“After becoming part of the university community, that dreaded moment arrived when the system tends to push you out,” she said, and that’s how she ended up at the School of Architecture at Universidad ORT Uruguay, where she is now a senior.
“The department’s approach reignited my passion for learning,” she acknowledged. Florencia has just been selected for an architect position at UTE, a role for which she had to go through a selection process that lasted several months and involved various challenges, including, as she explains, the fact that she attended a private university.
How would you describe your experience as a student at the School of Architecture at Universidad ORT Uruguay in Universidad ORT Uruguay?
I’m a student from Bella Unión, in the department of Artigas, and the reality for a student from the countryside is very different from that of someone in Montevideo, who already has emotional and financial support. When I arrived in the capital, I first enrolled in the School of Architecture at the University of the Republic (Udelar). After settling into university life, that dreaded moment arrived when the system tends to push you out—something that doesn’t happen only in the architecture program.
I didn't want to drop out of the program, so I looked into what the program was like at the School of Architecture at Universidad ORT Uruguay how the system worked. After discussing it with my parents, I decided to finish the program here.
From the very beginning, I felt completely supported and encouraged by the university. I can honestly say that Universidad ORT Uruguay changed Universidad ORT Uruguay life.
What really impressed me was the way the program is run: it focuses on teaching, and students must learn and demonstrate what they know in order to pass the course. There are no tricks or attempts to frustrate students—quite the opposite. There is always a program coordinator available to talk to, whether it’s about something as trivial as a minor issue or to discuss academic matters and find a solution or an explanation.
I'm telling you all this from my own experience. The school's teaching methods reignited my passion for learning!
Do you feel it provides you with the tools you need to succeed as an architect?
Without a doubt. The courses provide you with the technical knowledge you need to succeed professionally. But the degree program also includes several seminars that prepare you for the real-world situations you’ll face as an architect. It trains us in everything from technical drawing and how to express ourselves to how to convey a project’s vision, budget it, and navigate the necessary bureaucratic processes with the relevant agencies.
I think it's wonderful that they prepare you for your professional life, and it's essential training.
You’ve now been selected to start working at UTE following a rigorous selection process that included many qualified candidates. Tell us about that experience.
I applied for the UTE job opening because I met the qualifications they were looking for.
I don't know exactly how many people responded to the call, but a selection process was carried out, and about 40 of us were chosen to move on to the next stages.
I was well aware that there was only one opening and that my chances of being selected were slim. I thought, “It’s not going to be me.”
It’s also true that there’s a common misconception in academic circles that, because Universidad ORT Uruguay a private Universidad ORT Uruguay , the standards are lower. Generally, when you say you’re a student at a private university, people assume you don’t know as much as a student at Udelar. However, in this application round, I was the only applicant who came from a private university.
The selection process was quite extensive and lasted several months. It began with an initial screening test of knowledge, which consisted of a 2D and 3D AutoCAD exercise and a written test of technical knowledge. This stage was followed by a four- to five-hour psychological assessment and an interview with a psychologist, after which candidates proceeded to an interview with the evaluation committee, composed of engineers and architects from UTE. They also asked technical questions and posed reasoning problems related to both on-site and office work. Finally, they conducted a merit-based evaluation. The total score from all stages determined the candidate selected for the position, who also had to pass a physical fitness test.
When you decided to enter the contest, did you think you had a chance of being selected?
There’s always a chance of getting selected, although I was aware that there were applicants from Udelar and even former interns at the company. On top of that, there was only one position available. That’s why I thought my chances were pretty slim. Still, I took each test based on the values instilled in me by Universidad ORT Uruguay: to give it my all, regardless of the outcome. And it worked!
What are your career and professional expectations for this new position? And what about the future?
To be honest, the news is pretty recent, and I think I'm still processing it. Of course, I'm really excited to have been selected, given the circumstances of the call for applications.
For now, I plan to do my best at my tasks, because I believe the universe is cyclical and that if you do things right, the results will always be good.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Universidad ORT Uruguay, particularly to the members of the School of Architecture. I also want to thank God and my parents for the opportunities they have always given me. Sometimes I stop to think about it and look at the school’s facilities and its high academic standards, and I can hardly believe that I am part of this institution. I feel truly privileged!