I received my architectural degree from the University of Virginia in 1954. There were no female arch. students but the schools were turning out far more arch. graduates then the profession could bear and much scrambling has been going on for many years. My first employee, a female high school student, was one of the first female graduates of Virginia Tech and she had a rough time of it but came out stronger then ever. She moved to California and became the chief architect for Pacific Gas and Electric. During one of the normal construction industries downturns I asked her how architects were coping out there. She said they were all doing well and had easily transitioned into graphics, photography, building management and some other professions which had no artistic component. She ventured that the problem solving design process gave them a special leg up in moving on. For myself, I practiced for over forty years and during the downturns I built houses and small commercial projects.

I think the intensity of the multi-week design process was the key.

I believe the popularity of architectural education continues to turn out more graduates then the profession can absorb so the beat goes on.