I’m probably gonna graduate with a 3.1 GPA at Binghamton University. I’m a Economic Policy Analysis and Sociology major. I struggled a lot my freshman year but since then have vastly improved my academic performance. I have stellar recommendations from three internships and I have yet to take the GRE. I’m planning on taking a gap year to save up money and hopefully bolster my resume to get into a better MPA/MPP program. I am extremely worried about my chances of getting into a decent MPA/MPP program. In desperate need of some reassurance.
The best advice I can give is apply to a lot of programs.
Another piece of advise is make your gap year count. Try to find a job that builds on your experience and what you will bring with you to grad school.
Think about taking more than a year.
Honestly, even MPA/MPP candidates who did really well in undergrad do. The average age at many of the top MPA programs is typically between around 24 and 26, which indicates students who take 2-4 years off after college to work in the field. MPA and MPP programs are designed to build upon both your academic foundation and your professional career to teach you new skills.
So expect, instead, to work for at least two years post-college - and maybe 3 or 4. The time will fly by, I promise you, and you will be a more competitive candidate even with your lower GPA if you have 3ish solid years of work experience in a great public policy/affairs job.