecture pays and you can easily set up your own business and work from home, which means you can live anywhere you like where there's houses!
http://www.infoguru.co.za
The Information Guru
Hahaha, that's what I remember from my mates doing it. Working like dogs...all nighters building random models all the time.My daughter is doing 1st year architecture, working her butt off but loving it. Sometimes they work right through the night doing about 40 hours straight to finish a project, then they go sleep for a day. Freaky stuff. And don't expect to have any free time, except erratically. But she says she feels like she was born to do architecture. You may even get credits for some of the modules you've done. But, you may battle to get in because usually students are selected - my daughter applied with 1150 others, and only 120 were accepted. (That's at Tukkies)
I agree with the other ouks who said "do what you love." There's a saying, "Make your job what you love, and you won't work a day in your life." I'm an electronics technician, and I would rather be a beach bum, but it doesn't pay so well. But architecture pays and you can easily set up your own business and work from home, which means you can live anywhere you like where there's houses!
And I agree with you, I'd much rather just surf all day, but I've chosen the next best thing for me.
wrinklyo
Well-Known Member
ok, maybe a little misleading....but a very distant 2nd was electronic engineering. At least it allows me to buy boards?!What's the next best thing to surfing? Is there space for one more...?
Do engineering, it's challenging and fun... well mech eng. is
I have a theory that it is easier to break into any other engineering field (or many construction sciences [like architecture]) with Mech Eng because there is so much crossover, principles are relevant or it can be directly applied.
From an electronic engineer who's seen a mech eng'er go into software development - and be great at it - I can vouch for this.
Advice from a 3 year Bachelor of Architectural Studies Graduate:
If you want a good, steady, well paying job when you come out of University then become an Engineer. Or you can be like me and come out of University and design cellphone masts.
There is a joke that goes around: What do you call a recently graduated architecture student? "Waiter!..."
There is f****all jobs for graduate archi guys right now. just letting you know.
Regards
GT
If you want a good, steady, well paying job when you come out of University then become an Engineer. Or you can be like me and come out of University and design cellphone masts.
There is a joke that goes around: What do you call a recently graduated architecture student? "Waiter!..."
There is f****all jobs for graduate archi guys right now. just letting you know.
Regards
GT
UnUnOctium
Expert Member
IMO, and correct me if I'm wrong, it's because architecture is more of an arts job than anything?
scotty777
...doesn't know
Hmmm, David.
I suggest you finish this year as best you can. If you don't do well, so what, doesn't matter.
During the holidays, spend some serious 'you time'. Try find out what the hell you actually want from life dude.
During our last holiday (the July one), I went in for vac work, and truly hated it. I also did pretty crap in electronics (Grrr, that women <insert snake eyes>)... Anyway, I had my fanny wobble at the beginning of term... And just as it turns out, this semester turned out to be even more of a crotch-punching spree! However, there is one difference, I'm loving micros!
While I'm not getting amazing marks, I'm still enjoying the course now, far more than electronics... And that's pulled me back into sticking with this degree (electrical, but we in the same class).
I went straight from vac work into uni, so my 'me time' was during class (consider my first two/three weeks a write off), but I found my passion again. Simply put, David, you just gotta figure out what it is you want from life, where you want to go, what does happiness mean to you? Once you understand yourself, you can understand where you need to go .
I suggest you finish this year as best you can. If you don't do well, so what, doesn't matter.
During the holidays, spend some serious 'you time'. Try find out what the hell you actually want from life dude.
During our last holiday (the July one), I went in for vac work, and truly hated it. I also did pretty crap in electronics (Grrr, that women <insert snake eyes>)... Anyway, I had my fanny wobble at the beginning of term... And just as it turns out, this semester turned out to be even more of a crotch-punching spree! However, there is one difference, I'm loving micros!
While I'm not getting amazing marks, I'm still enjoying the course now, far more than electronics... And that's pulled me back into sticking with this degree (electrical, but we in the same class).
I went straight from vac work into uni, so my 'me time' was during class (consider my first two/three weeks a write off
), but I found my passion again. Simply put, David, you just gotta figure out what it is you want from life, where you want to go, what does happiness mean to you? Once you understand yourself, you can understand where you need to go .UnUnOctium
Expert Member
Hmmm, David.
I suggest you finish this year as best you can. If you don't do well, so what, doesn't matter.
During the holidays, spend some serious 'you time'. Try find out what the hell you actually want from life dude.
During our last holiday (the July one), I went in for vac work, and truly hated it. I also did pretty crap in electronics (Grrr, that women <insert snake eyes>)... Anyway, I had my fanny wobble at the beginning of term... And just as it turns out, this semester turned out to be even more of a crotch-punching spree! However, there is one difference, I'm loving micros!
While I'm not getting amazing marks, I'm still enjoying the course now, far more than electronics... And that's pulled me back into sticking with this degree (electrical, but we in the same class).
I went straight from vac work into uni, so my 'me time' was during class (consider my first two/three weeks a write off
When you get to digital communications, let me know. Your final (I hope 4th) year is what will define you. P.S. Everyone loves microprocessors
When you get to digital communications, let me know. Your final (I hope 4th) year is what will define you. P.S. Everyone loves microprocessors
A word of caution. It’s an analogue world so the ‘front end’ interface from anything digital (and it’s great – I am not belittling) is going to be analogue. BECAUSE everyone loves microprocessors and digital electronics they tend to be top-heavy with digital types and analogue is considered old fashioned and ignored. There are few 1st rate analogue engineers. It would fit-in well with Mech Eng. Factor this into your equation when you make your decisions.
Uhh... no, dude. There was no architectural anything in Industrial Engineering.
Easiest? Uh, no, gonna disagree with you there. No engineering degree is easier than any other, they're all just different.
GreatestsScope? Yeah, that's quite true.
Most sought after? I wouldn't say that. However, as an Industrial Engineer, because of point 2, you can branch out into many different jobs which are not necessarily Engineering jobs but pull on those skills, so it seems like there's a larger market but it isn't explicitly Industrial Engineering jobs.
If you go this route, there are other disciplines you should have some clue in. One of these is Industrial Psychology and ergonomics. You will be involved with instruments and controls largely. How do humans process information? Under stress? Time constraints? How idiot-proof can you make a complex operation? Tactile and colour cues? Etc.
Check out GUI interfaces. Windows is quite a respectable desktop metaphor. Examine it critically.
UnUnOctium
Expert Member
scotty777
...doesn't know
When you get to digital communications, let me know. Your final (I hope 4th) year is what will define you. P.S. Everyone loves microprocessors
Ahh, Alright
. Well, either way, I've drifted through the degree so far not knowing what the hell I'm gonna do and what not . I'm so, by no means, the best in the class, and often I'm seeing myself get humbled quite a lot . ha ha. We shall see where this degree takes me. I'm probably not very talented, so off to the banks to work until I commit suicide . ha ha haUnUnOctium
Expert Member
Ahh, Alright
Well, I went into my degree with a passion for programming, end of first year/second year that changed to electronics & electronic design, end of second year/third year that changed to signals and signal processing and that's what I'm doing now for a PhD. How's that for learning