xxx28

Long time lurker but here we go. Applying to: Yale MEM, UPenn MES, UC Davis Enviro Policy & Management, UCSB Bren ES & Management Undergrad Institution: California State University Undergrad Major: Political Science Years out of undergrad: 6 GPA: THIS IS MY BIG INSECURITY. I went to a city college before transferring for my upper division courses and did terribly. My GPA at the CSU/where only upper division courses were taken =3.46 However, the city college GPA did follow me so I am at cumulative 2.98 I have been taking science and math classes at my city college for the last 2 years with a 4.0. The courses: environmental biology, geology- global climate change, contemporary biology, biology - environmental regulations and intro into stats. Unclear if these classes will help any reviewers but I hope it displays a commitment to environmental science and an upward trajectory from my previous city college days 10 years ago. GRE: Did not take Quant Background: mentioned above - my best attempt to show I am taking the science/quant aspect seriously. I took microeconomics in undergrad + research methods. Relevant Work Experience: During undergrad: 2 years of internships at CA State Capitol, data analyst at our Institute for Social Research, selected to represent my college as a CSU Panetta Congressional Intern Fellow in Washington, D.C. my senior year. Post-undergrad: 3 years as a legislative aide, focused on environmental policy for State Assemblymembers; 1 year at CA Environmental Protection Agency, CalRecycle as a legislative analyst; 6 months as Field Director for a Congressmembers successful re-election campaign; currently work for Union of Concerned Scientists as a legislative and regulatory lobbyist (2 years now). Around 6 years of experience in total I was also a New Leaders Council fellow in 2018 in my area. International experience: None Strength of LOR: Fine I think. Current employer, Assemblymember I worked for, and the biology professor who I have had a few times over the last year. I want to stay in my field but really want to add a more analytical and scientific approach to the policies/bills I frequently advocate for/or against. Working with scientists over the years really sparked my curiosity and I am convinced that that the interdisciplinary approach some of these programs provide will make me a better advocate as I advance in my career. I am applying to pretty competitive programs with a pretty crap GPA. At this point I can't change that GPA from when I was 18 so I have made peace with it and tried to supplement in other ways. Thanks in advance for any advice or feedback! I appreciate the assessment.