Empathlete1

Thanks so much, gradytripp! Anyone else? Any recommendations for where to study immigration policy?

Hey all, I also feel like I'm 1-2 years away from going to grad school. In the meantime, though, I'd like to know what I could do to improve my application. Applying For: MPA/MPP, concentration in domestic immigration policy Schools Considering Applying To: Goldman, HKS, Georgetown, WWS (dare2dream), whatever others you recommend Undergraduate Institution: Berkeley Undergraduate Major: Political Economy Undergraduate GPA: 3.49 (3.6 something last 2 years) GRE score: None thus far. I'm pretty good at tests though and plan to study a lot. Years out of undergrad: Probably 5, maybe 4 Years of Relevant Work Experience: During college I worked on several political campaigns. I was a local volunteer coordinator for Hillary Clinton, a campus coordinator for No on Prop 8, and did basic outreach/canvassing for a couple other major campaigns. I had a full-time social justice internships/jobs the summers before my freshman and sophomore years, and served on a youth advisory committee for this same non-profit even in high school. Interned in a govt agency summer before my junior year. Interned at a refugee advocacy group in South America while studying abroad. When I returned, I wrote an independent study thesis on refugee policy in South America and interned at a refugee resettlement non-profit (where I was the only Spanish speaker). Once graduating, I got a job as a legal assistant/eventual case manager at arguably the best immigration law firm on the west coast, doing a combination of admin and casework stuff, spearheaded office casework of new DACA program. Also volunteered on occasion at free immigration clinics. Now I'm in South America again, working for 6 months at a different refugee advocacy organization on the policy advocacy team. When I get back to the States, I hope to find work at another non-profit doing immigration case management for 1-2 years before starting a grad program. Language skills: Essentially fluent in Spanish, some Portuguese, one semester French in community college Quantitative requirements: A couple of mediocre (one C+) grades in important classes, including microecon. Also took macro and intro to economics. No college stats (got a 4 on the AP so I didn't need it) or calc (took AP in high school but did not take test), but I'll probably take those and micro in community college if necessary. Anyway, so I know I have good work experience but my GPA is kinda weak? I honestly wasn't really sure I wanted to go to grad school in undergrad and so I didn't care that much about grades. I also was really into internships, as you can see. If anyone has any suggestions for schools where I can study domestic immigration policy, that would be much appreciated. Otherwise, any ideas to improve/focus my application are very much welcome. What should my priorities be in taking supplementary classes? Econ/stats/calc/language? Thanks!