The University of Texas at Austin, Architectural Engineering, Stephen Smith

Name: Stephen Smith

Age: 22

College / University: The University of Texas at Austin

Major: Architectural Engineering

Country origin: United States

What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university.

High school for me was spent focusing on two things—math classes and marching band. I was fortunate enough to be placed in an accelerated math program, which led to me taking differential equations and linear algebra in my senior year. My teachers were exceptional and laid a strong foundation for how I understood the material moving forward.

In the marching band, I eventually became a captain of the drumline. While not directly related to the STEM field I'm in, I believe having some form of creative outlet is crucial for maintaining strong problem-solving skills. Really, that's what engineering is at its heart—the study of problem-solving. Training yourself to think in other disciplines helps you gain perspective, which is critical later in life. Additionally, it taught me how to work in a team, another important skill for an engineer. In the construction industry, you will never work alone after leaving school. As a result, learning how to integrate into a team was very helpful.

Please tell us your daily life schedule as a student with this major in your university.

It varies quite a bit. On some days, I'm here until quite late, working on one of several design projects—either for class or competition—and on others, I'm done by 11 a.m. Generally, the workload is very manageable. It’s nice that most of the work I have now is project-based, which allows for more self-paced or group-paced deadlines. Compared to other majors, I would consider myself to have fewer labs. I usually have 3–4 lecture classes and 0–1 design studio(s) per semester.

When I'm not in class, I'm usually found working either in our org (Architectural Engineering Institute) office or running around doing errands for the org. I'm very involved with my department by choice and have been fortunate enough to receive invites to guest lectures and banquets with industry professionals and academics.

In the evening, I usually return home to cook dinner for myself and pursue other hobbies. Currently, I'm learning to play bass guitar and build foot pedals to augment the sound. The work-life balance in architectural engineering is quite good—something I'm grateful for.

How do you manage your stress? What's the secret?

Being a college student is about two things: learning as much as you can about the world and as much as you can about yourself. The first is pretty self-explanatory, but the second has a bit more nuance. I used to be very concerned about appearing dumb or screwing up in front of my peers. Learning about yourself requires taking risks and accepting rejection or failure as part of the process.

Over time, I've come to realize that this is the lowest-stakes part of adulthood. I don't have a long-term commitment to any single place, person, or organization. If I make a mistake or screw up royally, there is no longstanding consequence (for the most part, at least). Coming to terms with this has led me to be much more laid-back in my approach to things and accept that what happens, happens.

Of course, this shouldn't be conflated with apathy. I do care about the outcome of what I put effort into, and I still feel that my work is a reflection of my ability. However, if my best is not enough or misses the mark, I can take it as a learning opportunity instead of wallowing in failure. Taking things in stride and rolling with the punches is a great skill to develop in college and has greatly helped mitigate my stress.

What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major?

It's really a lot of fun. A big part of getting good at ArchE is developing your intuition—honing that gut feeling for where you should start investigating a project. The calculation component of our work isn't the most intense, but it does require a strong foundation in calculus.

This is a truly practical form of engineering. It's not the most glorified, and it isn't the most prestigious, but at the end of the day, when you go home, you can point to specific instances where you made people's lives better. The feeling of gratification is worth it.

What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major?

I had a lot of people read my entrance essay. It told a story about how I was able to adapt to new situations while maintaining my identity. Don't overlook that component, especially as an out-of-state student.

Additionally, I tested well on the ACT. Sit for it a few times, work on the practice exams, and take a deep breath. It's possible to get in with the effort you put in.

If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link?

Structure Magazine – Articles about new structures being built around the world.

Modern Steel Construction – The steel magazine from AISC, the American Institute of Steel Construction.

These are the two I generally try to keep up with. Additionally, ArchDaily is great for staying updated on interesting buildings in general, though it focuses more on architecture than the structural engineering I care about.

Interested in learning more?

Stephen Smith is happy to answer your questions at 📩 stephen.smith [at] utexas [dot] edu

Thank you to Stephen Smith!

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