lieblingherz

This is something I have put a great amount of thought towards in the last few months. I am always actively looking for open positions, entry level positions, really, anything on several job sites, as well as checking mental health clinics and hospitals. However, the few job openings there are, are usually for psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed social workers - all with years of experience under their belt. I am at a loss, because I have no idea how to break into this field. Especially in New Jersey, human services and the mental health field is particularly lacking. I really do want to test what I've learned the last four years and see if I am as right for this as I think I am. So far, the professors I have spoken to, ones that I greatly admired, have only sought to steer me towards their particular field of study. Really, my school has a very small amount of full time professors (7 in the psychology department advising just under 2,000 students) that have time to sit and talk with me, so any information I can find on the internet from nice folks like ya'll I gobble up. I suppose I am desperate - and if I am honest, my family is pushing me to continue directly to graduate school because they are concerned I won't have good health insurance if I am not in school. Couple that with my inability to find a position anywhere, I get very anxious at the prospect I won't be able to study at the graduate level. Thank you so much for your thoughtful response, I really appreciate your insight!

Hi everybody! I am an undergrad student about to complete a BA in psychology. I think psychology is too objective in their approach, so I think that social work would be a better fit for me. I know myself pretty well and I think that my passion for working with people would wilt under the clinical conditions of a research lab. I very much enjoy discussing great social injustice and it lights a fire right to the core of me. However, I am not sure if I would be accepted to any MSW programs based on the credentials I have. I have excelled in my social sciences and taken electives in both health and sociology to supplement my psychology coursework. When I graduate, I expect to have a GPA of 3.6-3.7 on a 4.0 scale. I have partaken in several volunteer opportunities, and I am president of a club I started that focuses in on social justice in our community. I am also a student manager at my on campus job. Besides this, I have worked as a summer camp counselor, and three years ago I was promoted to being a supervisor, with a combined total of nine years experience working with children and their parents. However, I have never worked in the field and don't have much experience working with under served populations. I have begun filling out several applications but I get very anxious because I don't feel like a qualified candidate so I have yet to finish any. I am also very worried over LOR because I suspect one of my professors will attempt to force me to stay at my undergraduate school to complete my MSW degree and write me a poor letter (they like to keep their favorite students close). These are the schools I was looking at applying to: Rutgers University, New Brunswick New York University University at Albany, SUNY And I'm on the look out for more, if any of you are from the tri-state area, I would love to hear where you're attending school. A lot of you guys have been accepted to very prestigious schools so I hope you have some advice for me. I admire your organization and dedication to your education. Any input would be appreciated! Thanks everyone!