sunnysmile

BackNSchool83 - Thanks so much for your reply I appreciate it! I really appreciate your insight about the personal statement and your success with telling your story and how you overcame your obstacles. I feel like talking about how I have overcome the obstacles and worked hard to get where I am - and that I am serious about the field because of all the work I have done in developing my strengths. Thanks again for your comment I really appreciate it.

Hello! I just graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Psychology and I am wondering what my chances might be of getting into an MSW program. I live in California and will be applying to CSUs - looking at San Marcos, Fullerton, Eastbay, LA, Northridge, Chico, Humboldt, and Long Beach (reach school). My stats are: GPA - 3.81 Overall 3.9 Psych (including Stats - got an A- in it) 4.0 Psych w/o Stats 3.9 Upperdivision Experience with Social Services/Research: Volunteer Tutor for child struggling with school - March 2016 to May 2016 (will be doing fall when school starts up again) Volunteer Assistant to Art Therapist - April 2016 to present; helped art therapist with special needs afterschool group in the classroom. I now help her with an art therapy program at a homeless day program for women and children and will be helping her in fall hopefully too. Research Assistant - January 2016 to May 2016; helped with positive psych study with my professor - I'll be assisting her in the fall as well as a volunteer. Other Experience: Gift Shop Volunteer - January 2016 to present; provide customer service and cashier services to church gift shop. Some other things I am doing/applying for: - Peace and Justice Ministry - just started this month; organize events for people in need in the community (free healthcare fair, backpacks for kids in need, etc.) - Internship/Volunteering at a farm owned by Humane Society where foster kids/teens come out to help out with the farm and receive a therapeutic experience; interviewing in August. - Hospital Volunteer - Friendly Visitor - visit patients in hospital and bring them things they request, etc. (will this be relevant experience for MSW?) - Equine Volunteer for Therapeutic Riding program - need to apply Questions: - Should I apply to a few schools or multiple given my experience level? I am concerned that I won't get into any and will be losing a lot of money applying to a lot of programs. - Should I talk about my depression/anxiety/social anxiety treatment in my personal statement? I started treatment 2 years ago and I take medication and have made TONS of progress with therapy and exposure work - I am stable and doing well. However, I don't have a lot of experience because I was always afraid to show up to volunteer. Obviously, I have overcome my fears and feel like I could handle the MSW program but I feel like I am behind. Would it hurt or help me to explain this situation? Or should I just try without explaining the reason for my limited experience? - Should I just not apply this year and apply next year to get more experience? Thanks so much!