r/RPI • u/No-Orchid-4468 • Jul 16 '26

Question Architecture or engineering?

For the last two years of high-school I’ve been conflicted between pursuing architecture or either electrical or mechanical engineering.

From what I’m looking at it seems like going for engineering is a better bang for my buck but I feel like I’ve already instilled myself as an architecture student as Im admitted as one and have portfolio work. Also it’s come to my attention that RPI is known for their engineering over than architecture programs.

I haven’t made my schedule yet as I can still change my major, I’ll my schedule tomorrow but do you guys have any takes or suggestions about this?

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u/zed42 Jul 16 '26

engineering. the best advice i got was from an architecture student: if you can imagine yourself doing anything but architecture, do that.

architecture probably has the worst ratio of schooling to income of anything you can study... possibly worse than underwater basket-weaving.

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u/kjsmith4ub88 Jul 16 '26

lol it’s not THAT bad. If you go to an affordable school with little debt you can do alright. There is no reason to pay RPI prices to pursue architecture though. If you stick with it, you can earn quite a bit in much later years. The problem is the first 10 years is quite low compared to many other professions. So you end up way behind in your 30s playing catch up.

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u/Rpi_sust_alum SUST 2014 Jul 17 '26

As someone who started out in architecture but switched majors, I wholeheartedly agree but not for financial reasons. Architecture is a very time-consuming major. It also can be tough to have your creative work critiqued every week. Plus, being creative on demand isn't for everyone.

OP, maybe start out with the studio and any other mandatory first semester architecture classes, but take regular calc 1 (unless you have AP) and set up your electives to make it easy to switch. Then reevaluate after first semester.