Being an architecture student is no easy feat. The countless hours spent perfecting designs, sacrificing sleep, and juggling multiple projects can be overwhelming. A recent study has shown that architecture students put in the longest hours compared to other majors. This dedication often means less time for essential activities like eating, socializing, and taking breaks. Despite these challenges, the passion for creating and designing keeps students going, even during those intense summer internships.But that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Architecture students endure physical strain, unexpected injuries, and often face tough, sometimes sarcastic, critiques. If you’re not an architecture student, consider yourself lucky to have a typical college experience. For those in the trenches, this list is for you—a tribute to your hard work and perseverance. As you check off these experiences, remember, you’re not alone; these struggles are universal.
30 Experiences Only Architecture Students Will Understand
- Sliced a finger open while crafting a physical model for your project.
- Got used to the lingering smell of glue, and maybe even tasted it once or twice.
- Ruined a perfect sketch with a single drop of watercolor.
- Ended up with ink and permanent marker stains all over your hands and clothes.
- Lost hours of work because you forgot to save your file regularly.
- Suffered from knee and back pain, complaining like an elderly person at the age of 20.
- Strained your eyes so much that you ended up needing glasses.
- Skipped meals because you were too busy or simply forgot to eat.
- Nursed a headache from missing your daily caffeine fix.
- Tried various coffee substitutes, only to return to the real thing.
- Mastered the art of procrastination—it’s practically a lifestyle.
- Started your project the night before the deadline and deeply regretted it.
- Pulled all-nighters, or more accurately, strung together weeks of sleepless nights.
- Bit your tongue while shaping the perfect paper model, or pulled your hair out after a harsh critique.
- Heard conflicting advice from the same professor in a single session.
- Struggled to maintain your sanity.
- Talked to yourself as a coping mechanism—don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal.
- Vowed to start your next project early, only to fall back into old habits.
- Used a write my papers service because you had zero time to complete an essay on your own.
- Arrived fashionably late to class, or just plain late.
- Skipped class entirely and reveled in the freedom.
- Showed up to class only to nap through it.
- Worked on projects at a friend’s house.
- Pulled an all-nighter at a friend’s place because you spent half the time chatting and complaining.
- Explored every music genre imaginable, creating the weirdest playlists.
- Listened to movies instead of watching them, as your eyes were glued to your project.
- Ran out of money midway through the month due to the high cost of supplies.
- Admired your seniors’ amazing work and wondered if you’d ever reach their level.
- Finally reached that level and dreamt of becoming the next Zaha Hadid or Frank Gehry.
- Got asked by family and friends to design their homes for free, because “you’re an architecture student.”