Mine is taking a civil engineering class in the Wheaton engineering magnet program right now.

Anonymous wrote:MCPS students get a login for Naviance which can search colleges by major. This will help your child narrow down colleges that have Architecture as a major.

If you go to the university websites after you narrow down the ones with architecture as a major, you can find out what the requirements are to apply including portfolio requirements. Besides art electives in high school, summer art programs can help with developing art skills and portfolio pieces.

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked into the Engineering Pathway? It's a broad engineering program but does have an architecture course.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/career-readiness/plans/engineering.aspx#:~:text=The%20PLTW%20engineering%20program%20allows,getting%20the%20%22right%22%20answer.

That program might be a good intro course for a college architecture program that is in an Engineering program. However, the Engineering Pathway aren’t design programs so any college with a design focus Architecture program or students that are interested in interior design will need art electives in high school. Another thing about Architecture schools, a student rarely can place out of Architecture courses. They want students to take their core courses. High school special programs with an Engineering focus might limit opportunities to pursue Architecture programs after high school if there’s not an opportunity to take art courses in addition to advance core subjects such as math and physics.

Have you looked into the Engineering Pathway? It's a broad engineering program but does have an architecture course.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/career-readiness/plans/engineering.aspx#:~:text=The%20PLTW%20engineering%20program%20allows,getting%20the%20%22right%22%20answer.

MCPS students get a login for Naviance which can search colleges by major. This will help your child narrow down colleges that have Architecture as a major.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your child interested in Architecture more than Engineering?

I have a child who applied to 7 universities for Architecture programs. Art was his most important class in high school because all 7 programs required art portfolios. Schools had different criteria for the portfolios but the common thread was creativity.

Other high school courses that helped him in college were math and physics. Calculus can be taken in college but Calculus BC by high school Senior year helps.

Yes she is more interested in Architecture and interior design and enjoys visual art and digital art. Did your child attend a special program in high school? It sounds like science and math are key subjects. Do you mind sharing some of the colleges with programs? Would we look for a program in Architecture only as opposed to Architectural Engineering.

My son did not attend a special program in MCPS. He always was interested in STEM but he didn’t want the challenge of transportation to get to school. Before graduating he took BC Calculus, AP Physics, and AP Physics Mechanics which were strong foundations some of his college peers didn’t have. He did, however, participate in a summer Architecture course for high school students at the University of Maryland that helped him to see if he enjoyed that type of major. Students were taught drafting skills and model making then students were given a set of directions, drew the plans, built the model in a studio with peer and instructor feedback along the process. The culmination of the course was a formal review - the student stands in front of an audience, presents their design, answer questions, and listen to critique. In college, the project reviews are a student’s grade so it’s important to enjoy that type of process and public feedback.

I would recommend for your daughter to explore college websites and make in person visits early on (9th/10th) grade to get an idea of the type of Architecture program she is interested in. Unlike other majors, Architecture programs have different philosophies and structure. Some are more design based (ie. art schools with Architecture as a major). The design type programs stress concepts over whether a building can be built. Other colleges stress engineering and practicality - can it be built within a reasonable budget. Some Architectural programs are a blend of design and engineering.

Colleges also vary greatly on the requirements for the application portfolio. Some want 10 example of your art. Some want 20. Some don’t require a portfolio. Some want drawings and paintings while others will also accept original music pieces, sculpture, clothing creations, photography - basically anything that shows your creativity. When applying to multiple colleges, a student must follow the directions and taylor the portfolio for each program. On campus Architecture tours give a student guidance on how the portfolio will be judged and the feeling as to whether or not this a program that is a good fit.

Because of the portfolio requirements on top of the typical application requirements, it is difficult to apply to more than 5 Architectural programs. My son did 7 but was burnt out on the last 2. Doing online tours and onsite visits early helps to ensure that the student is focusing on applying to schools that are the best fit for them.

My son is at the University of Virginia. Great school to do an initial day trip to for an in person visit on a school day off. They have a separate Architecture School tour that I would recommend prioritizing over the general campus tour. You might be able to do both on the same day if available. You register online. UVA mixes design with structure, so it’s a hybrid program. They learn computer programs for drawing early on so they only primarily draft by hand for freshman year.

My son also visited Virginia Tech. At the time we toured, they didn’t believe in teaching the software for drawing plans. They stressed hand drafting skills. My son chose to not apply to Virginia Tech primarily for that reason. I, however, thought that the collaboration amongst students created a very supportive learning environment. Students seemed happy and unstressed. So it’s a school with a unique teaching philosophy that may or may not be a good fit. It’s hard for a student to know without visiting.

My son highly considered the University of North Carolina. It’s on his short list for graduate school. They are a design focused school but still within practicality - still a hybrid program. We actually toured UNC first when he was interested in their Physics program. The general tour moderator touched on their architecture program and that’s initially what started my son down that path as a major. The Architect major is in the School of Design so it’s easy to move within design majors and Architecture. UNC also has a unique Textile Design major. Doing the UNC tour early in my son’s high school career helped him to choose art classes for his high school electives. One art teacher helped my son prioritize art pieces to submit.

University of Maryland is a great school, but their program is heavily engineering based. A good close school to tour as a comparison with hybrid and design programs. From what I remember, it was the only school my son applied to that didn’t require a portfolio.

Syracuse was very particular for their portfolio - pictures with background detail. Their architecture tour was very informative and my son was able to see examples of portfolios other students submitted.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your child interested in Architecture more than Engineering?

I have a child who applied to 7 universities for Architecture programs. Art was his most important class in high school because all 7 programs required art portfolios. Schools had different criteria for the portfolios but the common thread was creativity.

Other high school courses that helped him in college were math and physics. Calculus can be taken in college but Calculus BC by high school Senior year helps.

Yes she is more interested in Architecture and interior design and enjoys visual art and digital art. Did your child attend a special program in high school? It sounds like science and math are key subjects. Do you mind sharing some of the colleges with programs? Would we look for a program in Architecture only as opposed to Architectural Engineering.

DP here but I would look into architectural engineering for more career options and opportunities.

Anonymous wrote:Is your child interested in Architecture more than Engineering?

I have a child who applied to 7 universities for Architecture programs. Art was his most important class in high school because all 7 programs required art portfolios. Schools had different criteria for the portfolios but the common thread was creativity.

Other high school courses that helped him in college were math and physics. Calculus can be taken in college but Calculus BC by high school Senior year helps.

Yes she is more interested in Architecture and interior design and enjoys visual art and digital art. Did your child attend a special program in high school? It sounds like science and math are key subjects. Do you mind sharing some of the colleges with programs? Would we look for a program in Architecture only as opposed to Architectural Engineering.

Is your child interested in Architecture more than Engineering?

I have a child who applied to 7 universities for Architecture programs. Art was his most important class in high school because all 7 programs required art portfolios. Schools had different criteria for the portfolios but the common thread was creativity.

Other high school courses that helped him in college were math and physics. Calculus can be taken in college but Calculus BC by high school Senior year helps.

Anonymous wrote:Yes. There is a Wheaton/Edison program in Construction Management and Architectural Engineering

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/wheatonhs/wheaton-edison-partnership/we-programs/

There's a similar program for upcounty students at Seneca Valley.

Yes. There is a Wheaton/Edison program in Construction Management and Architectural Engineering

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/wheatonhs/wheaton-edison-partnership/we-programs/

Nope

Are there any MCPS Program that are ideal for a student interested in architectural engineering?