architect54

When it comes to sitting for the ARE, procrastination really isn’t that helpful. Putting off doing something until someone else completes it, just doesn’t work when it comes to passing the ARE. So just do your best to throw yourself into it. Success in some projects only comes from forcing yourself on to the task. Doesn’t sound pretty, but it’s true.

I liken it to two quotes from friends. When you have a really difficult research paper and time is running out, you have to “pull a paper out of your ass.” Well, I don’t really want to have anything in my ass that I have to pull out. The message is that it may not be pretty, but you’ve got to somehow complete that paper. Whether you think it up and write it out, or pull some crap out of your head, it’s just got to be done.

The second quote is, “Choose your destiny.” Let’s say you want to be an architect. You can be one in every sense of the word. It’s all up to you. So pull out all of the stops, start researching your zoning codes and structural formulas and make it happen! It’s all up to you to form your future.

I have begun studying, but I’m not as regular as I planned. I took a look at the sample site zoning vignette in the NCARB 3.1 software. I thought it was really easy until I realized my secondary constructibility area was wrong. Then I couldn’t find the elevation benchmark to measure the maximum height of the building envelope. Well I didn’t finish the problem, but I started studying. That’s the important part.

I decided to be more conservative in determining how many days I have remaining for experience. So I’ll be getting my authorization to test later than I expected. I’ll hand the Form 4 (Applicant Experience Record) to my employer Monday. Once he signs and stamps it, I’m the one walking it to the mailbox! If it’s in the mail on Monday, May 19th, 2008, I’m hoping the NYS Board will take 4 to 6 weeks to process my application. That means an authorization to test letter should be in my hand mid to late June 2008!