[nagdu] Application Process

[minh ha]

Brandon,

I'm a GDB grad and the application process was absolutely a breeze for
me. Within a month of me submitting my application, I got a phone call
from one of the admission staff to do a phone interview where she
asked me questions about what my lifestyle is like and places that I
travel on a regular basis. GDB requires you to list 3 routes that you
travel pretty constantly and from what you described of your area, I
don't think this should be a problem. After the phone interview, GDB
will schedule you in for a home interview where an instructor will
come out and observe you walk with a cane as well as do a juno walk
with you. I know this experience varies from instructor to instructor,
but I had a great time during my interview and it was extremely laid
back and not nerve wracking at all. I'm from the East coast so my home
interview took a little bit for them to schedule in because an
instructor wasn't coming to my area for a few months. It took about
five months between my phone interview and home interview. It took
them about two weeks to get back with my acceptance, which was awesome
because I didn't have to anxiously wait for that long. After that,
it's just a matter of GDB finding the perfect match for you according
to your needs and preferences. In my case, they told me the same day I
was accepted that they already had a dog in mind for me, and I flew
out to the Oregon campus two weeks later. I hope I answered some of
your questions, but if you have anymore, don't hesitate to ask--I love
talking about GDB and am really glad you're applying.

Minh

On 5/6/14, Brandon Olivares <programmer2188 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I recently applied to GDB. I know there are some other GDB graduates on this
> list, so I'm curious about the process. Of course I've spoken to the
> admissions staff and heard about the process, but I'd like to know what I
> should be expecting? What will they be looking for? I've never applied for a
> guide dog before so I am a bit nervous.
>
> I'm 25 years old and have been working with a cane for 20 years, and my
> mobility skills are quite good. I walk from a mile to a mile and a half
> almost every day. We're in an area where we can walk just about anywhere:
> the grocery store is just down the road, there are several restaurants in
> easy walking distance, and it is a nice residential area where I enjoy
> walking daily.
>
> Like I said this is my first time, so I don't know how strict they are with
> applications. I tend to overthink things so I'd like to hear from anyone
> else to put my mind at ease a bit.
>
> Thanks,
> Brandon
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/minh.ha927%40gmail.com
>


-- 
"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty
recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity:
but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on
their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T. E. Lawrence