Hey , i need an advice.I want to take up architecture so badly but my mum insists that i should take up aviation(pilot) but it seems the number of students taking up aviation has been increasing vastly from year to year.I know a pilot has a much more higher salary compared to an architect but the chances of getting to work for local airlines like MAS or AA are very slim.

I'm not sure which is the right choice for me but can someone at least tell me that being an architect is a better path for my future

university college is college sized institution or a collection of college sized institutions, but could already offer degree and post-graduate courses (colleges couldnt offer post grad). so its between a college and a university. it doesnt have full facilities and expertise as a full university yet.

6 years (3 years diploma + 3 years degree). one tip: belajar rajin2 and score astronomical cgpa pointers so that u can be offered direct intake from diploma into degree without the need to practice for 1 year. so u can save 1 year.

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Added on April 17, 2008, 6:38 pmthat's quite a different jump of field, i must say. i dont know any advice that i could give other than those i've already given throughout this thread. i especially dont know how to convince anyone against doing aviation. so u wanna take architecture, but tell me, why dont u wanna be a pilot?

This post has been edited by azarimy: Apr 17 2008, 06:38 PM

i see...

I hope can secure place in politeknik for my architecture diploma. then only can ask you many and many tips. my parent already give me green light. InsyaAllah... i want to continue my study in architecture if i get the place in poli.

me attracted towards architecture because, it can give me drawing skills that i always wanted but couldn't do it well because no guide and practise. in architecture i can even apply it during working. yeah!!!

can i work as part-time draftsman while studying my degree to save some money?

actually prefer studying without working so I can concentrate on study. juz asking so that if i have financial problem i'll be able to solve it myself.

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Added on April 17, 2008, 6:45 pmpoliteknik application close today. so, hurry and apply for architecture!!!

This post has been edited by destroyer: Apr 17 2008, 06:45 PM

well, if u're from poly diploma, i assume u've achieved draftmanship at blinding speed, so i suppose working part time should not be a problem for u. but architecture is simply not one of those courses that u could spend extra time doing other things. if u do, manage ur time properly.

actually. wanna ask you something. been searching in the net. but couldn't find the most right answer.

what does draftsman do when working? is it drawing plan? or other job such as buat kopi for arkitek?

sorry3. really have no idea.

well, the job description is pretty obvious from the job title, isnt it?

draftpersons draft drawings. they are well versed in all technical drawings, design details and more importantly the architectural vocabulary. they communicate via drawings, so like in any language, a firm command in vocabulary is important. what they draw must really represent the real object to scale.

that is the primary job of draftpersons. they could also be architectural technicians, where they are also involved in site visits, checking up construction progress, dealing with ammendments of drawings with other consultants and authourities etc.

so what is the difference between the two? technicians are part 1 architects. in most offices they're also the draftpersons. however, big offices differentiate between draftpersons and technicians, but smaller offices only employ part 1 bcoz they can do both.

what do u need to become a draftperson? junior draftpersons (newbies, beginners) only need autocad certificate. after a week's induction course, u should be able to perform menial tasks in the office. senior draftpersons need a diploma. but a diploma holder could also apply as a junior technician. so it depends on what u can do...

tanx a lot azarimy for the brief explaination.

well. azarimy. i'd like to ask you something from your own experience.

when you're freshly grad, you were given 2 projects to handle. am i right? if i'm not mistaken, you've mention it before.

do you mind sharing with us what type of project were you handling?

does architect have heavy workload? from what i read around, architect must be willing to work near deadline. is it true?


sorry for asking you a lot of question. just wanna know your experience.

This post has been edited by destroyer: Apr 17 2008, 08:42 PM

i was given:

i. a bungalow renovation in PJ for an entrepreneur who was a close friend of my boss. his bungalow was already big enough, but he just got another lump of money, his children are growing, so he decided to expand. he barely had enough space for his two mercedez. the space was quite limited bcoz his bungalow already filled in most of the compound. although it's just a bungalow renovation, it costs about RM1.8mil for that only. i turned a typical featureless bungalow into a bali resort.

i handled from the very beginning, discussing with the client, putting up presentations of proposals, amendments, redesigning and reproposals. bcoz of my inadequate knowledge in supplies and costing, my boss occasionally accompany me during such meetings to help me on those aspects. i went to lepak at the client's house a few times, trying to get a feel of it. sometimes we conduct on site discussions as well. finally i built a model to show the client what it would look like, and he agreed.

in the drawing production stage i was less involved bcoz i went into the next project. i finally let go the project to another architect (part 3) in the office bcoz my boss wanted me to concentrate on the next project. when i left the office to join UTM the project was already 80% done. i didnt get to see the final product, only saw pictures.



ii. the next project was quite a controversial one. it was a mixed development - a commercial complex podium with two apartment towers on top of the podium. that's not the controversial part. the controversial part is that currently on site was a 4-block low cost PKNS flats. people dont wanna move from the site. there had been protests. the site is right behind LRT jelatek in keramat. the flat is still there, bcoz the project got postponed indefinitely. with keadilan taking over selangor, i doubt the project will ever see the light of day.

the project belonged to PKNS. when i came in, it's already been in proposal since 1996. i realized the reason i was brought in is bcoz no one could stand the head architect of PKNS (en. halim). he was a mean prick especially when it comes to design. he even called the office, asked to specifically talk to me, simply to bash my design. WTF! but my boss already knew that i'm not the kinda guy who'd take it up the ass, so he let me do whatever i need to do to get better. with a help from my close friend fauzan who is also working in the office, we went down to UTM, discussed with several lecturers on the best design, and cooked up a good presentation.

in the end, the PKNS people were quite impressed with the design (especially since two very young kids taking over from the big boys in the office). truthfully, my boss already fed-up with PKNS. he wanted to move on. the project has been stuck at design stage since 1996! it's already 5 years! but we finally convinced them. my boss was impressed. we started to work on the project seriously when PKNS finally got the red light from above for that project. so it was postponed indefinitely.




those two projects overlapped quite a lot. i was juggling between the two when finally my boss decided i should concentrate on the keramat complex. at some point, i slept at the office just to finish the proposal. during that time, we dont get overtime pay (bcoz of 1997 recession was still in effect). our boss' principle was simple. u work at ur own time based on deadline. whether u wanna come to the office or not, it's up to u, as long as the job gets done by the end of the day. that's what we did.

when we're more free, we help others on their projects as well, especially site or construction visits. my boss was quite disappointed when i told him i'm going fulltime with academia. but since he was a lecturer in UTM too, he understood my drive. fauzan left the office bcoz he and his wife was offered at sime UEP. he's the one i mentioned previously who worked as a naval architect. now he's back in KL preparing for his part 3.

i see. the story getting more touching when it reach the last part. very sad.


this part like titanic story. huhu.

i never expect that most lecturer UTM have their own architecture firm. might just seek job from lecturer.

nice story azarimy. thank you very much for giving very long n interesting story for us the inspiring future architect.

This post has been edited by destroyer: Apr 17 2008, 08:56 PM

u were given projects right after u graduate without the need to get urself a job 1st?

what do u mean "without the need to get a job first"?

ofcourse we've got to be employed by an office first . fauzan and i was offered a job even before we graduated. so right after we finished studying, we joined the office straight away. only i did so at part-time basis (i was teaching part-time in UTM at the time).

u must be some prodigy to be offered a job even before u graduated

and here i am thinking if i wound end up jobless if i take the course

do you get 1st class degree for architecture azarimy?

what is your pointer for diploma?

This post has been edited by destroyer: Apr 17 2008, 10:02 PM

nope. it happens all the time, especially for established schools. remember, most of my lecturers have their own firms. my boss and two of his associates were all ex-lecturers of UTM. the associates are now in UM (PM saari omar and mr. asrul mahjuddin). all were my lecturers. so all u need to do is exhibit ur qualities (short of bodek, coz i dont do bodek), and they will pick u right before u graduate.

this is why u WANT to go to established schools, bcoz the contacts the lecturers could give u.

nope. just a lame-ass 2nd class upper.

i got 3.45 during my diploma.

gosh. your result make me scared of taking architecture. not because it is bad. just afraid that i might get a lot worse than you.

afraid i might be left behind...

but i think i'll just try my best in pursuing architecture.

This post has been edited by destroyer: Apr 17 2008, 10:44 PM

to tell u the truth, i'm not one of them who would give more time studying that just what's needed to get me to become an architect. i'd rather enjoy my life being a student of architecture, win a few competitions, a couple of dean's list and a best designer award; join student events, performances and movements to change certain policies; and so on.

i've never really paid attention in class unless i wanted to. to me, there are other things a university student should concentrate on other than studies. my father himself was one of anwar's followers during the 70s UM student revolutions. so i understood very well what university students should do. i've shown the school that i could win a dean's list or bag a best designer award if i wanted to. so now i want to spend time doing other things that doesnt relate to academics.

these are the stuff that UTM chose upon when they offered me to join the staff. it's not bcoz of my academic achievements. there are other top scorers already selected based on their academic achievements. what i'm saying is that, academics is NOT everything in architecture. the world is big. literally.

I see. so that's how it is done. sorry bcoz i'm very2 noob in architecture. because there is none in my family or relative went into architecture filed or study. i might be the first. me need to do more reading to architecture.

azarimy...

give us some WOW factor regarding architecture to keep our spirit up.

btw, since you got experience with UTM. what is the percentage of UTM architecture student grads that secure job 6months after graduate with 2nd class degree?

Got question...

I'm not good in arts (hmm.. drawing)
I always want to become an architect...
I'm quite interested on designing something although my drawing is not that good..
Should I proceed for architecture?
and...

wow factor? hmmm... everything's wow about architecture to me. keep reading this thread, i'll occasionally pop a few pointers, tips, creative stories and so on to keep u interested .

most UTM architecture students will graduate with 2nd class degree. it's too hard to get 1st class bcoz the university set the A grade too high (85-100), compared to other universities. for example, UM is set at 75-100. so only about 1-2% would get a 1st class degree every year. on the other hand, no one will graduate with 3rd class either, bcoz we (the school of architecture) would rather fail them until they upgrade themselves, or until they quit. so no 3rd class graduates here.

with that said, about 80% graduates would be able to secure a job 6 months after graduating, and 100% a year later (not including those continuing to study). most of the later group were not bcoz they couldnt find a job. most of them prefer to rest, lepak2, travel and do other stuff. yes, architecture sometimes take a lot out of u that u need one year break LOL.

refer to the FAQ in the 1st page. u can find the answer in the first 2 posts.

First of , i don't think malaysia will be demanding for pilots for the year to come because there are MANY students who have taken up aviation which means being assured of a job as a pilot would not be easy for me.MAS currently has 500 candidates waiting to fly a plane and don't put too much hope on getting a place with an airline because only 12 graduates gets picked out of hundreds.(correct me if i'm wrong)
Other than that , let's say i've just graduated from flying school and have sent my application letter to an airline , i will have to wait for weeks or worse months for them to return my letter.Even if they do reply i will need to go for an interview and if i fail , there goes another waiting process.Lots of my friends pulled out from becoming a pilot because of this , as well as me.

After much thinking , i then thought of pursuing my childhood ambition on becoming an architect.Well , i will be able to experience college life if i were to taking up this course , otherwise i'll be dressed up in uniform, studying in a school far away from home and full of male students LOL.

This post has been edited by mrg18: Apr 18 2008, 05:23 AM