r/architecture

I honestly don’t even know if this is a rant or me asking for advice or just me losing it a little.

I’m in architecture school and lately I feel like I’m drowning. I used to genuinely love architecture, or at least what I thought architecture was. I liked design, buildings, space, ideas, all of it. But now I feel like I’m constantly overwhelmed and falling behind no matter what I do.

I ended up dropping some classes because the pressure got so bad and I just couldn’t keep up anymore. And ever since then I’ve just felt… embarrassed? guilty? disappointed in myself? all of the above probably.

The worst part is watching everyone else around me seemingly manage it. People pulling all-nighters, presenting good projects, improving, somehow surviving studio culture while I feel like I’m barely holding things together. I know social comparison is bad and everyone struggles in their own way, but it genuinely feels like everyone else knows what they’re doing and I’m the only one secretly panicking and falling apart.

I overthink EVERYTHING too. Every design move, every jury comment, every critique, every presentation. I’ll spend so much time inside my own head second-guessing myself that I end up feeling paralyzed. Then I see other people confidently explaining their concepts and I start thinking maybe I’m just not built for this.

And the thing is… I actually care. A lot. I WANT to be good at architecture. I care about design. I care about cities, buildings, spaces, ideas. That’s what makes this hurt more honestly. Because if I didn’t care, maybe it wouldn’t feel this crushing.

Lately it’s also started messing with me mentally in a way I didn’t expect. I feel stressed almost constantly, anxious even when I’m not working, mentally exhausted all the time. I’ve started having really bad thoughts about myself, doubting myself nonstop, feeling hopeless sometimes, feeling like I’m failing at something everyone else can somehow handle. It’s like architecture school followed me into my head and now I can’t switch it off.

Some days I genuinely sit there wondering if architecture just isn’t for me and if I only liked the romanticized version of it before actually living the reality of studio deadlines, juries, revisions, pressure, sleep deprivation, and constantly feeling like your work (and somehow your worth) is being judged.

I don’t know. Maybe I’m being dramatic. Maybe I’m burnt out. Maybe I’m not cut out for this. I genuinely can’t tell anymore.

Has anyone else gone through this in architecture school? Did you fall behind, drop classes, or start questioning everything? Did it get better or was that your sign to walk away?

I just want honest advice from people who’ve actually been through it because right now I feel really lost.

Take an airport for instance, it‘s a massive structure with lots of architectural elements which can‘t possibly be designed by one person. However, when looking up who came up with the design, in most cases only the name of the lead architect shows up, sometimes accompanied by their architectural firm. So my question is how much influence the lead architect has on the design and how much influence their unnamed coworkers have.

I majored in landscape architecture in college and am now a graduate student in architecture. However, I don't plan to earn the credits needed to become a certified architect. Many people around me suggest spending three more years to qualify, but I'm an only child. Wouldn't it be better to help ease my family's financial burden sooner? My family isn't wealthy.

Hi there! Aspiring Architect here, im currently in the works for getting my apprenticeship. Im 26 and i aspire and dream to be a Space Architect & Astronaut, and if im being honest i know i have a long long way to go, i have a little less knowledge about the field, but i know and certain its where i want to go. Is there any tips you can give me? Or any suggestions on how to get there?

Thank you so much

Hi all! I’m 27 and I’ve been working full time for 3 years now. So I designed a small house for a friend for a low price and he already started building it. This is my first solo project btw. During this process after the final design and licensing I found some mistakes that disturb me so much that I can not sleep. I feel sooo stupid and sad.. is it normal?

I just graduated college with my bachelor’s in science of architecture. My current location has no opportunity and I honestly do not want to live here anymore. (Ohio… haha!)

I am looking into Massachusetts, North Carolina and Colorado.

Being a broke post grad means I can’t live in luxury but I also do not want to live in a dump.

Preferably would like to live somewhere that has all 4 seasons. Opportunity for my career. I’m a city person but do not want to live right in the center.