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How I Survived My First Year of Architecture School ??
- Architecture| Inside the Studio| Journey| Reflections
- December 12, 2024
Hi! I am back. As you might know, I am an architecture student at CEPT University. I wasn’t exactly mad about architecture in my initial years, and by that, I mean I wasn’t sure about it until my third year. Now, I feel completely different about it. I’m still not in the category of ‘eat, sleep, architecture,’ but I’m glad I’m going to become an architect.
So, I was thinking about what changed, and I thought I’d share this entire reflection with you all. You might also have doubts about your journey, or maybe you’ll agree or disagree with mine—I don’t know. So, I’m going to walk you through my first year: the CEPT Foundation Program. Let me know if this is helpful though…
In the foundation year, everyone from design, architecture, planning, and technology participates in a common program. It’s a skill development course that gives you the tools to design and think when you reach the next level.
First Semester
We started with lines, shapes, and pencil sketching. Never thought making straight lines would be so difficult. It seemed easy, but trust me, I was crying at the end of every day. I came from a background of objective learning, where if you gave me an art piece, I could copy it nicely, but drawing by myself was daunting.
We did some 100 sheets. It built my confidence, and practice will definitely make me better, but accepting that I’d have to put in more work to reach the same level as others was frustrating. Over time, I struggled but managed to pull through. In the creative exercises, I struggled to think out of the box, and Photoshop became my biggest liability—just putting my thoughts into something tangible was hard. Designing hadn’t even started yet! It was just mood boards and collages, and nothing I made looked as nice as my classmates’ work. At that time, I questioned myself a lot: Am I in the right place?
But somehow, I managed to make it through my first semester with decent grades.
Done under CEPT Foundation Program 2021
Second semester
It was mostly group work and a lot of fun (shoutout to U1C people, who made it so enjoyable). I don’t know why, but I was very motivated to give it my best. Somehow, I ended up doing a complicated drawing, and I was so proud. It was more about the chance to prove to myself that I belonged among the good ones.
I found the most amazing people to work with—they helped me grow and pushed me to do better. That was the most amazing semester I’ve had to date. We did a measure drawing project, where we had to measure a building and draft its plans and sections. I remember measuring the height of that building—it was such a task. Two people had to go back at least 15 times, coming up with a different measurement every time. Eventually, we collectively decided on a measurement (a little cheating, I admit), and everything turned out correct. Thank God the measurement was close to the original!
For the first time, I saw people fighting to take on more work or more complicated drawings. We did several exercises, including structures and joinery.
Done under CEPT Foundation Program 2021
Then, finally came the design exercises. These are the ones where you never know if you’re doing enough or if what you’ve done is good enough. You just have to trust yourself and keep going. No one is going to validate you.
I made my final model for that semester three times. I almost cried when my faculty told me to redo it for the third time. His remark? “Have you cut this with your teeth?!” This was my first time designing a space. I was playing it safe, wasn’t I? I was supposed to design a wood workshop in Goa. Full of experience, I thought of the building without even knowing what it meant.
Done under CEPT Foundation Program 2021
In the middle of all this, I got a back problem due to bad posture. That was a friendly reminder to exercise, but did I want to prioritize my health over work? Not at all. Even if I took a rest day, the guilt of not working was so strong that I couldn’t rest. And that is toxic.
Anyway, more than designing, I made so many drawing sets. During this time, I discovered that I have good speed, which is definitely a plus—I could sleep and didn’t have to pull all-nighters. But quality is something I was still struggling with.
First Architecture Jury
Just before my first jury, I was so nervous. I wanted to make some changes to my design but couldn’t. When I presented, one of the jurors was so happy with my drawings that he ignored all the small mistakes. That lifted my confidence so much. A little validation in the end felt so comforting.
I wasn’t in love with architecture yet, but I was so proud of my progress. I was happy and excited about the journey ahead, so it didn’t feel like a wrong decision.
So, if you’re questioning your choice of career, it doesn’t matter if you’re good at it or not, because eventually, you will be. You don’t have to be a natural, but you shouldn’t dread the journey. If you feel like you’re looking forward to learning more and, when you see your seniors’ work, you’re excited to think that someday it’ll be your portfolio, then you’re on the right track. I didn’t know how I was going to get there, but I was happy about the journey.
Architecture school is challenging, and it’s easy to feel lost at times. But remember, progress is progress—whether it’s mastering straight lines or presenting a final jury confidently. Practice, embrace criticism, work with great people, and most importantly, don’t forget to care for yourself along the way.
I’d love to hear your experiences! What advice would you give someone struggling with their first year? Let’s talk in the comments. And if you’d like, you can also check out my first-year portfolio. Thanks for reading!
Semester1
Semester 2
About Me
Devanshi Jain
Hi! Welcome to my blog. I’m an architecture student sharing my journey, from personal stories to diving into computational design as a complete beginner. Join me as I explore new techniques, tackle challenges, and discover how technology transforms design. Whether you’re a student, professional, or just curious, you’ll find valuable insights and a fresh perspective on architecture.
I can completely relate to the existential crisis at the CFP stage. There were days when I wanted to leave CEPT altogether. The struggle is so real! But I guess my biggest learning was that it's important to carve your own niche and focus your strengths more than the weaknesses.
Yess definitelyy