It is great you have a diverse background prior to starting your BLA! While you are in school store your previous experience in the back of your head and think about how it could be applied to different firms as you become more familiar with them through studios, lectures, critiques, etc. All the experience you have in addition to the stuff you’ll learn through the BLA is an asset to a multidisciplinary firm; it can put you ahead of the competition when you are looking for a job or an internship.
Be prepared for a design you develop during studio to get ripped apart by a professional during a critique. Try not to take it personally, you can defend your design during the crit. but realize that all of this is about learning something new and not about winning a debate. Remember potential employers may think if you can’t be receptive and learn something from a critique in school you also won’t be receptive to input from co-workers and clients when you start a job.
For internships and jobs don’t just call up the most prominent Architecture/LA firms in Seattle; while these are great firms, there are a ton of less visible firms that do excellent work and will probably have a smaller pile of resumes to sift through. Good luck!
