Applying - M.ARCH

January 22, 2008 | Filed Under Simplify, Architecture, Family 

Aside from the apartment fiasco, I have been laboring away for the last couple of months, on a personal portfolio, along with the other requirements–as I am applying out-of-state to another graduate program in Architecture.  I already did my undergraduate work in Utah, and we have been here since 2002.  But I took a leave of absence for the arrival of Keane.  It was the best thing for me to do at the time. Gave me a chance to step out of school and focus on family and future goals.  We decided it was time for a change.  Ever since Keane was born, we have been looking seriously at moving. So I have been looking at Midwest-area Architecture programs, because my family is back there. Graduate school takes a lot of work and time. We believe that having family near, will be a smoother experience for everyone (especially Kuei and the boys), while I’m on a site somewhere or in studio all day.  Another important consideration is the fact that Brighton has lived in urban areas for most of his years (Downtown SLC, Taipei, etc). 

Now Utah, in general, is a great place for kids. Utah is a great place for families. (The Bear Lake area, for example, with the green fields, the farms and mountains, is very beautiful and we love that area). But here in downtown SLC, it is the only city in the whole State with an accredited Architecture program. So Brighton’s day-to-day experiences have been more of the urban variety: Trains, sirens, high-rises.  All things that I love. But kids need to stretch their legs more, you know?  Run in a field as endless as the horizon. Get away from the ambient light. Children need the ocean, the soil, the fields, the sky. At least that’s what I want my children to grow up experiencing frequently. Our time allows us to experience some of that in Utah, some of the time. But the boys are growing fast, and at this stage in our lives, we’d prefer living in an area a little more serene. Maybe a little boring, mind you, but with family near, it should be worthwhile. Maybe we’re trying to simplify our lives a bit? Probably. So we are likely planning to move this summer to the Midwest (upon my acceptance to an M.ARCH program).

 © daily dose of imagery

If I get into a graduate program there, we hope to find a house eventually (without the sprinkler head system, of course) for a few years.  So I sent out my records (don’t have to take the GRE again, thank goodness) and I got my references lined up, nearly finished tweaking my “statement of purpose.” The thing that is taking some time is making the book. I’m preparing a PDF of my work in Adobe InDesign , then plan to send it off to Lulu to bind a 32-pager in either saddle-stitch or perfect. It will be a nice 8.5 x 8.5  (square) full-color presentation. Then it’s two months of waiting… 

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