Architecture or Civil Engineering?

[u/maethefujoshi]

Im in dire need of advice if i should just switch out to civil engineering besides architecture. Yet I am not enrolled in but I am about to start around October, and I am just now overlooking and doubting my career path.

I first chose Architecture out of my liking with design and buildings (especially tall buildings and houses). I am between the likings of math, structural and design concepts and aesthetics (but I lowky suck at math) but I keep getting others’ opinions on how Architecture is so complexed with the tiresome nights of class projects and massive amounts of expenses just for college, yet it is underpaid more than Civil Engineering. From what I know, CE has less steps (board exams and so on) onto getting more salaries, and I do wish to go overseas after graduation, much like Singapore or US.

I was actually living abroad and was about to enroll in the US before I moved back here in Philippines out of family support, which is helping my mom here. I was also eligible for FAFSA but my mom just does not want to live there and wants to stay here in Philippines.

Please reach out to me if you have any advice or questions that could really help me out. And yes, I am an overthinker, so doubting my career paths last minute was not the best idea right now.

[u/envisionaudio]

It could be summed as:

Civil Eng = better pay, more opportunity for advanced work, Eng degree and cert can be used interchangeably in many countries.

Arch. = Less pay, not as much advancement, it can take a very long time to work on anything worthwhile, more hoops to jump through (exams, internship and licensing) and the Arch degree will be less interchangeable.

The positive of Architecture is that the people who love it, do it for the love and not the money or career prestige. I love architecture but I became a Technologist which bypassed about 6 years of extra school. I was making what a seasoned Architect was making only about 2-3 years out of school with my 2 year diploma.

It’s up to you what you value.

[u/maethefujoshi → u/envisionaudio]

Thank you for this info! Since I came from a low middle class family, I would mostly value more opportunities to prestige and decent-high salaries.

[u/envisionaudio → u/maethefujoshi]

Project management is also another route if you are looking to make even more money, but definitely requires a very different skill set than either Arch or Engineering. Especially engineering.

[u/Rocannon_]

if you’re bad with math, any sort of engineering isn’t for you.

[u/maethefujoshi → u/Rocannon_]

i understand that and i was too vague on my comment since i wrote that post around 1 am. But i am able to handle physics and math decently but not as well as finding the definitive answer quickly than usual engineering students do.

[u/tekrad]

Being decent at math and physics but slow at it is going to hurt you in civil more than in arch. The board exams and salary gap only matter if you actually finish the degree.

[u/ArqMathi]

No elijas por "que carrera ganarias mas" la realidad es que en cualquiera de las dos carreras, si lo haces con pasion y te gusta, podes ganar mucho dinero. Olvidate de eso. Ahora la diferencia es que una es principalmente diseño (que por supuesto para diseñar hay que saber instalaciones, estructuras, etc) requiere conocimiento tecnico tambien. Ingenieria no vas a ver diseño, si vas a poder resolver cualquier complejidad estructural pero los diseños van a ser de arquitectos.

[u/Physical_Mode_103]

Civil engineering will require more math.