Hello and I welcome you to my second blog post on my new website. My first post was linked to a much needed discussion on Equality in Architecture. You can read it here: Architecture: Open to ALL. Moving on- I felt this post I wrote for NCARB was ideal to refresh with some new information for new test takers. I am an architect and also a husband and father. This post touches on important factors of my life and advice to encourage others. Please enjoy. Whether you’re called an architectural intern, architect in training, designer, or just intern, tackling the ARE requires sacrifice. Even more so when you have a family of your own. According to National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, pass rates for 2014 were between 62% and 77%. Here are a few tips to help you master the ARE while still maintaining your sanity—and allowing time to enjoy the nuances of marriage and parenthood.
Make It Count NCARB's five-year Rolling Clock can approach very quickly. When you have a family, it may not be feasible to test every month or even two months. So make your study time count. Only schedule and attempt exams when you feel fully prepared. The new 60-day retake policy is far better than the previous six-month rule, but can still be detrimental to your plan if procrastination sets in. Set a schedule and try to stick to it. But don't kill yourself if you have to reschedule an exam. Don't Let Work Get You Down Generally speaking, architectural staff members work long hours, leaving little time for family before the nightly bedtime routines commence. Sometimes reviewing enough material to keep the topics and concepts fresh in your mind will suffice. Going long periods of time without studying can sometimes mean starting over. Remember, a little at a time can add up. Be a Weekend Warrior Weekends are usually spent out as a family, and you probably won’t get to sleep in. This means the weekends can end up being just as busy as the work week. Setting aside large blocks of time to study can be difficult. Similar to weekdays, dedicate an evening or morning to studying. A quiet hour or two can make a difference. Embrace “Free Time” Free time and children, young children especially, seem to be an oxymoron. When that precious time does pop up, use it wisely. Though you'd rather catch up on sleep, watch television, or take on a hobby, you may be better off reviewing study materials. As written by Amy Spencer at RealSimple.com, you have to outsmart procrastination. You will never get done if you do! Remember, these scarifies won’t last forever—the length of time it takes you to complete the exams is ultimately up to you. By Jared W. Smith, AIA, NOMA
The below is part an overall series to discuss bias and privilege within the profession of Architecture. To get a better context in which I wrote this, please see the Kick-Off page here on the Equity by Design: EQxD Get Real Series. You can also see this post on EQxD here: Architecture: Open to ALL by Jared W. Smith I was on a trip to China, studying abroad with my college classmates. Being a 6'-4" African American in China, I expected to stand out. One day while in Shanghai, I ventured out on my own close to the university dorms. There was an indoor market with vendors selling various small items. I walked the floor glancing at the goods. At one vendor's station, I found something of interest. They seemed very hesitant as I approached. Having been in the country for a couple weeks I was aware that I'd attract some attention but this was like no other. As I continued to peruse, I could feel their discomfort growing. It escalated to a point where they did not want me to remain at their table to purchase anything. I was shocked to be "shooed" away. A bit of calm rather than anger came over me. It was best that I hadn't made a scene in a foreign country. Later on it hit me what had occurred. Yes, I stand out. |
BLOGJared W. SmithMy life as an architect, photographer and family man trying to stay positive in a negative world. Archives
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1. Life of an Architect 2. ArchiMom 3. Young Architect 4. Shoegnome 5. Little Miss Architect 6. EntreArchitect 7. Coffee with an Architect 8. Architecture Career Guide 9. Equity by Design 10. Defragging Architecture 11. Emily Grandstaff-Rice 12. L2 Design Click the image below to see the archive from my old blog.
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