ARE Experience Stories: Weston Snyder

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:

Weston Snyder, AIA

Weston is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design and a Colorado native. He enjoys challenging, intricately detailed projects and creating environments with a focus on spatial experience. He has led teams on projects ranging from civic, corporate, education, healthcare, industrial, and multifamily types. He especially enjoys parks projects, as they create opportunities to design equitable ways for all people to be able to enjoy the outdoors. He also leads construction administration efforts on many team projects, as he has a passion for being on site and enjoys collaborative resolution of on-site issues with all parties.

Weston is passionate about increasing diversity within the profession, designing equitable space for all people, fostering mentorship across experience levels, and designing for the changing climate + human health. He co-directs an Architecture + Planning Camp for high school students in collaboration with Ball State University, is a member of the AIA Indianapolis Programs committee, and enjoys volunteer trail building with Hoosier Hikers Council. He enjoys hiking, camping, concerts, photography, and travel.

“Licensure made me a better Architect all-around. It’s about protecting the health, safety, and welfare of everyone – which is an awesome and honorable responsibility.”

February 4, 2013

In Person

SD (4.0)

Fail

I went into the exam process thinking it couldn’t be that difficult – and had a humbling experience. I bought into a set of group study materials with colleagues at a former firm. I studied minimally and thought I could skate by on good test-taking skills and architecture knowledge. What could go wrong? Not surprisingly, I failed and was really discouraged. I focused on some personal and career life goals for the next few years.

January 7, 2017

In Person

PPP (4.0)

Fail

Years later, I joined an ARE study group with another colleague (Ashley Thornberry) and studied for a different exam for a few months. I purchased some materials through Black Spectacles during a Black Friday sale and took one practice exam. I did alright but didn’t feel very confident heading into the exam. I came close to passing, but still came up short.

I waited until the end of the year (12/16/2017) to transition to ARE 5.0 and make another attempt.

Transition to ARE 5.0

February 10, 2018	In Person	PcM	Pass
April 14, 2018	In Person	PjM	Pass
June 16, 2018	In Person	C&E	Pass
September 22, 2018	In Person	P&A	Pass
March 9, 2019	In Person	PPD	Pass
June 15, 2019	In Person	PDD	Pass

At the end of 2017, I overhauled my approach to studying and taking the exam. I bought the Ballast study materials and read all the primary chapters associated with each exam, as well as the secondary chapters that were referenced. After a few exams, I had read the entire book but kept re-reading chapters over again, highlighting and taking notes. I took a practice exam several weeks before the actual exam, wrote down any questions I missed or didn’t feel confident about the material, and created my own flash cards. I studied those for the final 1-2 weeks prior to the exam.

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

Licensure made me a better Architect all-around and feel more confident in my capabilities. It’s about protecting the health, safety, and welfare of everyone – which is an awesome and honorable responsibility. Eventually, I would like to start my own practice and licensure opens many more opportunities for ownership and leadership at that level.

Not to mention, clients and colleagues have a higher level of trust because they know what it takes to achieve being an Architect.

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?

Think about how you learn best and how you studied in high school/ college. Obtain advice from friends and colleagues but develop a method that ultimately works for you.

What type of study materials did you use? Any particular ones that you’d recommend?

I used the Ballast books and practice exams, as well as a few other online quiz materials. I think I may have even had an app on my phone with some daily questions. Occasionally, I would find videos online to help explain certain concepts.

Lunch or drinks with Civil, Structural, and MEP engineer friends/ colleagues was another great way to ask questions about ideas I couldn’t grasp. It was also a great networking strategy 😊.

How did you fit study time into your schedule? Was there anything in particular that worked well for you?

I remember tasks and have much better success with completion by adding them to my calendar. So, I scheduled a reoccurring study time for two hours every night and three to four hours per day on the weekends. It may not have been exactly that duration each day, but it was close. Like anything, you know your schedule best, so you do what works for you.

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

Remember that the exam content may differ from what you learn in professional practice depending on your state. So, you may have to retrain your brain to provide the best answer for the exam. With whatever study or testing approach you decide, don’t ever give up. Talk to your colleagues at your firm, other firms, AIA events, networking events, etc. Get involved and share your experience – someone is bound to have knowledge to pass along.

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

Thank you again to Weston Snyder for sharing your story!

Edited by

Katelyn Rossier, AIA, NCARB, LSSBB