Expert: John Henry Architect - 10/4/2010

Question
Hello, I am a senior in high school and I'd like know if
math is important for a degree in architecture. I've NEVER
ever been good at math at all and I am ashamed to say that
most of my grades in math have been from C's to F's, math is
just not my subject. I have been interested in Architecture
ever since I was 9 but when I was 13 my interest in fashion
became bigger and so I think I might go to college for a
fashion design degree but I've always been fascinated by
architecture. I guess that if one is to be a good fashion
designer that requires a lot of creativity and so maybe I
would fit in architecture for my creativity skills. What do
you think, should I just go for fashion design or consider
the career of architecture a bit more?

Answer
I was not a math genius either.
I did poorly first two semesters in college, brought my grades up to prove I could do it and then pursued a degree in electrical engineering.
Continued to find hard sciences a bit stale.
I switched my major and found that architecture requires some basic math knowledge and although did not ace any math related courses I found that after graduation and in the field math was rarely used. Absolutely no calculus is required after licensing as all structural, mechanical and electrical engineering are done by consultant engineers -- for the large commercial projects.
I was quite relieved.
Math is an unnecessary barrier to creative types and I urge you to go into this field if it seems to draw you more than fashion design.
See other discussions on this subject in previous blogs.  I will also send you some general info via separate email: johnhenry@cfl.rr.com.