Pathway To Purpose: Pacific Priority Admits Its First Students
Between upper-level kinesiology classes, a capstone project, extra-curriculars, and competing as an intercollegiate athlete, Natalie Taylor ’25 is having a busy senior year.
But thanks to an innovative admissions program offered at Pacific University, there is one typical senior-year stressor that she can cross off her list: acceptance to graduate school.
Taylor is the first person accepted to Pacific’s School of Physical Therapy through Pacific Priority, which provides incoming students and current undergraduates the opportunity to guarantee themselves a seat in one of 11 of Pacific’s graduate programs.
“Knowing that I had met the GPA and observation hour requirements, it made a lot of sense to apply,” said Taylor, who is from Beaverton, Oregon, and a graduate of Sunset High School. “No matter what ends up happening with my other applications, I have the comfort of knowing I have achieved my goal of getting into physical therapy school. That is really exciting.”
Launched in February 2024, Pacific Priority provides a direct path to graduate school for prospective students at the same time that they apply as undergraduates. Once a prospective undergraduate student deposits, they have the opportunity to apply to one of 11 Pacific graduate programs.
Upon acceptance and provided that academic and admissions benchmarks established by the participating programs are met over the next four years, students are guaranteed a seat in that graduate school upon graduation. Pacific Priority also provides a pathway for current Pacific students to apply in their junior year of undergraduate study.
Participating programs include Pacific’s doctoral programs in audiology, occupational therapy, optometry and physical therapy. Students may also apply to master-level programs in athletic training, business administration, nonprofit leadership, social work, education, teaching, and speech-language pathology.
Over its first seven months, Pacific Priority has generated exceptional response. Nearly 100 incoming students have applied to a graduate program through the program. Another 70 current Pacific students or recent graduates have taken advantage of the opportunity.
“By securing a guaranteed spot in graduate school, our students can focus on their studies and passions, knowing that their future is set,” said Karen Dunston, associate vice president of enrollment management at Pacific. “This program has been a game-changer, allowing students to pursue their goals with confidence and peace of mind.”
That peace of mind means something to Taylor, who runs cross country and track and field at Pacific and is involved with leadership in the university’s Pre-Rehab Therapy Club in addition to her kinesiology studies. The knowledge that she is guaranteed a spot in the School of Physical Therapy allows Taylor to lean fully into her kinesiology studies, which are both challenging her and preparing her for the next step in her journey.
“The strength and quality of the kinesiology classes prepared me well for graduate school,” Taylor said. “I think that we have the best professors that you can imagine for the type of careers that we are going into. A lot of the classes are directly related to classes that I will take in a graduate program.”
Taylor, who originally attended Colorado State University before transferring to Pacific, said that the opportunity to guarantee her spot in a graduate program would have played a factor in her initial choice of college.
“It is hard to say if it would have changed my mind, but it totally would have been a factor that I would have considered,” Taylor said. “It probably would have been hard to turn down that opportunity since I have known since my sophomore year of high school that physical therapy is the field for me.”
Dunston hopes that Pacific Priority will make the journey for students to discover their purpose past their undergraduate experience clearer from the start.
“This is a unique chance for students to stay on course and achieve their dreams with confidence, knowing that their place in a top-tier graduate program is guaranteed,” she said. “This program gives our students a significant life advantage, removing the uncertainty and allowing them to focus on excelling in their studies and future careers.”