either you can't reach a conclusion about what to consider out of B.tech and B.arch or maybe you are just looking for a word of advise, this blog is a starter kit to... what the title is.
so if you are thinking i am going to compare the two, B.tech and B.arch, like we do in our subjects in school then i have to dissapoint you by saying that the human race hasn't invented such a scale where you put career option (I) in RHS and career option (II) in the LHS and bang! there you go with the results with the press of a button. sorry we don't have that thing around but yes we still have those old fashioned theories about 'Doing what you love to', 'Follow your Dreams' and stuff but, you came here for some practical shit, right? Lets get on to that first
Q1. which career has more potential/ opportunities?
A1. after talking to about a dozen people (architects and engineers included) i reached the conclusion that both have similar potential. it's just that engineering is way more mainstream so a lot of people know about what goes on on the inside or what the opportunities are that you may get, whereas architecture being not as mainstream as the former has a limited bunch of people who have access to the inside activities.
now talking of the opportunities, see, if you are aiming at the core branches in engineering ( CS, Electrical etc) you will 95% end up doing a desk job and then, call it an opportunity or whatever, you just have to go with the flow. but, an architect will have to find his/her own opportunities, mostly in the beginning of their career, either entirely based on their talent and skills or with an aid from family, acquaintance etc. but once you start getting in clients you know its payback time. the fact that both have great potential and opportunities remains unchanged.
Q2. what will be my way to getting a job?
A2.in case of architecture, you need to first complete a bachelor's degree in Architecture (which is of five years) and experience a paid internship (of about two-three years). many students manange to do their internship during the last two years of college to compensate for the three long years of internship. after that you need to pass the 'Architect Registration Exam' to become a licensed architect.
whereas in case of engineering, one needs to complete a bachelor's degree in engineering ( which is of four years). now some engineers such as those specializing in Civil, Mechanical, Environmental and Industrial have to get their license whereas Computer/ Electrical engineers are least likely to do so. in order to gain license you need to pass the 'Fundamentals of Engineering' exam (FE), complete four years of training and then pass the 'Principles and Practice of Engineering' exam (PE).
*well obvioulsy you can go for masters after the bachelor's degree but since i have incomplete knowledge about that so i have decided not to post it. i will update this blog asap*
Q3.what kind of job will i be getting?
A3. an architect's typical jobs include designing and planning houses, building and other structures, acting as an intermediate b/w clients and contractors, marketing/advertising his own firm, directing other people working under him. it often includes travel, basically to the work sites.
engineers in computer science or electronics mostly end up doing desk jobs, whereas civil and mechanical engineers do have some field work. to be honest i find these jobs monotonous and boring.
Q4.what will i be getting paid?
A4.i believe that your annual income or your 'package' is something that totally depends on your capabilities. i've seen artists who are insanely talented but have a shitty income and also some shitty people whose monthly earnings are insane. you know what i mean, right. i feel that it's inappropriate to choose a career based on what other people are earning from it, you never know where you might land. and if you are keen to know it, please google it yourself because every website offers different salary statistics.
still confused?
THE REALIST ADVICE EVER:
so if you are thinking i am going to compare the two, B.tech and B.arch, like we do in our subjects in school then i have to dissapoint you by saying that the human race hasn't invented such a scale where you put career option (I) in RHS and career option (II) in the LHS and bang! there you go with the results with the press of a button. sorry we don't have that thing around but yes we still have those old fashioned theories about 'Doing what you love to', 'Follow your Dreams' and stuff but, you came here for some practical shit, right? Lets get on to that first
Q1. which career has more potential/ opportunities?
A1. after talking to about a dozen people (architects and engineers included) i reached the conclusion that both have similar potential. it's just that engineering is way more mainstream so a lot of people know about what goes on on the inside or what the opportunities are that you may get, whereas architecture being not as mainstream as the former has a limited bunch of people who have access to the inside activities.
now talking of the opportunities, see, if you are aiming at the core branches in engineering ( CS, Electrical etc) you will 95% end up doing a desk job and then, call it an opportunity or whatever, you just have to go with the flow. but, an architect will have to find his/her own opportunities, mostly in the beginning of their career, either entirely based on their talent and skills or with an aid from family, acquaintance etc. but once you start getting in clients you know its payback time. the fact that both have great potential and opportunities remains unchanged.
Q2. what will be my way to getting a job?
A2.in case of architecture, you need to first complete a bachelor's degree in Architecture (which is of five years) and experience a paid internship (of about two-three years). many students manange to do their internship during the last two years of college to compensate for the three long years of internship. after that you need to pass the 'Architect Registration Exam' to become a licensed architect.
whereas in case of engineering, one needs to complete a bachelor's degree in engineering ( which is of four years). now some engineers such as those specializing in Civil, Mechanical, Environmental and Industrial have to get their license whereas Computer/ Electrical engineers are least likely to do so. in order to gain license you need to pass the 'Fundamentals of Engineering' exam (FE), complete four years of training and then pass the 'Principles and Practice of Engineering' exam (PE).
*well obvioulsy you can go for masters after the bachelor's degree but since i have incomplete knowledge about that so i have decided not to post it. i will update this blog asap*
Q3.what kind of job will i be getting?
A3. an architect's typical jobs include designing and planning houses, building and other structures, acting as an intermediate b/w clients and contractors, marketing/advertising his own firm, directing other people working under him. it often includes travel, basically to the work sites.
engineers in computer science or electronics mostly end up doing desk jobs, whereas civil and mechanical engineers do have some field work. to be honest i find these jobs monotonous and boring.
Q4.what will i be getting paid?
A4.i believe that your annual income or your 'package' is something that totally depends on your capabilities. i've seen artists who are insanely talented but have a shitty income and also some shitty people whose monthly earnings are insane. you know what i mean, right. i feel that it's inappropriate to choose a career based on what other people are earning from it, you never know where you might land. and if you are keen to know it, please google it yourself because every website offers different salary statistics.
still confused?
THE REALIST ADVICE EVER:
1. dont opt for B.tech because some Sharma uncle's son is in one of the most prestigious college in the country (aka IIT) and just because your parents THINK how can their son/daughter be any less.
2. dont opt for B.tech because you HEARD some of your friend's sibling getting a great package/pay from a company right after 4 years of college and you see yourself there after 4 years
3.dont opt for b.tech because that's all you have and there is nobody to guide you anywhere else in life. or because all other careers have so much 'risk' involved unless you are the most boring person on on earth who wants his life to be as plain and simple as a b.tech because we all know the truth.
4. there's this hype about Architecture that you would not earn much from architecture unless you start your own firm and this kind of scared me away from it. but then i did my own little research and found out it wasnt very much like that. not at all necessary actually. rest i'll find out in a few years and update it here.
5. if you get easily bored in following the same principles over and over and/or have a creatively visual-istic mind and/or if you can appreciate, replicate or create art then architecture is more like your thing.
6. you know you have an engineering gene when your fave thing to do is problem solving and you have enjoyed your childhood tinkering with electrical /mechanical parts with your dad in the backyard or if you have always fancied such stuff.
so that was my 'starter kit' analysis (and if you want me to write about it in detail, let me know in the comments). i know how difficult it gets sometimes to reach a conclusion or to convince your parents that you actually want to do 'this' and not 'that'. and especially if you are an affluent kid there's a lot of pressure coming from the right school, from the right advantages and from successful parents. but it's never impossible, you know. i dropped a year to prepare for engineering entrance exams from a renounced tuition, after completing 12th thinking 'Why i'm doing what i'm doing?' . i thought a lot about it for the first half and then ditched B.tech for B.arch in the next half . now you can imagine the level of discussion i had with my parents about this switch and if you have reached a decision which is different from what it was earlier then you have to tell your parents about it and you have to believe that they will understand you, after all they are 'your' parents. and i tell you this because if i can do it, so can you.
keeping it short, my fiinal word would be, do what interests you more because you are going to be doing that for the rest of your life. and after all your journey is your story, make sure it's interesting.
*wink*
4. there's this hype about Architecture that you would not earn much from architecture unless you start your own firm and this kind of scared me away from it. but then i did my own little research and found out it wasnt very much like that. not at all necessary actually. rest i'll find out in a few years and update it here.
5. if you get easily bored in following the same principles over and over and/or have a creatively visual-istic mind and/or if you can appreciate, replicate or create art then architecture is more like your thing.
6. you know you have an engineering gene when your fave thing to do is problem solving and you have enjoyed your childhood tinkering with electrical /mechanical parts with your dad in the backyard or if you have always fancied such stuff.
so that was my 'starter kit' analysis (and if you want me to write about it in detail, let me know in the comments). i know how difficult it gets sometimes to reach a conclusion or to convince your parents that you actually want to do 'this' and not 'that'. and especially if you are an affluent kid there's a lot of pressure coming from the right school, from the right advantages and from successful parents. but it's never impossible, you know. i dropped a year to prepare for engineering entrance exams from a renounced tuition, after completing 12th thinking 'Why i'm doing what i'm doing?' . i thought a lot about it for the first half and then ditched B.tech for B.arch in the next half . now you can imagine the level of discussion i had with my parents about this switch and if you have reached a decision which is different from what it was earlier then you have to tell your parents about it and you have to believe that they will understand you, after all they are 'your' parents. and i tell you this because if i can do it, so can you.
keeping it short, my fiinal word would be, do what interests you more because you are going to be doing that for the rest of your life. and after all your journey is your story, make sure it's interesting.
*wink*
