BP - PASS!!!!!!!!! Two-thirds of the way there. I'm starting to get used to this... I'd love to relax and revel in getting this far, but preparing for GS and LF will not allow that.
Prep for GS began with Kaplan a couple of weeks ago. After slogging my way through the first chapter and feeling totally confused and miserable, I signed up for Marc Mitalski's PrepARE on-line any-time seminar. After only a few hours into it and with a lot of help from folks on the forum, I already feel a bit more comfortable. So back to the grind.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Finish Line is Finally in Site!
I just got the results for Site Planning - PASS! Pass Pass Pass Pass! I got a bit wigged out at first because NY State Ed for some reason sent two letters. But I passed! Wow. More than half way there. I never thought I would get this far (yes, my husband knew I would).
So now I've passed ME, MM, CD, SP, and BT. I am still waiting for results on BP (taken 8/25). Since I'm taking GS and LF on the same day and then only PD after that, I should only have to make two more trips to that dungeon called Prometric (a truly horrid place).
Wish I could relax, but there is still so much work to do... like preparing for GS/LF. Not a stress-free subject.
So now I've passed ME, MM, CD, SP, and BT. I am still waiting for results on BP (taken 8/25). Since I'm taking GS and LF on the same day and then only PD after that, I should only have to make two more trips to that dungeon called Prometric (a truly horrid place).
Wish I could relax, but there is still so much work to do... like preparing for GS/LF. Not a stress-free subject.
Monday, August 18, 2008
For Those Taking ARE 4.0
While the content of these test versions (3.1 vs. 4.0) is essentially the same, the different format may require a slightly different strategy for how/when to take each division. Since I am on the "git 'er done in 3.1" track, I would suggest that those taking 4.0 read the suggestions on the ARE Forum, and also pay close attention to architect54's blog. I think architect54 has a pretty sane strategy for tackling the order of the divisions of 4.0. Well, at least he's sane for now...
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Oops - I Did It Again!
My husband was right, and I have to go and get him a crispy $50 bill...
I did it, despite myself. I got my PASS letter yesterday for BT. Woo Hoo! I am so relieved that I don't have to revisit this one. Actually, I'm relieved that I don't have to re-take any of them so far. So now I can say I'm 4/9th an Architect. It's a lovely little fraction. So the count now is 4 passed, 5 taken, 4 to go. I took SP this past Friday, and will know my fate in about four weeks (seems to be the graphics division turn-around time in NY).
One think I can say with certainty about studying for the graphics divisions is that Dorf and the ARE Forum are MUSTS. You have to practice practice practice, post your vignettes on the Forum, and treat Dorf's "Solutions" as gospel. There is absolutely no way I could have passed this using the Kaplan materials. Quite frankly, they are useless... at least for me.
If you don't know about the late Prof. Dorf's material, go the website: http://www.nalsa.com
On to BP!
I did it, despite myself. I got my PASS letter yesterday for BT. Woo Hoo! I am so relieved that I don't have to revisit this one. Actually, I'm relieved that I don't have to re-take any of them so far. So now I can say I'm 4/9th an Architect. It's a lovely little fraction. So the count now is 4 passed, 5 taken, 4 to go. I took SP this past Friday, and will know my fate in about four weeks (seems to be the graphics division turn-around time in NY).
One think I can say with certainty about studying for the graphics divisions is that Dorf and the ARE Forum are MUSTS. You have to practice practice practice, post your vignettes on the Forum, and treat Dorf's "Solutions" as gospel. There is absolutely no way I could have passed this using the Kaplan materials. Quite frankly, they are useless... at least for me.
If you don't know about the late Prof. Dorf's material, go the website: http://www.nalsa.com
On to BP!
Friday, July 11, 2008
The First Loooooong Wait
BT aka Six Hours of Agony (sorry to those who have heard this saga ad nauseum). Why do we have to wait 8 weeks for graphics results, when MC sections only take 2 weeks? Don't get me started...
Actually, it wasn't as horrific as I thought (as usual). At one point, I even dared to think I was enjoying it. Of course, that feeling didn't last long...
I think I did okay on the section and stairs. I will probably get dinged for the ramp (one too many landings), mechanical/lights because I overlit a couple of rooms (but the two were an art exhibit room and a studio), structure (too many columns), and the roof (screwed up the high roof). I met all the criteria, and made sure my clearances were correct, so who knows?
I saved the structural for last on the first half, and by the time I got there I just blanked. Then I went back and notice my ramp didn't work because of the clearances... So I redrew that. On the second half, mechanical was okay and stair was okay (had a big, long landing on the upper floor) but feel that these could pass. I had an hour and some to do the roof - and just wigged out. In retrospect, it was a very simple solution. For whatever reason, I thought that one edge of the upper roof had to be at 9'-6" like the lower roof! Wow, talk about a complicated upper roof! I made it work, but will get slammed for that I'm sure because it didn't exactly follow the program. It met all the criteria, but just stupid stupid stupid...
I don't know what all the fatal errors are, but hopefully none of my mistakes were that bad and I will pass. I doubt it, though (what else is new).
On to SP and the joys of grading!
Actually, it wasn't as horrific as I thought (as usual). At one point, I even dared to think I was enjoying it. Of course, that feeling didn't last long...
I think I did okay on the section and stairs. I will probably get dinged for the ramp (one too many landings), mechanical/lights because I overlit a couple of rooms (but the two were an art exhibit room and a studio), structure (too many columns), and the roof (screwed up the high roof). I met all the criteria, and made sure my clearances were correct, so who knows?
I saved the structural for last on the first half, and by the time I got there I just blanked. Then I went back and notice my ramp didn't work because of the clearances... So I redrew that. On the second half, mechanical was okay and stair was okay (had a big, long landing on the upper floor) but feel that these could pass. I had an hour and some to do the roof - and just wigged out. In retrospect, it was a very simple solution. For whatever reason, I thought that one edge of the upper roof had to be at 9'-6" like the lower roof! Wow, talk about a complicated upper roof! I made it work, but will get slammed for that I'm sure because it didn't exactly follow the program. It met all the criteria, but just stupid stupid stupid...
I don't know what all the fatal errors are, but hopefully none of my mistakes were that bad and I will pass. I doubt it, though (what else is new).
On to SP and the joys of grading!
Monday, June 2, 2008
1/3rd an Architect Sounds Much More Impressive than 2/9th!
I slayed the beast! I passed ME! I PASSED! I PASSED! I PASSED!
Go figure... and another nod to my husband, who was right for the third time. Now it's costing me money - even if I pass - due to a bet we made. You see, we kinda have a ritual going and my husband has to open the dreaded envelope when it arrives. This last time, it sat and burned a hole in the coffee table for hours before he got home. So we added a bet to this last test because he was sick of hearing me say, "I know I failed this one." As I explained to another comrade in hell (womanonamission), it goes something like this: if I pass like he always says I will, I have to give him $50. If I'm right and I fail like I know I will, I have to give him $25. Somehow, I got screwed in this deal! He says it's to punish me for not having any faith in myself. Only an attorney can find the logic in this wager. Only an architect (or blonde...) would agree to it!
Now on to BT... groan...
Go figure... and another nod to my husband, who was right for the third time. Now it's costing me money - even if I pass - due to a bet we made. You see, we kinda have a ritual going and my husband has to open the dreaded envelope when it arrives. This last time, it sat and burned a hole in the coffee table for hours before he got home. So we added a bet to this last test because he was sick of hearing me say, "I know I failed this one." As I explained to another comrade in hell (womanonamission), it goes something like this: if I pass like he always says I will, I have to give him $50. If I'm right and I fail like I know I will, I have to give him $25. Somehow, I got screwed in this deal! He says it's to punish me for not having any faith in myself. Only an attorney can find the logic in this wager. Only an architect (or blonde...) would agree to it!
Now on to BT... groan...
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Studying for Mechanical and Electrical
In the process of studying for ME, I've found that the information contained in the links provided below are very useful.
- This is an incredible document. Someone had the time (and patience) to create a spreadsheet of terms, definitions, formulae, etc. Worth downloading.
- MEEB (Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings) is a brick of a bible for this exam. The link below is to the companion site. The site provides on-line quizzes, chapter outlines, chapter summaries, and other goodies. A lot of folks recommend reading this monster cover-to-cover...
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