Can I still be accepted to a grad program in elementary edu.-special education, with

[Just?'s]

a GPA under a 3.0 ? My undergrad GPA is a 2.67 and my major & minor were Communication & Sociology. My grades were on a steady incline from freshman to senior year, but once more slipped due to my own carelessness. I've been out of school for roughly 5 years now and currently do some volunteer work with pre-teens 1x a week. Most programs that I am looking at do not require a GRE test score as part of the admissions process. So can I help to demonstrate my worth,without a GRE score to help back my ability to handle the course work and excel as a teacher, and a transcript that shows a incline in grades than a sporadic drop the semester before graduation? I've been thinking a course this summer as a non-matriculating student before applying to grad school-but I'm uncertain if this will work in my favor. Suggestions?
Thanks!

[Amanda Kay]

You should definitely take some non-matriculated classes, but only if you're POSITIVE they will work in your favor. The GPA is a bit low, but many graduate education programs look at the GPA in a year by year perspective, not just the final cumulative. Also, if you've been working in your fields for the past five years, that will help tremendously. Focus on your personal statement and recommendation letters. Write a stellar personal statement, focusing on your personal and academic accomplishments and even mention the decline in your GPA in your senior year - just don't dwell on it. One to two sentences about it will suffice, and don't make excuses, just touch on your acknowledgement that it's lower than average and why that is - because you were working and studying, a death in the family, etc. Also, even if the schools you're applying to only require 3 recommendation letter (that's usually the standard number), exceed that number and ask a couple extra referees, like your employer, previous employers, or other previous professors. You would be surprised how much those complementary items can help your application and make up for a lower GPA.