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MeepMeep

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  • Gender
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  • Location
    USA
  • Application Season
    2016 Fall
  • Program
    MSW

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  1. Hello everyone! As the title says, I'm applying to PSU's fall 2016 MSW program looking towards the Practice and Leadership with Community & Organizations concentration. I think I have enough experience to show that I'm committed to community/organizational practice, but on PSU's "What we're looking for page" it says that they're looking for people with experience in human service settings like schools, homeless shelters, child welfare, etc. which are areas I don't have experience in since I'm not interested in direct service. I'd really like their program and have two guaranteed academic recs + am confident I can get another from one of the staff members at the community organization where I volunteer. About Me: I didn't study social work or anything related to it in college (BSW isn't even an option at my school), and didn't think about MSW programs until I was complaining to a friend about not being able to find a graduate program that combined my passions and she suggested I look at social work schools. I'm interested in the intersections of environmental justice and social justice (esp. economic justice, housing, prison abolition, and racial disparities) since I think the two are intimately related and must be tackled together. I'd like to approach the two from a POV of community based policy/advocacy and community organizing, which is the type of work I'd like to pursue professionally. I want to go to PSU for 3 main reasons: 1. Price: Even though I moved away from home 5 years ago, I still have Oregon residency and would pay in-state tuition; 2. Location: I was raised in Portland and can live at home while going to school/would appreciate reconnecting with old friends; and 3. Program: I like that there's a community practice option and I'd have the chance to do my practicum or at least volunteer with organizations in the city that are doing the type of intersectional work I'm interested in; also, it's the only place I've found where I can do both social work and environmental studies without having to do a dual MSW + MPA/MPP degree since they have a graduate certificate program in sustainability. Anyhoo, here are my details. If any of you have honest advice or impressions of my chances, please respond! Current/admitted students or alumni of PSU appreciated, but any advice is much needed! Education: Graduated in 2014 from top 20 school with majors in International Studies and History and a minor in Spanish, 3.61 GPA Work Experience Admin & Logistics at our regional Fight for $15 campaign (4 months) Development Assistant at a housing development non-profit (7 months) Documentary intern for an anti mining in Central America campaign (summer) Trainee as part of a community organizing fellowship/program, apprenticed in community outreach for an urban farming/job training hub slated for a neighborhood (3 weeks/staying on as a volunteer for org bottom-lining outreach) Student mobilization lead for national protest (1 month contract) Volunteer Experience Volunteer at a local community organization on campaigns around racial justice, anti-prison industrial complex, challenging corporate/elite status quo (1 year/ongoing) Student organizer for divestment campaign during last semester of senior year of college Member of Latin America solidarity organization, working on Central America solidarity, immigration reform, and anti-militarism (8 months/ongoing) Member of African American advocacy/community organizing group - helping with communications and feminist sections (1 month/ongoing) Founding member of collective that fundraises bail money for and tracks people who've been arrested at protests (1 year/ongoing) Next Steps (experience-wise) Currently applying to potential internships as my (not career related) part time job is adequate for me to pay bills and save for my move [I'll be going back to Portland regardless of if I get in or not]: Please let me know if these make sense! Communications intern for food justice program at local environmental advocacy organization (Spring) - Top Choice Policy intern at local ACLU (Spring) Civil/legal advocate intern at local nonprofit law firm for indigent residents (Summer) - Top Choice Group facilitation intern at domestic violence prevention/education organization (Spring or Summer) **Do you all think I still have a chance even though I don't have the experience they listed?** -- Thanks and sorry for the super long tome!
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