Should I apply & what is the application process like?

[u/princessmelvinn]

I am currently a senior, and have been looking into getting an MLA, preferably somewhere in the southeast (US). I am planning to graduate in Spring of 2027 with a BS in Biology with a minor in English. I was previously on the pre-Dental track, but I was not testing too well and I have a decent GPA just not enough for the dental school competition loll. One of my professors recently introduced me to landscape architecture and it looks like something I’d enjoy a lot more as I’m interested in nature as well as designing spaces. I’ve always just been more of a creative person in general and I think this will be a lot more intellectually stimulating for me as it seems to combine the environment with design.

I was just wondering if I should start looking at softwares and/or building a portfolio now for my applications, and possibly just some tips on how to go about the MLA application process. Also if there are any current students who can share their experiences or post grad work that would be awesome!!

[u/Time_Cat_5212]

Okay so you're picking between being a dentist and being a landscape architect.

I could not imagine two more opposite life paths.

As a dentist, assuming you are not passionate about medicine because you didn't mention it, you're basically mining gold in people's mouths.  Repetitive, precise, important, mundane, totally boring work for very good money almost anywhere.  Everyone knows what a dentist does, big picture, even if the details are arcane.

As a landscape architect, you are one part artist, one part engineer, one part ecologist, one part advocate, one part manager, and two parts underpaid and overworked consultant.  You're a smoothie of different fields working in a domain that's somehow broad and narrow at the same time.  Everything that makes it totally awesome also makes it totally difficult to do and hard for people who aren't already into it to understand.  Every day is something new, it's very diverse, and your biggest obstacle is scarcity, because there's 10,000x as much potential as there is time and money.

MLA programs are easy to get into, moderately hard to succeed in, but very doable compared to med school.  What you have to watch out for is the job market on the other end.  Positions are few and it's very common for people to sink 6 figures on an MLA and never even get into the profession.  For every position there is, only a few of them get to do cool work, and the really cool work is done 60 hours a week in HCOL cities for $75k a year.

[u/Soft-Article-5626]

Hey! So crazy I am a recent grad who also considered both of these paths. I didn’t expect someone with the same dual dental/LA interests to also exist. I had very similar concerns about my grades and gets scores, but in my gap year I’ve learned to not let fear or doubt get in the way of chasing your goals. I ultimately chose dentistry and have some cool ways I plan to integrate landscape design and gardening into my career. Feel free to DM if you’d like to chat

[u/midnyghtmadnes]

So I’m currently studying at a university in Florida for an MLA, in my third year now. Application process wasn’t hard honestly, but that probably depends on the school’s competitiveness. In my case, my portfolio contained all sorts of things—artworks I did back in high school art class, photography, and some handcrafted physical models. Basically the key is to show your creative side and give the applications committee a feel for what LA means to you and how you would fit into the program.

With that in mind, starting on a portfolio now really depends on how much work you already have that you think is worth putting into it. If you haven’t made art before or done creative endeavors, definitely a good idea to get started. If you do, then putting together the portfolio isn’t that difficult (at least not for applications, for your future professional portfolio that’s a different story).

Softwares, you don’t really have to worry about right now, you’ll be taught all of that, but there’s also no harm in getting a head start if you want and have access to those programs. The key thing I’ll say as advice is MLAs are very self paced and the best thing you can do in your first semester(s) is be good at time management. Otherwise you will end up pulling all nighters if you underestimate the level of work and how long things will take.

If you have any other questions about my experiences, I’m happy to chat further too :)

[u/AR-Trvlr]

Short answer? No.

Long answer? Not without doing some research to find out if you're actually interested in the job. Search for landscape architects in your area, and ask for a 30-minute office visit. Look for one that works for a landscaping company, one that does high-end residential, one that works for a multidisciplinary engineer, and one that works for a small traditional landscape architecture practice. Ask them what the work is like, what qualifications that they look for when they're hiring LA, what the pay is like, etc. Also set up some campus visits for programs in your areas so you can see what the students are doing, and what they say about their programs. If you're still interested, take a year off and find a landscaper to work for. If you can find one that will hire an anglo (I assume you're Caucasian) for labor it will pay poorly and be hard work, but you'll get valuable insights into the landscape world.

If you're still interested after doing that work then apply. If doing all that is too much work, then you don't actually want to be a LA.

[u/graphgear1k]

Southeast of where? Pakistan? Australia? Mozambique?

MLAs are drastically different degrees based on different countries.

In the US they're typically retraining degrees with a very skinny research component. In many other countries they involve substantially more mastery of theoretical and designerly content (my MLA thesis alone was the equivalent to 40 credit hours in American terms).

[u/princessmelvinn → u/graphgear1k]

Southeast of United States

[u/DogSecure6837]

I’m a recent MLA grad from NC State. It was a great fit for me, but it depends on your interests. Happy to talk more about the program, if you want to DM.

I’d echo others have said, take some time to really know what you’re getting into. It’s annoying to hear, but I’d recommend taking some time to work after you graduate from your undergraduate program. In the meantime, visit offices, interview professionals about their jobs, or attend community engagement events hosted by landscape architecture firms in your area. Landscape architecture is an amazingly diverse career path and it’s important to understand the different ways people practice. Your energy is better spent doing that than putting together your portfolio.

Word of warning: Make sure you get real about your finances. Ask MLA programs about funding opportunities and don’t go somewhere where loans are your only option. You will not make a lot of money when you graduate, and certainly never as much as you would as a dentist. Most people I graduated with make around $60k. It’s a harsh reality, but if you find landscape architecture is for you, it’s worth it.

[u/jjoyb]

Most people enter a program with little to no skills so I wouldn’t stress to learn since you’ll be taught in school. A familiarity will of course help but not required. I graduated from a southeast school and loved it. Now in the industry I am very grateful for the education I got as I’ve noticed my education was well rounded in the sense of graphics/aesthetic is just as important as actual construct ability where as I currently practice in the north east and have noticed a lot of schools up here focus on the art side which is important but lots of designs that will never be able to be built.