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8 Tips for Making the Most of the Fall Semester

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Happy fall semester! As you settle into campus life, you might find yourself asking questions like “How can I make friends in my major?” or “How can I stay balanced?” Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
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Whether you’re finishing your first week or your first month, these tips will help you make the most of the semester ahead!

1. Get to Know Your Campus

You may have joined a campus tour during orientation week that provided a general lay of the land. Now that classes have started, take some time to become even more familiar with your new stomping grounds. Take the scenic route to get inspired by the beauty of your campus. Get to know your architecture building inside and out: this will come in handy once it’s time to lock in on your final projects. Try a different route to class one day—you might even find a shortcut!

2. Explore Student Activities

Many schools will host a college activity fair at the start of the semester. These are great ways to learn about the different clubs on campus and get some face time with their members. Keep an eye out for architecture-related organizations like the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) and the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS). Joining AIAS and/or NOMAS will connect you with people in your major and provide access to resources that will support you with your studies.

3. Learn About Available Resources

As a student, there are many resources available to you online and on campus. Visit your campus student center to learn more about their available services. This may include resources ranging from tutoring and career counseling to scholarships and professional development opportunities. If you’re looking for online resources, Study Architecture’s resource page includes podcasts, books, and guides that will be helpful throughout your architecture journey.

4. Time Management

From classes and jobs to extracurriculars and volunteering, you have quite a lot on your plate as a student. The best way to avoid burnout is to find a time management technique that works for you. Time management looks different for everyone: some people prefer to mark everything down in a planner, while others rely on time blocks or the Pomodoro Technique. Try out a few things to see what strategy aligns with your needs. If you find yourself struggling, don’t be afraid to ask a friend or mentor for suggestions.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Change Your Mind

Brainstorming is a very important step in the design process. While you might feel very passionate about the first idea you have for your project, it’s okay for your project to evolve as you go. From start to finish, you will find yourself thinking of different perspectives or solutions that will alter the final product—and that’s okay! Exploring different ideas is all a part of the journey.

6. Get to Know Your Professors

Getting to know your professors might seem intimidating at first, but it’s a great way to build your connection with them. Stop by their office hours to introduce yourself 1:1. Having an open line of communication with your professors will also allow you to ask for additional help or resources throughout the semester.

7. Connect with Upperclassmen

No one will have better advice than people who have been in your shoes. Connect with upperclassmen to learn more about their experiences and recommendations. They can support you in many ways, from sharing tips for a challenging class they took before to where to find the best cup of coffee on campus. Their wisdom and insights will be incredibly valuable!

8. Have Fun!

Most importantly, take the time to enjoy yourself this semester! You will make amazing friends and lifelong memories during your time in college. Don’t forget to reward yourself for all of your hard work by having fun.

We hope these tips inspire you to have an amazing semester. Looking for advice from students like yourself? We previously asked students, “What is the Biggest Lesson You Learned In Architecture School?” Visit the blog post to check out their answers!

Meet Arch Rewind

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Five Architecture Students. One Podcast. A Journey Unfiltered.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Watch on YouTube → youtube.com/@ArchRewind

About Arch Rewind

What does it really feel like to study architecture — the late nights, the brutal critiques, the creative breakthroughs, and the friendships forged in studio at 2 a.m.? Arch Rewind is a podcast hosted by five architecture students at Florida Atlantic University in Fort Lauderdale, documenting their journey through one of the most demanding and rewarding programs in the country.

In this blog post, each host speaks for themselves — in their own words — about what brought them to architecture, what they love about FAU and its downtown campus, their go-to design hacks, and their advice for anyone thinking about taking the leap into this field.


“FAU is pushing the boundaries of what normative architecture will be — with AI, Robotics, and novel approaches to solving problems.”

—Nathaniel

Meet the Hosts

Five different paths. Five different voices. All studying architecture at FAU’s downtown Fort Lauderdale campus — right in the heart of the city they’re learning to design for.

In Their Own Words

We asked each host the same five questions. Here’s what they had to say.

1. Julia

Why Architecture?

When I first started thinking about what I would want to do for a lifetime, I realized I wanted to be part of something bigger — something that could help communities and push boundaries. With my creative skills and my passion for historic architecture, I realized I wanted to study architecture.

What’s Your Favorite Thing About Campus?

What I like most about my campus is the open floor plans of the studios, and how each lab — such as our Creative AI Lab — has the technology and support that allows us to explore our ideas and design intentions.

What Drew You to FAU?

What drew me to FAU was its drive for research and exploration of new technologies. I admire how FAU has opened the eyes of so many students to how computational design and AI can be properly used in the field of architecture.

What’s Your Go-To Design Hack?

Always have a pen and paper with you — because you never know when those creative thoughts are going to arrive.

What Advice Would You Share with Aspiring Students?

Research different schools and programs at different universities. Each one has a specific topic that their program revolves around, and you want to make sure you are entering a program that best matches your goals.

Share Your Top Time Management Strategy!

Always stay aware of what the next deliverable due is. That helps me complete assignments successfully and still leave time for other activities.

1. Giorgio

Why Architecture?

I didn’t know until someone made me aware. I designed a wall in my living room — it started from an idea to a sketch to an actual drawing, and we ended up building it. After it was built, someone saw my potential and recommended I look into architecture. I looked into it and realized I had a lot in common with this major.

What’s Your Favorite Thing About Campus?

We are in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, right in front of Las Olas, so we get to see the city come alive. We can take a break and walk around, and see the nightlife. And the studio culture is real — it stays full overnight, and the closer to midterms and finals, the fuller it gets. We also love the city views from the building’s windows.

What Drew You to FAU?

FAU gives us everything we need to learn and grow a different mindset than other architecture students. We are taught to think computationally, and this is not something many other schools do. At the end of the day, we will learn the ways of the profession when we get there — but the skills I am building now are ones I will actually use in practice, and that is amazing.

What’s Your Go-To Design Hack?

Diagram everything you want to communicate. You don’t want to try to explain your thought process after the fact. If you have it diagrammed, people can visually see your intentions — and it serves as a guide so you don’t forget anything you wanted to say.

What Advice Would You Share with Aspiring Students?

Be open-minded and don’t take criticism personally. They are not attacking you — they are teaching you what isn’t working and why. That distinction makes all the difference.

Share Your Top Time Management Strategy!

Organize your weeks in advance. There are deadlines coming from every direction, and if you don’t have them written down, there is no way to keep up — and still have time for work and life outside of school.

1. Nathaniel

Why Architecture?

I never knew I wanted to study architecture until my last years of high school. I was decent at math but not great with the sciences, so I thought — why not architecture? There are also [architects] already in my family. It became more a question of why not carry on the legacy?

What’s Your Favorite Thing About Campus?

Probably its proximity to the city. We are right in the heart of it, and that gives students a tangible opportunity to see how cities work — to see what kind of impact we can have in our own communities, and what questions we have for the future of the city. What is our role in all of it? That is an experience you don’t get anywhere else.

What Drew You to FAU?

The affordability of pursuing this profession here was a big factor. FAU offers a five-year accredited program — the only one of its kind in the state of Florida — which helps shatter many of the hurdles to licensure. But the pedagogy also drew me in. The school is at the edge of a radical transformation, pointing toward what the future of architecture should and could be, through its innovative work in AI, robotics, and other systematic approaches to problem-solving.

What’s Your Go-To Design Hack?

Using Rhino display modes for diagrams and drawings. I am using Illustrator and Photoshop less in my workflow now — Rhino does more than most people realize.

What Advice Would You Share with Aspiring Students?

Give it your all. Architecture school is demanding, but it is also for such a short time. To maximize your education, you have to be willing to commit. And always stay curious — learn about other disciplines. You never know how they tie back into architecture. Read books. Study the architects. Study history. A grounded project starts with a grounded student.

Share Your Top Time Management Strategy!

Every architecture student chuckles at this question. For me, what helps is having boundaries — a set time I wake up and a set time I go to bed. That allows me to respect my own time and for others to respect it too. A calendar helps. And you have to learn to adapt and set priorities when deadlines pile up.

1. Benjamin

Why Architecture?

I wasn’t originally planning to study architecture. I chose it as an alternative to engineering, thinking it might be easier to manage — I quickly realized that wasn’t the case. For me, architecture has been more about the journey, and I am still discovering why I enjoy it.

What’s Your Favorite Thing About Campus?

Its location in downtown Fort Lauderdale. When I need a break from studio work, I can step out to a park or explore Las Olas. The city itself becomes part of the experience.

What Drew You to FAU?

FAU’s alignment with licensure drew me in. Unlike other schools that require six years or a portfolio for admission, FAU offers a five-year program with no portfolio requirement for first-year students. After four years here, I have come to appreciate the program’s approach — from shape grammars and daylighting strategies to AI integration.

What’s Your Go-To Design Hack?

Trace overlays. They are fast, flexible, and help you work out mistakes so the final drawings are clean and intentional.

What Advice Would You Share with Aspiring Students?

Give it your all. Architecture school is demanding, but it is also for such a short time. To maximize your education, you have to be willing to commit. And always stay curious — learn about other disciplines. You never know how they tie back into architecture. Read books. Study the architects. Study history. A grounded project starts with a grounded student.

Share Your Top Time Management Strategy!

Keep drawing and keep reading. Reading sparks new ideas; drawing turns those ideas into physical form. Together, they cultivate the mindset of an architect as a lifelong learner.

1. Stanley

Why Architecture?

I had always said I wanted to become an architect when I was a kid. I got exposed to the world of architecture and construction early in life, so this was something I knew I wanted to do from the very beginning.

What’s Your Favorite Thing About Campus?

It is right in the middle of downtown Fort Lauderdale. It is interesting to see the contrast between South Florida city architecture and that of the northeast, where I am originally from. The campus location makes you think about place constantly.

What Drew You to FAU?

Honestly, I kind of lucked out. No one in my family had studied architecture before, so I had no advice on where to go. I did some research and found FAU, but there wasn’t much I could find. So I decided to take a leap of faith — and I don’t regret it to this day.

What’s Your Go-To Design Hack?

Talk to other people. Sometimes talking to students in your year or other years helps you formulate your own ideas. Other students might have a different understanding of the assignment, which can help you think through your own solution.

What Advice Would You Share with Aspiring Students?

You don’t have to sacrifice all your time just to pass. You can study and succeed in architecture while still enjoying other things in life. It is all about balance.

Share Your Top Time Management Strategy!

Know your own pace. If you are a slow worker, allocate enough time for the work. If you work fast, don’t underestimate how long things can take. It is better to finish early than to rush. And always set your priorities in advance.

Follow the Journey

Arch Rewind is more than a podcast — it is a record of what it actually looks, feels, and sounds like to study architecture today. Follow along as Julia, Giorgio, Nathaniel, Benjamin, and Stanley navigate studio life, design critiques, and everything in between.

Watch Arch Rewind on YouTube

Keep designing. Keep questioning. Keep rewinding.

—Julia, Giorgio, Nathaniel, Benjamin & StanleyArch Rewind

Getting Involved: Student Volunteering at the 2025 World Architecture Festival (WAF)

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From coordinating career fairs to supporting logistics and student participation at world-renowned architecture festivals, M.Arch student Alejandra Mateus De La Torre is no stranger to volunteering. 

Today, she joins Study Architecture to share her experience volunteering at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) as a WAF Student Representative — connecting with students and designers from across the globe. Read on to hear her insights and get inspired!

1. What inspired you to get involved in WAF?

Alejandra: In February 2025, the USF School of Architecture & Community Design (SACD) hosted Joyce Owens, FAIA, RIBA, as a guest speaker for our Spring Lecture Series. As the SACD Events & Lectures Graduate Assistant, I worked closely with her to coordinate the logistics of the event and ensure the lecture ran smoothly. During that time, I had the opportunity to speak with her more personally, and after the lecture, Professor Josue Robles and I invited a group of students to join her for dinner so that more students could connect with the guest speaker in an informal setting.

During that conversation, Joyce shared exciting news about the World Architecture Festival (WAF), one of the most internationally recognized architecture events in the world. Each year, WAF brings together architects, designers, and students from across the globe to present and critique built and future projects, attend lectures and panels, and celebrate innovation in architecture and the built environment. For the first time in its history, the festival would be held in the United States, and the selected location was Miami, Florida. Coincidentally, a friend and I had recently come across an Instagram post about the festival, so hearing about it directly from Joyce made the opportunity feel even more exciting. During that conversation, she asked if I would be interested in serving as a student representative working with the WAF team to help encourage and coordinate student volunteers for the event.

It was an incredible opportunity to help connect students with an international architecture event happening so close to home, and I immediately accepted. I saw it as a chance to help students experience a global architectural conversation and gain exposure to practitioners and ideas from around the world.


2. What did planning look like?

Alejandra: Once I accepted the opportunity to serve as the WAF Student Representative, I began sharing information about the festival with students at the USF School of Architecture & Community Design and through the AIAS South Quad network, which connects architecture students across Florida. As AIAS USF Chapter President, I created an interest form to understand how many students were interested in volunteering and traveling to Miami for the event.

Our AIAS USF team also developed a flyer that summarized the information provided by the WAF team, including the responsibilities of student volunteers and the benefits of participating in the festival. Once the flyer was complete, we shared it with AIAS chapters across Florida to encourage students from other schools to participate.

After identifying how many students from the University of South Florida and Florida Southern College needed transportation, I worked with my school to help secure support for travel expenses, so students would not have to worry about driving individually. I then coordinated the travel logistics, including reserving a rental van, organizing departure and pickup times from the SACD building, and arranging shared housing in Miami so our group of students could stay together during the festival.

To further support student participation, I also asked our School Director to provide a letter of support, recognizing attendance at the World Architecture Festival as both an academic and professional learning opportunity. Since the festival took place during the academic semester, this letter helped students communicate with their professors and more easily request excused absences while participating in the event.

As the WAF Student Representative, I also worked with the WAF team to ensure that all volunteer shifts were filled and that students had the information they needed before arriving at the event. Since the festival team was managing a large international event, I helped answer questions from students and coordinate communication when needed. During the festival itself, I volunteered in multiple roles. I assisted with the main stage operations, helping maintain the setup during live lectures and Q&A sessions. I also volunteered in Crit Room 7, where I helped coordinate presentations in the Completed Buildings: Health category, ensuring that presentations ran smoothly and stayed on schedule.

Beyond volunteering, the event created meaningful opportunities for students to connect. I met in person for the first time a student from Eastern Florida State College, whom I had previously connected with online and encouraged to attend the festival. Our USF students also met students from Miami-Dade College, which led to new friendships and collaborations. In fact, some of the students we connected with at WAF later joined us at the 2026 AIA Florida Legislative Day, continuing the relationships that began during the Festival.



3. What type of students and professionals were in attendance?

Alejandra: The World Architecture Festival (WAF) brings together architects, designers, academics, and students from around the world. At the 2025 festival in Miami, professionals representing architecture firms, design studios, universities, and organizations from many different countries gathered to present and discuss projects shaping the future of the built environment.

Students attending the festival came from architecture programs across Florida and beyond, including universities, community colleges, and international schools. Through the volunteer program, students were able to assist with lectures, project presentations, and critique sessions while interacting with architects and designers from around the world. One of the most exciting opportunities for students at the festival was the student design charrette, where teams of students collaborate on a design challenge within a limited amount of time and present their ideas to a jury of international architects. The charrette encourages creative problem solving, teamwork, and exposure to different design perspectives, allowing students to engage directly with the global architectural conversation happening at the festival.

The festival also features architects presenting their projects in front of international juries as part of WAF’s design awards program, where built and future projects are critiqued and discussed in a public setting. For many students, this was a rare opportunity to observe how leading architects communicate their ideas, respond to critique, and engage in design dialogue at an international level.


What advice would you share with students preparing to attend their first World Architecture Festival?

Alejandra: The World Architecture Festival will return to the United States in 2026, taking place at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale from November 18–20. My first piece of advice for students is to save the date early and start planning ahead. Events like WAF bring together architects, designers, and students from around the world, and attending can be an incredibly valuable academic and professional experience. If possible, start conversations with your AIAS chapter, professors, or school leadership about organizing a group to attend. Schools or local AIA components may sometimes help sponsor transportation or other travel expenses, and collaborating with nearby AIAS chapters can help divide costs and make it easier for students from multiple schools to attend together.

Students should also consider applying to the WAF Student Charrette, which is one of the most exciting opportunities at the festival. The charrette brings together teams of students from different schools to work collaboratively on a design challenge within a limited amount of time and present their ideas to an international jury of architects. Applications for the charrette are typically announced on the World Architecture Festival website, and students can apply individually or through their schools, depending on the year’s format. Keep an eye on their website for more information.

Another great way to participate is through the WAF Student Volunteer Program. Volunteers help support the festival by assisting with lectures, presentations, and event coordination, while also gaining valuable exposure to the international architecture community. As student volunteers, participants do not have to pay the festival registration fee, which makes attending the event much more accessible for students.

Finally, I recommend speaking with your school director or faculty about providing a letter of support for student attendance. Since WAF is both an academic and professional experience, having institutional support can make it easier for students to participate while classes are in session.

Most importantly, take advantage of the opportunity to meet students and professionals from around the world. Events like WAF allow you to see how architects communicate their ideas, present their work, and engage in design conversations at a global level. Students who would like to see more about what the experience looked like can also view highlights from the 2025 festival that we shared on social media here. 


You can find Alejandra on Instagram: @allie.m.07

Connecting Students with Practice: Expanding Opportunities at USF’s Career & Internship Expo

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Career fairs are valuable opportunities for college students to explore professional prospects and connect with potential employers. Attending a career fair will grant you face time with representatives from firms and companies that capture your interest. It’s a chance to explore the possibilities of your professional career and ask questions that may help you prepare for the journey ahead.
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At the University of South Florida School of Architecture & Community Design, M.Arch student Alejandra Mateus De La Torre played a vital role in organizing this year’s Career & Internship Expo. In this article, she shares her experience coordinating with the USF administration, local employers, and students, along with tips for students preparing to attend their first career fairs.

1. What inspired you to get involved in the career fair?

Alejandra: Over the past few years, the Career & Internship Expo at the University of South Florida has been organized through a collaboration between the College of Design, Art & Performance (CDAP), the School of Architecture & Community Design (SACD), and other schools in the college. As the SACD Events and Lectures Graduate Assistant, my role has typically been to help ensure the event runs smoothly by ensuring table assignments are set correctly, assisting firms and organizations as they arrive, guiding students and guests to the event location, and promoting the expo through our school’s newsletter.

This year, however, I took on a larger role to support the college’s student success efforts. When I learned that fewer firms and organizations had registered than in the previous year, I felt a strong responsibility to help expand the opportunities available to our students. Serving both as the SACD Events and Lectures Graduate Assistant and as President of the AIAS USF Chapter, I knew how meaningful these connections can be for students beginning to explore the profession. That motivated me to personally reach out to architecture firms and organizations across our local community to invite them to participate.

One of my goals since becoming AIAS USF Chapter President in 2024 has been to strengthen our school’s relationship with local architecture firms and organizations. With the help of an incredible group of AIAS USF officers, we have worked over the past couple of years to build meaningful connections between students and the professional community. This has included organizing firm tours, collaborating with our local Young Architects Forum and AIA Tampa Bay on firm crawls, hosting design workshops with firms, inviting licensed professionals to speak about the importance of licensure, and coordinating lecture features where firms and professionals visit our school to present their work to students.

We have also organized site visits to projects under construction, created opportunities for professionals to mentor students, partnered with our local Women In Architecture (WIA) component, and participated in statewide events that connect architecture students with practitioners across Florida. These efforts have helped create a stronger sense of continuity between our students and the professional community, making the Career & Internship Expo a natural extension of the relationships we have been building over time.

Because of all these efforts, we were able to welcome even more architecture firms and organizations than the year before, creating a richer networking experience for our architecture students.


2. What did planning look like?

Alejandra: Planning the career fair was a collaborative effort between the college and the School of Architecture & Community Design. Much of the logistical coordination was led by Karen Frank, Assistant Director of the USF College of Design, Art & Performance, who managed reserving the ballroom and organizing the overall event setup. James Spear, SACD’s Administrative Specialist, also provided important coordination support throughout the planning process.

The event took place in the USF Marshall Student Center (MSC) Ballroom A–C, which was arranged with rows of tables for each participating firm and organization, complete with tablecloths and signage displaying their names. Firms were able to bring their own materials and displays, and extension cords were placed between the rows of tables so that each table had access to power. The college also prepared slides featuring the participating firms and organizations that were displayed on the ballroom screens throughout the event. At the entrance, staff and volunteers helped manage student check in and provided name tags to ensure the event ran smoothly. Light refreshments were available, and professional photographers were present to provide headshots for students.

My role also focused on outreach and student preparation. Once the final list of participating firms and organizations was confirmed, I shared it with our students through the school’s newsletter and encouraged them to prepare in advance. I recommended that students research the firms they were most interested in and come prepared not only with their resume and portfolio, but also with tailored cover letters. My goal was to help students approach the event not just as a networking opportunity, but as a moment to stand out and make meaningful first impressions with potential employers.

To further support students in preparing for the event, we also organized several opportunities for professional feedback in the weeks leading up to the expo. Through the AIAS USF mentorship program, which is organized in collaboration with AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF) Tampa Bay, students met with local professionals two weeks before the event to receive feedback on their resumes, portfolios, and LinkedIn profiles. I also met with several students individually to provide guidance and help them refine their materials.

Additionally, the NOMAS USF chapter hosted an online portfolio and resume workshop the week before the event, giving students another opportunity to connect with professionals and receive additional feedback before meeting firms at the career fair.


3. What types of employers were present?

Alejandra: Due to the unique makeup of the College of Design, Art & Performance, a wide variety of employer organizations were present at the expo. Institutions such as Busch Gardens, the Tampa Museum of Art, and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts attended to connect with students across disciplines, including theatre, dance, art, and music.

However, the largest group of employers by far were architecture firms, reflecting the strong interest in recruiting students from the USF School of Architecture & Community Design. These firms collaborate with developers, institutions, organizations, and corporations to design buildings, campuses, and communities.

Many of the participating firms are nationally recognized practices with offices across the United States in cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, and Philadelphia, among many others. Several of these organizations also work internationally, with projects and offices located around the world in places such as Abu Dhabi, Beijing, London, Mexico City, Munich, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, and Vancouver, to name just a few. This diversity of firms allowed students to learn about a wide range of professional paths within architecture, from local practice to global design and planning.


4. What advice would you share with new students who are preparing to attend their first career fairs?

Alejandra: The old saying is true: dress for success. First impressions matter, and presenting yourself professionally shows firms that you are taking the opportunity seriously.

Preparation is just as important. I always recommend researching the firms beforehand and identifying the ones that most interest you. Come prepared not only with your resume and portfolio, but also with a cover letter tailored to each firm you are especially excited to speak with. Taking the time to learn about their work will help you have more meaningful conversations and demonstrate genuine interest.

When writing your cover letter or speaking with professionals, be yourself. This is often the first chance firms have to understand your personality and what motivates you as a designer. If there are specific projects or ideas from the firm that inspire you, mention them and explain why they resonate with you. Authenticity goes a long way.

At the end of the day, career fairs are not only about firms finding candidates, they are also about students finding places where they feel aligned. Stand out, but also take the time to notice which firms stand out to you, especially those whose values and work resonate with your personal and professional goals. Career fairs are not just about finding your first job; they are about beginning to build the professional relationships that will shape your career.


You can find Alejandra on Instagram: @allie.m.07