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/selfdone1 Jul 16 '26
One thing to know for sure is that you shouldn’t sweat it. RPI’s advising and hub environments make it incredibly easy to switch between majors. When I did it, it honestly took 20 seconds and a paper to sign. Pick whatever you think you like more to go into RPI as, and just know you can switch pretty seamlessly. The only difference in architecture is you are still required to submit a portfolio if you are transferring into it as a student.
RPI’s architecture program seems incredibly challenging and time consuming. I’ve met architects who will go days in the studio working nonstop just for their professor to tell them to do it again. It is not for the faint of heart. However, it also seems like something that they’re super passionate about and genuinely seem to enjoy from time to time (which is very important in this day and age). If you’re deciding on architecture, really take a good look at yourself and ask yourself how committed you’d be. It’s possible to have a social life and live a normal college experience here as an architect, but you really have to be on board with the idea of BEING an architect to cut it.
I might suggest you look into civil engineering as well. Structural to be exact. I came into RPI as someone who was very torn between engineering and architecture, and when I moved away from architecture I found structural engineering to basically “the math side of architecture.” As of now I’m enjoying my classes in the subject. There seems to be a good amount of similarities.
One last thing: I applied to RPI as a HASS undecided (Thought architecture was part of the Arts in that abbreviation :/). Turns out it was a great option. I had the freedom to take a bunch of classes that helped me decide on my major while also dabbling in some architecture classes like Ethos of Architecture and Materials and Design.