14 year old wants to study architecture. I'm an architect and trying not to steer her

mint_kettle_54215 Oct 2026

My daughter is in class 9, ICSE. She's said for a year now that she wants to do architecture. I'd like to believe she came to it on her own, but she's grown up around drawings and site visits, so who knows. Two questions. Does she need anything at 14 beyond drawing and paying attention in maths? A coaching centre near us is already advertising entrance prep 'from class 9'. And how do I give her a real picture of the work without it turning into me lecturing about my own job?

2 comments

ochre_veranda_910115 Oct 2026
Our daughter is 15 and talking about design. We were told the entrance exams are taken in class 12 and that drawing practice can start any time, at home. I would be cautious about any coaching that wants a 14 year old enrolled now. I can't help with the second question. That one sounds harder.
mango_tiffin_383415 Oct 2026
My daughter is 12, always drawing, in her notebooks, on the walls also when she was small. People tell me drawing is not a career. Reading your post I am happy to know architecture needs drawing. From which class she should start preparing?
- mint_kettle_54215 Oct 2026
  Drawing is a big part of it, yes, so please don't let anyone tell her it's a waste of time. At 12 there's no preparing to do. Let her keep drawing what she likes, buildings, people, anything. If you ever pass a construction site, stop and look at it with her. That's how most of us got interested.