you're already on the right track with most of your thinking, it sounds like. drawing class would be good.

a big step that might help would be to enroll yourself in one of the arch schools' career discovery classes for a mini-studio trial run. these are usually in the summer and a lot of arch schools have them. i don't specifically know about the ny schools but i know that cornell, harvard have them.

Jeez - when I was 24 I was worried about getting a license and a career started but thats a topic for another thread.

First - policy may affect the built environment more than architecture - so really its a decision you should make to yourself like - am I interested in macro level or micro level design. The constraints or the expresion?

Architects do buildings - planners do areas and cities - policy makes the rules.

As far as getting into school - Have you any internships? Any unique experiance? Hint - architecture admissions boards are suckers for unique experiances. Did you work for a policy institute? Intern at an urban planning company donating time to 3rd world development? That kind of stuff.

I think it comes down to experiance variety, strong letter of recomendation from people in the field, possibly porfolio if you have one ( wouldnt hurt to include any artworks you may have peoduced - they wont be expecting buildings for a 3 year MA

Jeez - when I was 24 I was worried about getting a license and a career started but thats a topic for another thread.

First - policy may affect the built environment more than architecture - so really its a decision you should make to yourself like - am I interested in macro level or micro level design. The constraints or the expresion?

Architects do buildings - planners do areas and cities - policy makes the rules.

As far as getting into school - Have you any internships? Any unique experiance? Hint - architecture admissions boards are suckers for unique experiances. Did you work for a policy institute? Intern at an urban planning company donating time to 3rd world development? That kind of stuff.

I think it comes down to experiance variety, strong letter of recomendation from people in the field, possibly porfolio if you have one ( wouldnt hurt to include any artworks you may have peoduced - they wont be expecting buildings for a 3 year MA

What Steven said. I've you're already in NYC, you have a great summer architecture program right in your back yard: Columbia University - Intro to Architecture. I did it last year and had a lot of fun, and I think it will give me a big leg up when I get around to applying to M.Arch. programs.

work experience is all you need

Also if you're interested in attending Architecture school for the Fall of 2009, now is not too early at all to start getting a portfolio and applications ready.

You can do all of this while you get some drawing experience. It also wouldn't hurt to contact any of the schools and chat with some of the chairs and/or professors who are on the admission committees. Some schools would understand if you didn't have a portfolio since you come from a different kind of background.

You can definitely get into arch school with or without a design background and you can definitely succeed greatly. You seem to be on the right track. There are also tons of firms in NYC so I would also seek advice of some professionals as well.

Good luck!

I WOULD SUGGEST YOUR PAPA....MAKE A BIG ASS DONATION TO AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL...AND YOU WILL BE A SHOE IN..THAT IS IF HE DIDN'T LOOSE HIS BOTTOM TODAY!

Many programs require you to already have some architectural coursework (usually an intro history course), physics, and calculus, so I'd definitely check their requirements, and make sure you can either meet them, or find a way to meet them before classes start next fall.

the portfolio could be anything - any kind of visual exploration - photography, sculpture, stuff from career disco... I think not coming from an art/arch background puts you at an advantage, because they might be more willing to overlook lack of graphic skill if you show some potential and are strong in other areas - like writing.

Look at Rem koolhaas, His background was in journalism something that at first does not seem to apply to architeture what so ever, yet Rem is the "most comprehenssive thinker in architecture today" (Frank Gehry).

My spelling sucks

LEARN TO SEE by drawing every day!

An important skill to acquire in becoming an architect is the ability to see. By learning to observe buildings, spaces, and their relationships, you become sensitive to issues that concern architects. Explore your surroundings by looking closely at the built environment every day.
What detail can you describe from memory about a building you know well — a school or nearby store, for example? Now, visit the building and note all the details you did not remember or notice before. Draw sketches of the overall building or details.

Tour and observe your neighborhood or city and take visual notes about the architecture you encounter. Seek out guided tours of significant buildings in your city and learn about their architectural features.

Purchase a sketchbook and begin to teach yourself to draw. Sketch from real life to develop your drawing skills and sharpen your awareness of the existing environment. Sketching from life trains you to observe, analyze, and evaluate while recording your surroundings. Do not worry about the quality of the sketches; focus instead on developing your skill of seeing.

One way to develop your drawing skills is to dedicate a specific amount of time — one or two hours — per day to sketching. Be committed to drawing each day. Practice, practice, and practice!

Begin reading books, magazines, and newspapers articles on architecture and the profession of architecture. Check your local public library for ideas.

Some of the best students in my architectural grad program came from backgrounds as undergrad English majors. They were more articulate, could state a sound argument, and produce superior descriptions and essays on theory and their work in general. Any good grad school is looking for a variety of experience and backgrounds in a class of students and does not in any way perceive a lack of previous architectural study as a weakness. This goes for any good program including the elite schools. One friend of mine from grad school, who had a background similar to yours, submitted a portfolio of architectural themed photographs that he had taken. So, don't sweat it - realize that those reviewing the applications think the process through more than you think..

have you looked into Faber College?

weird al has a arch degree