Undergrad looking for advice

[kellys711]

Hi!

 

I am new to this forum so please bare with me. I am currently a junior BSW major at a small university in Pennsylvania. I am starting to look at grad schools to receive my MSW with hopefully a concentration in clinical or medical social work. A part of me wants to stay at my current university to receive my masters, but the other part of me wants to travel to a new city and start fresh for my professional career. The reason why I would want to stay at my current university is because I am comfortable there, know most of the professors, and already have a house here. I would love to travel to another city to broaden my educational horizons, as well as live in an environment that I am not used to. Do any current grads have any advice about this kind of situation? I plan on receiving advanced standing, so as long as all the school's I apply to will accept all of my credits, I am open to all options.

 

Thanks so much! 

 

 

[Drdoom]

I am not a grad student yet but I decided to take the risk. I am leaving my family and my friends and deciding to move to a new city where I know none. I always wanted to leave after High School but somehow I ended up staying and it bugged me.  It's honestly a dumb decision seeing that I may end up with lots of loans and  with a post grad salary that is undesirable. I know I would not have been happy staying and if I did decide to stay I know it would be another 3-5 years before I have the chance to leave. I would get my MSW here, probably be offered a job here and get licensed in this state during that time, which I noped out of.  I didn't want to live with this regret again but you still have to be realistic and count the real cost.  

Edited February 21, 2015 by Drdoom

[hyronomus4]

Hi!

 

I am new to this forum so please bare with me. I am currently a junior BSW major at a small university in Pennsylvania. I am starting to look at grad schools to receive my MSW with hopefully a concentration in clinical or medical social work. A part of me wants to stay at my current university to receive my masters, but the other part of me wants to travel to a new city and start fresh for my professional career. The reason why I would want to stay at my current university is because I am comfortable there, know most of the professors, and already have a house here. I would love to travel to another city to broaden my educational horizons, as well as live in an environment that I am not used to. Do any current grads have any advice about this kind of situation? I plan on receiving advanced standing, so as long as all the school's I apply to will accept all of my credits, I am open to all options.

 

Thanks so much! 

 

I say try something new!  I did my BSW at a small school and I loved it there.  They didn't offer an MSW so I had to go elsewhere.  I did my MSW at a large research university and loved that even more.  I also went advanced standing but I wish I could have stayed longer.  It was a completely different experience and it was awesome to get exposed to a different program with new professors who had different research interests from the profs from my undergrad. 

 

This might just be my issue but one thing I would say is to check how many are advanced standing vs. regular.  At my program there were lots more 2 year people compared to advanced standing so you joined a cohort who had already been together a year and knew each other pretty well.  My first semester I struggled to integrate and make friends.  By second semester it wasn't a big deal anymore but if you're only there for a year it's something to keep in mind.  I know it sounds kinda silly and petty but if you're moving to a new city without knowing anyone it might be nice to have a larger group of people who are starting and ending at the same time as you.