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I'd say, if you're passionate about this field and if you aren't afraid of stepping outside of the box and wholly expressing it in your applications, I'd say you're A OK. The application process is a total load of bullshit. I understand the point of filtering people out with GPA's, but in the long run, good grades won't get you ANYWHERE when it comes down to being a solid clinician dealing with some emotionally heavy stuff. My only regret is the fear I had in the application process of comparing myself to everyone else's process and not truly showing my whole weirdo self through my essays. It's really unfortunate that so many of the programs rely so heavily on people's grades, but if you believe in yourself (and your experience, which MEANS EVERYTHING and will be immensely valuable to you once you're in grad school!!!), go with it! Forget comparing yourself to other people's academic standings, and soar into this with all of the passionate gusto your heart has. YOU WON'T REGRET IT. I know how cheesy that sounds, but it means everything. And you know what, if a school doesn't like or want that, than quite honestly, that's not going to be the right school to nurture you as a student. I got into 1 out of the 8 schools I applied to, but it was the one that mattered and the one that I wanted: Pacific University in Oregon. My grades in comparison to everyone in the application pool were super shitty (3.0 undergrad, 3.45 post-bacc, 298 total GRE with a 3.5 essay), and I have a heavy dose of ADD, but I had a lot of experience and was really proud and passionate about it (7 summers at an overnight camp for kids and adults with special needs, and 5 years of ABA therapy work and parent coaching in an EI and elementary school environment). I knew that by taking the risk of going against the grain and showing to the best of my ability how much being in this field means to me and what my passion would to do help contribute to it, that they would see it. And they did! The prof who interviewed me asked the question -- what made me stand out as an academic student? I took the risk and told her: "I process slowly. I process differently. " (thanks ADD), and she literally lost it in enthusiasm over the fact of how open and honest my answer was, and how much Pacific's program wants and nurtures all learning styles. I knew at that moment that I had totally nailed a spot in the program. Oh yeah, and once I did get in, she totally asked me to be her grad assistant . BOOM! So I guess what I'm trying to say is: believe in yourself, your, experience, and your passion for the field -- it'll get you so far. The best clinicians are the ones who are willing to take risks and think outside the box. And really do your research into the programs and professors that fit your values and needs as a student. Feel free to message me if you have any additional questions/comments! Good luck!!! It'll all be soooo worth it!!!

I'm going to Pacific University program in the Fall (and beyond ecstactic about it)! I'm not sure if you decided to choose Pacific or not, but I've been living in NE Portland for the past year and a half and have zero intentions of moving out closer to school. The commute isn't going to be the greatest, but as nuts as it sounds, that 40min-1.5 hour drive will be 100% worth it, because this city-town is WONDERFUL. I'm also considering bike commuting some days. Nuts? Probably. But I do know some grads (and profs) do or have done it before! But if you feel you don't want/need to be directly in Portland, look into Hillsboro, Beaverton, or Tigard. It's surburban life. Yes they are cheaper than Portland (though it's getting more expensive, and to me just not at all worth the price cut), filled with gorgeous trees, chill, and relatively bike friendly and accessible to Portland -- but you need a car or to be close to the MAX line to get into Portland. During my interview, I talked to two grad students there who both lived in Portland (one in the NE and the other the SE), and they mentioned how the commute wasn't the best but that they did a lot of carpooling and agreed they didn't at all regret not living closer to school. Ultimately its whatever will suit you best. A place to focus with less distractions? I'd choose one of the burbs. Or a place with amazing and ecclectic food/art/music/entertainment/personalities and all the fantastic escapes and distractions right outside your front door? I'd go with Portland! Ohh, and I don't know if hiking/biking/camping/swimming/skiing is a selling point, but in Portland you're a mere 30 minutes away from the sheer epicness that is the Gorge, and just over an hour from Mt. Hood! Yay grad school, and best of luck!

Research research research the schools you're applying to! Being someone who has always had difficulty in the classroom and with my grades (3.0 undergrad, 3.48 post-bac), but with years of killer experience and amazing recs to back me up, I knew that I needed to apply to colleges and then grad schools that saw the PERSON and not just the GPA. Unfortunately due to the competitive nature of the programs because of so many amazing applicants for extremely limited spots, it's just a fact that many of the schools have to act pragmatically and cut off those with lower scores (which yes happened with me and most of the schools I applied to). BUT there are schools out there! I was also unapologetically myself and forward about both my strengths and shortcomings, and poured my heart and soul into my personal statement. And *poof* my top choice school, Pacific University, asked me in for an interview and it was AMAZING. I was nothing but honest and real, and when asked what made me stand out as an academic student, I took a second and decided to go out on a limb and share that I was confident in my intelligence, but that in the classroom I was a slow processor. Immediately one of the professors I was interviewing with interrupted me with excitement told me to connect with a fellow student about their own experience. I later did connect with that student (who has dyslexia), and she said that the professors in the program were not only supportive of all learning styles, but also celebrated them, and that she was head over heels in love with Pacific. Lo and behold, 2 weeks laters and that same professor I interviewed with was in the background of my acceptance phone call cheering me to come to Pacific in the Fall. HELL YEAH! The professors there are unbelievably passionate about simply spreading their own passion, supporting the students, and making us well-rounded clinicians. Will I be in mounds of debt? Oh you betchya, but it's worth every penny. And my faith in higher education in this country has been restored. Whew, I digress, but I just wanted to share that anectdote. My advice: believe in yourself and your passion and experiece. Don't sell yourself short on less competitive schools (though don't lose yourself in ignorance of the actual reality of rejection probabilities), And most importantly, look into programs that are really open and proud about sharing their values and passion, and then be just as open about expressing your own. And don't try to fit into that cookie cutter mold. They've seen enough of that Best of luck!

Hi all! I'm currently a 26 y.o. post-bac student at PSU finishing up my classes and applying to grad schools in the fall, and I'm really curious about your experiences in applying to grad programs, and how you think each school viewed your grades vs. work experience? Here's my situation... Grades: a much less than average undergrad GPA in political science (3.1), and so far a cumulative post-bac GPA of 3.4...so definitely not strong on the grades. Experience: 6+ cumulative years -- with really positive references -- doing everything from working up from a volunteer to an admin. at a residential camp for kids and adults with special needs, to several years of working as an ABA therapist in a multitude of settings (private residential school, public elementary school, home-based, early intervention). I know I'm good at the work I do, and eventhough I'm not the best student, I do really love school and try hard (yay for slow processors!)...so I've been really nervous in applying to grad school, because all I hear about is grades grades grades and very little about work experience, which really frustrates me. Is/was anyone else in this boat when they applied to grad school? Your experiences would be much appreciated! Thanks