Sounds like a good strategy. You might also consider applying to the graduate school under general admission. Then take some classes in art, etcetera -- with the intent on hanging around the architecture school to get to know the faculty. When your app comes along the following year, you'll be much more likely to get serious consideration. I met several colleague in my MArch program that did this successfully.

I think your experience at a firm will help. I included a couple project from my professional experience in my grad school portfolio.

Thanks Jackalope. The general admission option sounds a good idea. Can I ask how did you include professional work that you've only been contributing to part of it?
When it comes to my master plan job, most of the time it is the boss giving general directions and I took the less important part of the plan to elaborate into furthur details while the boss worked on the key spots of the plan. Once the plan's done I would make a sketchup model or furthur with block studies also under directions. Graphics gave the whole thing a fancy finishing.

Did you produce any graphic work at all at your firm? If so, some representation of that should be put into your portfolio.

Aside from that, your strategy of taking courses to help you produce some graphic material for your portfolio is a good one.

Good luck!

if your true interest is urban design, perhaps a degree in landscape architecture would be more appropriate than architecture...

thanks citizen, the types of graphics I have done would be site analysis, land use maps,block studies and one condo building rendering(well, I did the massing study too)...wonder if those are the kind of graphics could be used for architecture school application?

Hi architphil, I thought the same way too while still at planning school and I still agree landscape architecture could be the way to go if I were to pursue a career in urban design. But during my two years working in an interdisciplinary architecture firm. I noticed that landscape architects are hired to do master plans but they will have to rely heavily on architects' advice when it comes to adapting building types to specific site conditions and my old boss who himself a landscape architecture told me architects are always having more prestige in this industry.

I figured that though some architects tend to overlook the big picture but since I have got training in planning maybe what I need is some understanding of buildings and enhanced design skills.

In terms of the composition of the urban design poplulation, seems it is roughly 60% landscape architects, 30% architects and 10% planners. Architects are able to do urban design if they have an eye for the big picture but many of them preferred not to because they started out with a dream to design buildings at school.

Am I right about this?

i think you are correct, mr. monkey.

yes you can put those projects in your portfolio as long as you describe your role honestly.

for admission to grad school archi-program the idea is to show how/what you think about stuff and how you transform what you think into designs buildings clothes hats whatever. so you will need to have more than just projects you worked on. the work will add a nice background to your work though, and def recommend including it.

Yes, monkey, include samples of your planning graphics work-- but only the best examples.