What to do after my A Levels, instead of University?

What A levels would I need to study architecture at university?

• I am doing A level maths, photography and chemisty and I'm doing AS level history. I was going to do A level physics but that will be way too hard. Is that a good set of A levels ...show more

• Answer:

  If you want to be a structural engineer go for physics, architecture is MUCH MORE diversified, you can go into any direction including and not limited to - urban planning, landscaping, sculpting, socio-economic analysis, psychology, anthropology (pertaining the effect of space on human behaviour), down to your more obvious construction, mechanical/material engineering and structural engineering. Chemisty? What the hell? If you want to go to MIT to invent a new type of cement, maybe it MIGHT come in handy, otherwise, who wants chemistry in architecture??? Here's some examples - Cambridge and Bath University are engineering-oriented where physics and maths, and other vigorous sciences might come in handy. AA (Architectural Association) in London, one of the best, require you to have an unconventional and abstract mindset to totally reinvent architecture, they don't need anything other than genuine originality and logical plausibility. Places like GSA (Glasgow School of Art) like to keep traditional values alive, they really like hand-drawn stuff to portray authenticity and your own originality. UCL is a blend between traditional and avant-garde, but their students are MORE than proficient in any hand or digital skills. I suggest? Art as a must, maths maybe, physics if you prefer to think about how the building stands than what the building MEANS. Middle education doesn't prepare anybody for architecture - that's because architecture is not a single specialism, it's a jack of all trades - combination of all of them to creatively sculpt human spaces based on logical parameters. But again, why chemistry???