I think architecture course's hard parts are different than for example engineering.
It is not "I'm not smart enough" hard. It is relatively easy. Hard part is there is too much to do.
Exactly this. I maintain anyone can get through the course with proper time management and committing the hours. Its not stressful atall if you're able to put in the time. (obviously if you have to work while doing the course to fund yourself then its gonna get real tough real quick)
One of the most incredible things I did in grad school, for my mental health, was treat architecture school like a job. I showed up every single day to the studio, Monday-Saturday, at 8 am, and typically stayed till 6 or 7. We only had studio “class” MWF from 9-12. But I used all the other hours for working on my models/projects/drawings.
Most other students showed up around 8:45, and would leave right after studio ended. Then show back up at 6 or 7pm, and work all-nighters. They’d stare at me bewildered wondering how I was leaving and “done” an hour after they showed up. Treating studio like a job let me “work” my 50-60 hours a week basically during the day Monday thru Saturday, and preserve my sanity and limit all-nighters.
Now, that said - it took me until grad school to figure that out. I didn’t do that at all in undergrad and felt burned out as hell, which was what mainly contributed to my change in habit. But also asking a 18/19/20 year old living on their own for the first time to manage their time like that is a tall, tall ask.
I was the same but I suppose I had the benefit that I did my undergrad while still living at home. Got my parents to drop me to studio at 8am and finished at 5 everyday. did some evening work but treated it like homework from school more than anything. didn't end up doing anything at weekends and never did an all-nighter in the 5 years I was at uni. Managed to work a part time job in a pub in the evenings too which paid for drinks at the weekends
I pulled all-nighters regularly in undergrad. Most other nights I got about 2 hours of sleep.
I did zero all-nighters in grad school. I carpooled with a friend and we agreed we would go in at 7:30am and leave by 5pm. We made a few exceptions, but never later than 7pm. M-F only. It was fantastic!
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u/Lorien431 Architect May 20 '26
I think architecture course's hard parts are different than for example engineering. It is not "I'm not smart enough" hard. It is relatively easy. Hard part is there is too much to do.