High school students interested in architecture can take math courses such as algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus. If your high school offers college-level math courses, enroll in them and challenge yourself. Load up on humanities studies and art classes such as photography, drawing, painting and sculpting, which will help you develop your conceptualization skills and give you a head start for taking them again in college. It's also important to maintain a high grade-point average. Most colleges require at least a C average for admission, but many schools prefer a B+ average.
Ask your high school guidance counselor for advice when seeking out a college. Tell him of your interest in architecture and ask to see a college catalog. He may ask whether you want to go to an in-state or out-of-state college, whether you have filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and whether you have visited the colleges you are interested in. Discuss whatever you learn with your parents or guardians. Do some research on your own using the Internet to find additional information. Visit the National Architectural Accrediting Board website for a list of schools with accredited programs. Determine how long you'll be in school, how much it will cost and what you will be required to do after graduation.
Accredited degree programs in architecture require a great amount of work. Students must complete all the required courses for a Bachelor of Architecture degree, which generally focus on math and design. Most colleges require at least one design studio class each semester where students solve hypothetical and actual design problems. Courses in architectural history, theory, behavioral science, computer-aided drafting and engineering are also required. Once students get a bachelor's degree, they can continue in their educational endeavors toward a master's degree in architecture, which requires extensive research and higher levels of thinking centered on the same coursework required for a bachelor's degree. After completing a Master of Architecture degree, students must complete an internship before real world experience begins. That can add up to more than eight years in school.