Architecture

spraticus

Im hoping to get into this course in august and was wondering what first year for it is like?

rira

hell ... but it's easier once you forget what your friends and family look like

I kid ... kinda

you will work longer hours than anyone you know but it will be pretty fun work, things like making chairs from cardboard, light studies, small scale designs, colouring in

Aside from studio things have changed a bit from my day, but afaik there's still a pretty wide range of subjects that are marked on a combination of exams and continuous assessment (nothing too worrying though)

You will also learn a huge amount quickly .... I can remember cringing at about Christmas time thinking back to how little i knew in September (and i think that is generally true)

just work hard and play harder and the year will fly by

Countryripple

Having just finished..............i can tell you I am dead inside...............:(

experiMental

You may have to read the following thread to get a better undersatnding of the course:
http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055444388

rira

Countryripple wrote: »

Having just finished..............i can tell you I am dead inside...............:(

wait til you get to 5th year!

who what when

rira wrote: »

wait til you get to 5th year!

Ya its mad the way you get to the end of first year and you think no course in the world could possibly be as tough and then by the time you get to the end of second year you look back and think first year was a piece of cake in comparrison! And this continues until graduation.

The worst part is the breakdown you have at the end, its worse for some than others but everyone i know who has done architecture has had some kind of negative reaction straight after finishing the course.

For me it was an overwhelming feeling of emptiness which took quiet a while to fill. Also a very unhealthy contempt i have for 1 of my lectures which i still harbor every bit as strongly as i did 6 years ago when i saw him last.

I would advise you to choose something else. Architecture is a course which has a very negative effect on people, for me it killed my spirit.

Countryripple

I agree with the above poster. having just finished the course i can clearly state that I will not let my own children go through that!!! No way no how!!!

experiMental

maybe the powers that be are trying to put people off architecture?

If you're experiencing conditions like that, you should complain or discuss the issue with DITSU. College should not contain a negative atmosphere like that, it's just going to lead to unnecessary conflict.

-Blanco-

Basically put some people enjoy it more then others, as with everything.
You have to enjoy what you're doing, especially if you're partaking in 5 years of college for something which you plan to spend the rest of your life at, if I was that unhappy after one year I doubt I could manage sticking it through. Honestly I do find myself quite frustrated at times with the course, but when a project comes together well in the end it makes all the effort worth it.

Anyway back on topic.
The workload for architecture is large and this can be quite a shock when you, hopefully, arrive in first year. People cope differently with this, some people do all nighters, while some people (unfortunately not me!) claim never to have stayed up past 3am when working towards a deadline, while still performing quite well. As was stated above, you will look back and be shocked at what you never realized or thought about before. There's so much to learn and you do receive some freedom to pursue what areas interest you. I find the course very enjoyable and can't really imagine myself doing anything else at this stage.

So in a nutshell, first year will be a bit of a shock in terms of workload etc, but if you find yourself suited to architecture then you will have nothing to worry about.

spraticus

Thanks for all the replies they have been helpful. Actually another question to you all, whats the average result obtained in the interview and do many get 100 out of 100?

rira

I have no idea what most of my classmates got in the interview .... i think usually similar or higher to the suitability test i think

certainly not impossible to get 100, I know of at least 2/3 in my year who got 95-100

Just one other thing, i think the time of year has probably coloured a lot of the response above ... people are really tired, unemployed, upset at some of their results.

i think anyway.

I've had a great time in college, i've worked my ass off and lost A LOT of sleep, but at the end of the day i've also made amazing friends and been challenged academically - both of which were things i wanted most from my college course

focussing just on 1st year though ... it's a step up, but completely achievable and you will have a laugh. My only piece of advice is to really get involved with your class, and get others to do the same, it will pay off in the end.

Coco_16

not a lotta good comments here bout d course :S ..which is my first choice! (thnx rira tho!)
i'm worried enuf about results and now not so sure bout acceptn it ,,even if i do miraculously get architecture! ok..qstn wots the usual mood + thoughts on typical morns for arch studnt?? as in wot ya thinkn evry morn while walkn in2 college. .

Countryripple

Ha ha...........when you get to 5th year, there is no morning walk into college. You havnt been home in about 3 days so there is no walking in and out to the place!!!

Best of luck!!!

First year workload is nothing to anyone who has done well enough in their leaving to get into the course. You should accept it if you get it. To be honest, I dont think you have a real grasp whether it is for you or not until you have gotten up to third year done. But you will certainly enjoy first year, and if you dont, then you probably wouldn't like the others and can re-apply to cao the following year for something else or transfer to another course within DIT.

Coco_16

oh okay ,,that makes me feel way better bout things thnks the course has startd 2 sound worse than d LC bt if its nt dats gud! :P So i gt 500 points so will see what mon brings anyway <how did others here fare out wit results?>..found accomdation in drumcondra too so really gettin sorted with things!ha i'm wondering wher you guys are/wer based? is location good nd that sorta thing?

-Blanco-

Provided you didn't do terribly in the interview I'd say you should get offered the place with points like that. Drumcondra is within walking distance of Bolton st and would be good. In my expierience the closer to college the better, means you can sleep in to the last possible moment after being up late working.

Countryripple

I did only mean first year...........;)

Good luck. Come back or pm if you need any other advise.

spraticus

Was anyone else surprised to see this course jump 60 points in the first round of offers?

hellother

yeah i definitely was!! considering every other architect course dropped in points!! i guess more ppl are applying to dit these days! i think its a nice thing that it didnt drop, shows theres still interest, regardless of the current situation, at least in dit anyway, which is grand cus thats where ill be going!

Coco_16

same! there was so much talk about how all construction/architecture courses were goin 2 drop nd then there's a surge in points ..it puts Dit in a gud light anyway

wz surprised moreso bcos last yr,the points went down..didnt them to rise that much!