it can't really tell what is the best future from what you study.
some ppl really have different kind of career from what they study.

myself is gradute interior architecture but now most of my jobscope is concept design due to the market down trend.
i choose my career wisely in beginning but later i discover myself more interested in 3d modelling, concept art/design & fx.
but i still love interior design which i still work at it.

it is common case.
just ask your self, what you love best.
it is your sturdy and your career, so i guess it is better youself to make a decission.
take some time to think about it.

now a day there are no standard default portfolio size,
it depend your works.
if are good with a3, you can even go with it.
even you have not good at it, pls bring along. it is ok.
as for the 3rd, draw something you are good at it.
let your talent/skill shine at here.

degree don't have worry about how many A you got.
now most of the art/design school is running " you pay what you take, we teach what we take"
you pay them for degree cert, they will accept you good, bad or ugly.
they more into business than education.
that why you can see dozen of art/design school in such a small country.
we are more art/school than certain country like japan, australia, uk...
"you got money, you can open one..you got money, they take you.."

advantages of taking up foundation/diploma is learn the foundation/diploma's stuff
those are very important element you need to know.
you can't skip it.
taking a degree is not bad ideas at all. it help you to learn more advance thing but mostly theory.
you won't regret this, if you aim for big company or work at foreign country.

can be say that.
as i mention before now a these day the education became bussiness industry.
it is no more tight or porfolio value to intake the students.

some university/college even have design course which is out of their pro coverage course.
from this you can see what going on at education.

imagine taking graphic design at harvard, interior design at princeton or fine art at m.i.t

basically more on creativity site builder lesson, material study/calculation, interior design, basic 3d visual software lesson, history of art, machine study, plan drafting and modelling lesson.
but those i mention above is only available at second year and i fought out most of the subjects is no more at the currents IA lesson.
so good news is less study and bad news is learn something less.
i believe most of the pro IA designer will never teach coz they earn more from the project field and only leave the semi pro back to teaching the new generation..

sooner some lesson like history of art will disappear at time..

i don't think there is the course combination between the architecture and interior design.
both are different platform but under same field.
you can't master both subject the same time too at the very short period like 3 years time.
the lesson of IA is more flavour to interior design overall but with some basic architecture knowledge.

architecture is sort like manufacture and interior design is like packaging.
both are important.
nowaday nobody will buy anything that non-packaging,right?
well, take your time and choose your best pick pal.

wish you all the best at your study

This post has been edited by cymon: Dec 18 2008, 02:57 AM