0002 Your First Day of Architecture School
The Brief
Welcome back Ladies and Gentlemen to the Architecture Student Diaries where it is my mission to help you kill it in Architecture school whilst making you, the best you in the process. In the following post I will be introducing you to architecture school and explaining what you should expect to confront in your first fear inducing day of university. If you listen to my tips below, almost all of your fears should go away to the same parallel dimension that our mechanical pencil disappears to whenever we most need it. Of course, you will still have some butterflies in your stomach, but do not worry! So does everyone else around you, its their first day too, remember?
Today I am going to discuss five different topics to help you on your first day, these include:
Introduction to Architecture School
What to expect
What to bring
What to do
What not to do
Now, let’s get into it. Class is now in session.
Introduction to Architecture School
So, you have chosen to go to architecture school and try your hand in learning the skills of the greats before us. You’re ready to become the next Zara Hadid or Frank Gehry and create something truly revolutionary! Well, unfortunately there is a long road ahead of you before you can attempt to reach those goals, but trust me, some of the checkpoints along the way that you will pass, will be some of the best of your life. Your first day of architecture school is the beginning of this life long journey, and there is no need to fear it like you think.
Studying architecture at university or college, depending on where you are in the world, is renowned as being one of the most intensive courses you can enroll in. You will find some current architects who really disliked architecture school and believe a lot of the content and deadlines were unnecessary, but for most, it is a time they look back on with the fondest of memories. Architecture school is filled with what feels like endless studio sessions and late-night designing, coupled with bottomless coffee cups, great tunes and terrific friends. You will learn more than you thought possible in short periods of time and be pumping out work faster than non-architecture students can believe. This all starts from day 1, week 1, year 1.
What to Expect
From your first day at architecture school you will be thrown in what feels like the deep end, but if you are consistent with your work, it is not as bad as you think. In the beginning though, it is a lifestyle adjustment as studying architecture takes far more time than most courses your friends might be taking. This may become frustrating to your friends as you begin to be able to hang out less because you’re busy with assessments. Just be honest with your friends and they will understand, plus, you are going to make a plethora (architects use big words) of new friends in your studios!
O-Week/Day
Generally, your university will provide an Orientation Day or Week, often referred to as ‘O-Week’. This time is prior to actual classes starting, but typically for first years there will be some sort of compulsory times where you come in and are introduced to the institution. You will most likely be given university branded merchandise like pens and notepads and drink bottles as well as campus maps and other things to help you settle in. Staff members may give speeches about services the university offers and explain how everything works around campus.
Current students may come in and talk from a student’s point of view and give you some intel on what it is actually like to be a student at the university. Take advantage of this Orientation time as it is the last chance you will have before study mode sets in. Talk to people and interact, introduce yourself to staff members and other students. You never know, you might meet your new best friend or a teacher that can help you get a job later in your course. A good idea is to go for a walk around campus by yourself or with a friend that you might have made to familiarise yourself with everything at your own pace, as some tours that the university may provide might miss some things you would like to know.
First day of classes
My number one tip for your first day of classes actually takes place before your classes start. Make sure that you have gone for a walk around campus and found where each of your classes are as universities are big places, and the last thing that you want on your first day is to get lost and be ‘that guy’ that walks into your lecture 15 minutes late, with 135 sets of eyes all staring at you. You don’t want to be that guy. Trust me.
Try to arrive roughly 10 minutes before each of your classes as it will give you time to check that you are in fact in the right room, settle in, set up your resources and start talking to people and making friends! On my very first day of university, before my very first studio, I arrived early and sat down at the table where another guy was sitting, he looked kind of intimidating, but I had seen his face before, so I thought I may as well sit. I was nervous, but we started talking and guess what, to this day he is my best friend and we have traveled internationally together. I later found out that he was just as scared that day as I was! Never underestimate going outside of your comfort zone and starting a conversation, it may lead to a new best friend.
Okay, so you’re in class now and your teacher is saying all these new words like ‘elevation’ and ‘section’ and ‘pencil’. They might say something like ‘where is North?’, this is the most dreaded question to every architecture student by the way… Don’t be afraid to ask questions, you are definitely not expected to know or understand everything straight away. It is the staff’s job to teach and help you, so they will be happy to assist, and the chances are that if you have a question, you are probably not the only person in the room wondering the same thing.
What to bring
On your first day of architecture school if you forget something it probably isn’t the end of the world as staff generally know that there will be somebody, typically named Eric, who will forget. Generally, the staff will have some backup materials in the case of you being an Eric, but do try not to be, as there will only be a limited amount of backup materials and it is always nice to be able to use your own supplies that you trust.
In most instances your university will have provided you with a list of what to bring in for your first few classes prior to you starting, this may be provided during orientation or may be posted to your universities online database. Typically this list will be of very basic stationary items such as pens, pencils and a notebook, however, the faculty may be planning some more hands on activities for your first class so you may need model materials such as cardboard and glue. My friends and I ended up in our first studio session making AT-AT’s from Star Wars out of cereal boxes… not exactly what our brief told us to do but at least we were being creative.
Below is a general list of what you should bring to your first architecture school classes that will suit almost all courses globally. This list is purely for objects to use in class. I have an upcoming blog post which will cover ‘University Student Essential Everyday Carry’ discussing essentials such as backpacks.
First Day Checklist:
Laptop
It goes without saying that to study architecture it is nearly impossible if you do not have a laptop. Some countries architecture programs are far more process by hand, as opposed to computerised, however, Australia, America and the UK are highly computer based and a laptop is a must have piece of equipment. Architecture software typically is quite intensive and requires a powerful machine, however, it is highly unlikely that on your first day you will need a laptop like this, so the computer you used for High School should do the trick. Ask your teachers and other students for advice on buying a new computer if you don’t have much knowledge in the area. I will however, have a future post specifically about choosing the right computer for you, so stay tuned.
Blank Paper
You are studying architecture, you will be drawing. The first rule that my first architecture teacher gave to me was never, ever, ever, ever… draw on ruled paper. Always have a sketch book with blank paper for drawing.
Ruled Paper
Ruled paper is for taking notes, I personally take notes by hand on ruled paper, however, many people take their notes on laptops. If you like taking notes by hand, bring ruled paper, if you’re a digital note taker, you probably won’t need this. But don’t be the girl taking notes on her phone, you just look disengaged and your lecturer will think you are on Instagram. By the way, you should follow @architecturestudentdiaries on Instagram for some great content! Good Segway huh?
Basic Stationary
Ensure you bring your basic stationary, this includes the likes of grey lead pencils for drawing, pens for writing, a ruler, an eraser and a sharpener. If you wish to bring markers or coloured pencils or other things, that is up to you, but make sure you bring the essentials. It is wise to bring a cutting utensil of some sort; the architect’s preference is a Utility Knife or a Hobby Knife set as opposed to scissors. The preference over scissors is to allow for precision cutting where scissors do not.
What the university has asked you to bring
If your university has specifically asked you to bring something to your classes, it is wise to do so. You don’t want to get your tutor mad on the first day…
What to do
Go to orientation
Tour the campus
Know where your classes are
Have what you need for class
Interact with people and introduce yourself
Be friendly
Use your nerves as lighter fuel to push out of your comfort zone
Ask questions
Enjoy yourself
What not to do
Let your nerves get the best of your
Ditch Orientation and play hooky
Be the guy that shows up late to lectures
Be Eric (forget to bring what you need for class)
Be the girl taking notes on her phone
Think that you are not good enough
Final Notes
Now that you have read my tips above, you are ready to tackle your first day of architecture school. It will be intimidating, but if you follow my words of wisdom, so much of the intimidation goes away! Remember, it is everyone else’s first day too, and they are feeling the same butterflies in their stomach that you are, so be kind and introduce yourself to that cute guy or girl looking perplexed by the campus map. I wish you the best of luck for your first day of architecture school, enjoy yourself!
Ladies and Gentlemen, class Dismissed.
Iain Colliver, SONA, YBA, GKIHS
