Architecture Registration Exams Story: Shadia Jaramillo

Welcome to the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) experience stories series! This series is to share experiences, timelines and advice of professionals that have completed their AREs. We know it can be a daunting task to get started and overwhelming on the number of resources out there. We hope you find this information helpful in organizing how you proceed through your exams. Good Luck!

This is the experience, timeline, and advice from:

Shadia Jaramillo, AIA, NCARB, WELL AP

My name is Shadia Jaramillo. I am a Project Architect at Goodwyn Mills Cawood. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture with a Minor in History of Architecture from the Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design (University of Arkansas). After graduating in 2018, I moved to Florida where I have been able to gain experience in a variety of project typologies. Including residential, commercial, higher education, healthcare, hospitality and aviation projects.

Since graduation, I have been a part of the American Institute of Architects where I have been able to serve for two consecutive years on my local component AIA Florida Northwest Board of directors as Associate Director and Secretary Treasurer. Currently, I serve on the AIA Florida State Board as Associate Director at Large, where I am able to help lead the organization as an advocate for the profession and emerging professionals.

I believe that mentorship and support are fundamental parts of one’s personal and professional development. Because of this, even though studying for the ARE’s was an incredible challenging road, I made it a point to continue to give back and be available to anyone starting their career post-graduation / on the path to licensure. Although I am currently licensed, I continue to enjoy mentoring others that are taking the ARE’s. It is important to continue to give back and provide support just like others provided support when I was on my journey to licensure.

I’m very passionate about bridging the Gap and helping those transition from academia into the workforce or even those interested in the field of architecture. Because of this, I use my social media platform @shadia_architecture to create content for those audiences.

I am a native of Panama, which is where I started my Architecture education to then complete my studies here in the United States.

“Explaining content to others is one of the very best ways to learn. Become the teacher!”

November 11, 2019	In person	PcM	Fail
March 6, 2020	In person	PcM	Fail

I had no idea what I was getting into with the first two exams.

The pandemic started and I had time to really think about licensure and what it was going to take. I did my research and took YA bootcamp. I spent 10 intense weeks studying nonstop and passed 4 tests in a row with no fails.

November 15, 2020	In person	PjM	Pass
November 31, 2022	In person	PcM	Pass
December 10, 2020	In person	CE	Pass
February 22, 2021	In person	P&A	Pass

Then, I studied for PPD and PDD together.

May 10, 2021	In person	PPD	Fail
May 17, 2021	In person	PDD	Fail
July 23, 2021	In person	PPD	Fail

Passed PDD on my second try. I was pretty confident during that exam.

July 26, 2021

In person

PDD

Pass

Here comes the burn-out phase of my journey. I was done with 5 tests by 7/26/21 and I think I was so nervous that PPD was my last one that I kept failing it over and over. I failed PPD 5 times before I was able to understand why I was failing.

I realized that I knew the content, but I wasn’t reading the questions right. I wasn’t understanding what they were asking. Once I did that, I was able to cross the finish line.

October 4, 2021	In person	PPD	Fail
May 16, 2022	In person	PPD	Fail
July 25, 2022	In person	PPD	Fail
March 19, 2023	Virtual	PPD	Pass

I often get asked “why do I need to get licensed?”. Why did you decide that you wanted to be a licensed Architect?

This is a difficult question for me. I think for me it had to do with deciding to attend architecture school back in Panama. I started architecture school back in 2011, after two years I transferred to the University of Arkansas where I basically had to start over.

By the time I graduated Architecture school I was 7 years in this field, and honestly there was no way I wasn’t going to become an Architect. That was my vision and ultimate goal all along. After graduating, I spent 1 year and a half working and getting familiar with practicing architecture. After the year and a half was over, I started my ARE journey.

Becoming an Architect took me 12 years. Now that that is behind me, I want to make sure I use that to make a positive impact in this world.

Often people don’t know where to start, do you have any advice for those looking to start their exams -or- how did you start?

The best way to start is just to sign up for a test. Definitely spend some time doing your research, and asking colleagues about their experiences, but not too much time that you overwhelm yourself. Just do it! 50% of the battle is showing up!

Another thing I would suggest is to study with others. It is incredibly helpful when you are able to discuss topics with others and listen to their research and thought process behind how they answer questions. Also, explaining content to others is one of the very best ways to learn. Become the teacher!

Do you have any other advice for someone studying for their exams?

Don’t put your life on PAUSE. Nothing is worth you missing things that are important to you. At the end of the day, you WILL get licensed, it is all a matter of time. I think if I were to go back, I would worry less and enjoy the journey more. We are always in such a rush to achieve everything fast that when we forget our WHY and become burnt out.

Don’t forget your WHY! 

Also, help others along the way. It always takes a village!

We hope that this information helps you through our ARE journey, setting goals, and giving you some insight on how to get started.

Thank you again to Shadia Jaramillo for sharing your story!

Edited by

Katelyn Rossier, AIA, NCARB, LSSBB