Sounds like a great reference to me. Ideally, you will want a selection of recommendations that can elaborate the various things that you have to offer, both within the profession and outside of it.

Well, I just wrote to some old professors (non-art/non-architecture) a few weeks ago fishing for letters of recommendation... and they told me they would probably do it if I sent them a copy of my portfolio.

They'd haven't a problem with other things I do but generally would like to see what I am currently doing before they endorse me.

So... maybe you ask him and present some work or a portfolio? That way he can write a letter both on your personal performance and job skills and his opinion of what you want to do?

I should've remained an ancient historian!

The more scotch I drink, the more improper contractions I invent.

"I'll'vn't" -- I'm digging it.

Tell Brad Pitt I said Hi.

*bump*

This thought is a little about connections too.

I have never thought too much of connections as a work-getting tool as it pertained to my current office. Then, we had a rather dismal couple of office meetings over the past month wherein my boss, (who has done amazingly to keep our ship of 5 afloat through about a year and a half of very tough times) began to bemoan our lack of client connections re: alma mater.

We're located outside Boston, and none of us have an MIT, GSD, Yale, etc., etc. academic pedigree. My boss believes this is a fact-of-life problem that will always prevent us from getting an abundance of quality projects any time soon. My boss has attempted to break into the social circles of various wealthy clients to no avail.

I'm less concerned about how this is affecting our office right now since there are greater and more pertinent forces at work, but I wonder, has anyone experienced this kind of academic glass ceiling? Maybe I'm naive to think this doesn't exist everywhere, all the time? Don't things like competitions or the 1% pro-bono program, etc. also provide a way to gain attention and break through and reach these elite clients? Please note we have not attempted any of the items previously mentioned.

I've only been out of school for 4 years, but I have found that my education has only mattered less as I have gone further into practice. That last sentence sounds pretty bad but I hope my point's getting through.

Congratulations, you reached the bottom of this post -- any thoughts would be enlightening and appreciated!

would the gsd automatically let me in if brad pitt wrote me a rec letter?