Miss_Camilly

I agree with a lot of what green_dots21 is saying. To add, a lot of institutions will let you e-mail a current student for insight on the program. I know that that was the case for the University of Michigan. I would also think that calling the office of student services for any prospective uni would be helpful as a lot of students in the department are employed there. Outside of that, this forum is a pretty insightful. Also, websites of most universities have a lot of information. Important things to note: costs, amount of financial aid given (and availability), diversity of course offerings (you should be able to view previous terms), field placement options/locations, & student composition. After you have looked at some schools that seem of interest, try to go to information sessions or look into talking to a current student. Current students tend to be very honest yet objective about their experiences. Best of luck to you in your search!

Hi. I'm not sure if you've resolved this or not, but I'm pulling this from the SSW's website's FAQ. Does the university provide overnight housing for prospective student visits? Unfortunately no, but a current student in the MSW program may be willing to host you during your stay. Contact the Office of Student Services (734-936-0961 or ssw.msw.info@umich.edu) to inquire about this possibility. There are also a number of hotels in the area to accommodate you. For more information, please visit the U-M Campus Information website. While this is not a "prospective student visit," I don't see how asking could hurt! It may be worth looking into. Best of luck to you and anyone else going through this.

I'm from the area and will remain living in Ypsilanti (next town over, about a 15 min drive) throughout the course of the MSW program. I would check out this thread for insight on Ann Arbor as it will provide info on the area and there may be people also looking for a roommate. I also recommend looking through Ann Arbor's Craigslist for housing. A lot of people posting on CL are students, some having preference for grad students/quiet professionals. One thing that I will say is that there is awesome public transportation in Ann Arbor. M Buses do loops every 5 min and the [city's] public transportation's bus system also has pretty frequent routes throughout the day, and "park and ride" lots, too. Many students and employees park their car and shuttle in as parking can be costly. I only say this because there may not be anything in walking distance of the SSW, but something that is a quick bus ride or bike ride away. Best of luck in finding housing!

Greetings, and congrats on your graduation! I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my ability: MSW costs- Look on the department's website for the schools that you intend on applying to. While figures won't be listed for the 2017-2018 academic year, you can get a rough figure on what the sticker price will likely be, given current rates. I have nearly half of my tuition covered. Larger schools have more money to shell out, so factor that into where you're applying (some out-of-state larger schools are more affordable with funding than smaller in-state schools with no funding). Class times- Look online and see if previous terms' syllabi are online for you to view. Otherwise, e-mail admissions and ask when classes are generally offered. Some MSW programs are geared toward people that work 9-5 (thus evening classes), while other institutions expect full time commitment (with mostly daytime classes). Experience- Working with at-risk and foster youth are DEFINITELY related to social work. Given the experience that you have, I think that you will be fine, although it doesn't hurt to have more experience. When doing personal statements, talk about your experiences and how having a master's degree will propel you in your desired field. Best of luck to you!

Honestly, I think it depends on the institution that you are applying to. If possible, attend information sessions for any schools that you are applying to (if not, e-mail admissions). I went to an info session for my hometown's MSW program and they required social work experience. The admission's officer said that if one didn't have experience (even at the volunteer level), then they should volunteer for at least 6 months some where and then apply. I attended University of Michigan's MSW info session and they said that anything remotely related could count as experience (ie. teaching, daycare). Obviously, the more experience, the better. I work at a domestic violence shelter and we have volunteers that work in the children's playroom. Maybe that is something that you could do in your town if it's possible. As far as gauging if you will get in compared to others based on experience, there's no point. I know people that got rejected to MSW programs with more relevant experience than me, and others who had no experience get into MSW programs with a pretty good funding package. You won't know until you try! Best of luck to you!

For those that are awaiting financial aid decisions, I just happened to check Wolverine Access and saw that mine were added. An e-mail was not sent. I was given the accept/decline date of 3/15, so it seems like UM was waiting until the last minute to put my package together. I also spoke with a representative on Friday (she called me) who said that she would e-mail the OFA since I hadn't heard anything (not sure if that played a part in it). Best of luck to those that are still playing the waiting game. It's almost over!

Hello, I am in the same boat as you, however, I have a lot of social worker friends. I work in Ann Arbor, and every social worker that I have come across has said that their Umich education has benefited them greatly. Most mention the name recognition and prestige that Umich's SW program has. Being that both Umich and MSU are research institutions, I would think that research is going to be a big part of the curriculum at both schools. I have heard, however, that while Umich has a great program, it was felt that they could have gotten equivalent knowledge somewhere else. I do know that Emich and Wayne State are more "practical" (<-focused on direct practice) than a school like Umich. I don't know any social workers that have attended MSU, however, being that MSU is a research institution in general, I don't think the experience will vary greatly. If you plan on staying in Michigan, I would say go to MSU. I feel like prospective employers care about you having the degree and kickass references, not where you received your degree. Just my $.02. Best of luck and congrats on your acceptances!

Greetings! In case anyone is wondering about decisions, I was accepted into the 2 yr program today. I applied 1/21, and am waiting to hear about scholarships (I applied to the Detroit Clinical Scholars and the Integrated Health Scholarship program). Best of luck to those still waiting!