future plans for life

[Connor Phipps]

what do y'all think about going to school for architecture? to then start design-build company that funds into my real estate company? be the boss and the designer. but don't go out and work for someone else like everyone my age does. im 18.

[Jared W Smith]

Quote from @Connor Phipps:

what do y'all think about going to school for architecture? to then start design-build company that funds into my real estate company? be the boss and the designer. but don't go out and work for someone else like everyone my age does. im 18.

Hello Connor, 

As the only licensed architect to post (thus far), my advice if you want to go to architecture school- Go to a City/State school for inexpensive tuition, take all your design courses but also take electives (or minor in real estate develop and/or business finance). BS Arch (4 yrs) or BArch (5 yrs) degree. Then exit and go work for a developer or design-build firm to get your experience and locale knowledge up in the real world. Then branch out on your own. If you want to become licensed, then you'll have to include working in some architecture offices to gain your necessary experiences, take your exams and get license. Will add some time going this route but I can say you will have all the skills necessary to do your own stuff. 

I personally struggled with the whole finance and development side since I didn't learn anything into these areas until many years after graduating college. Wish I had gotten more education (school and real world) in my 20s. 

-Jared W. Smith, RA - Principal Architect at Architect Owl PLLC (Licensed in NY & CT)