[Confessions of Youth] Advice for Those Who Want to Pursue Architecture Profession from a University Lecturer

The first thing you need to do when you want to study Architecture is to think carefully! 'And if you are willing to study Architecture... then just start:

I am glad you have chosen this profession, even though I have openly told everyone that this profession is tough, full of challenges, and not easily wealthy. If you are ready, study to the best of your ability, if you strive - success will come to you, not as difficult as many people rumor - like 'you're pretty so you can't pass architecture,' or 'it takes a few years to pass, architecture exam is very difficult,' or 'You only started drawing in 12th grade, how can you pass'....

Actually, all laws are not correct for all cases, and whether late or not, many or few is not as important as whether you really focus on learning the profession or not. Some people study drawing for 3 years, some study drawing for 9 years - but in the end, they cannot build a house for themselves. Some people only study for 3 weeks, but they pass the university - this is not uncommon. The issue is how we study. And if you really want to pursue the profession, think about the things that sometimes we misunderstand or listen to rumors that deviate from our own direction.

To study the profession of Architecture, first of all, your culture must be good, specifically natural subjects like Math, Physics need to be solid, not only for entrance exams, but also for technical profession requires a scientific, logical, and precise mind! Social subjects like Literature, History should also be studied well, because you cannot create anything if your soul is rigid, and even your whole life has never read a book, a story...

To study Architecture, you need to have aesthetic talent, not only Art, but in general, knowing more about art is better, that is the key for you to feel the beauty, gradually stimulate the development of your sculpting mind better within yourself!

Of course it is true to say that drawing will be very important when applying to Architecture schools. Although this year, the math score multiplied by 1.5 is the intention of the school to balance between cultural subjects and drawing, but if your drawing score is below 5, of course, you will not be accepted. You will be sad because it seems unfair, how can someone who loves Architecture be rejected? Why do Western countries not need to know how to draw to study Architecture (as an article I quoted for you to read), however, you know - we are living in certain conditions, and you should not blame fate for why you were not born in America or Italy, but struggled to learn to draw in Vietnam? What will you do? I give you 2 pieces of advice: 1. go to those Western countries to study, because they don't require drawing exams, 2. give up before it's too late.

The essence of the entrance drawing exam is not to intentionally limit the chances of candidates being admitted, but in fact, in Vietnam, if individuals applying do not have a tendency towards art - then it is very difficult to develop sculpting thinking and future professional abilities. So far, the entrance drawing exam is still aimed at classifying those who have perception ability and those who do not. In other countries, although candidates do not take drawing exams - but they learn about beauty, about shapes, about architectural thinking from an early age, so before studying at an Architecture school, most candidates already have a creative tendency. Some countries have preparatory classes, also for candidates to learn more fundamental knowledge before officially entering.

In recent years, the Hanoi Architectural University has always innovated to be able to select candidates with real architectural learning ability (this is highly appreciated). While the Saigon Architecture School only exams sculpture drawing, the Construction University, the Still-life drawing subject accounts for a higher percentage of scores - Hanoi Architectural University has scored 5/5 for 2 subjects MT1 and MT2 for about 6 years - meaning there has been a change in the evaluation criteria for admission exams. MT1 subject mainly draws sculptures, so it is usually a matter of skill. MT2 subject with the goal of evaluating arrangement ability, composition of shapes - this subject aims at more creative thinking - and is seen as the foundation to approach architectural creation. Therefore, your admission to Architecture today has been evaluated differently from the past.

Học vẽ có thể không dễ dàng nhưng nếu bạn có kiên nhẫn và đam mê, bạn sẽ vượt qua mọi thách thức.

Việc học vẽ không bao giờ là quá muộn nếu bạn đam mê. Quan trọng nhất là bạn phải hiểu rằng hãy làm điều đó vì chính bản thân mình, không phải vì bất kỳ áp lực nào khác.

Dù bạn đã trang bị cho mình một bộ dụng cụ học vẽ đầy đủ, nhưng quan trọng nhất là bạn phải giữ vững tinh thần và không bao giờ mất đi lòng kiên nhẫn.

Cuộc sống như một chuyến hành trình, mỗi bước đi là một cánh cửa mới mở ra trước mắt. Nhưng đừng quên rằng, cái đẹp lớn nhất không phải là bên ngoài mà là trong tâm hồn của chính mình. Ước mơ của tôi không chỉ là giảng dạy mà còn là truyền cảm hứng, để mỗi học trò đều có cách tiếp cận và hiểu biết riêng, để mỗi người học đều có cách phản ứng và sáng tạo của riêng mình. Và điều tôi không thể chấp nhận nhất là sự sao chép, sự đạo đức và sự sáng tạo là những yếu tố không thể tách rời.

Chúng ta đã bước sang tháng 6, thời gian cho kỳ thi đang đến gần. Hãy đánh giá bản thân mình một cách khách quan nhất, nhìn nhận mọi khía cạnh của bản thân để cải thiện những điểm mạnh và khắc phục nhược điểm. Hãy tự tin bước vào cánh cửa của trường Đại học và đi trên con đường mà bạn đã chọn.

Hãy để tình yêu với nghề nghiệp luôn rực cháy trong lòng bạn!