awright228

I think it is important to know that schools do look at applications as a whole...so if you are weaker in one area and very strong in another your application will balance itself out. ie: not much volunteer experience, but very very good grades in a diverse and challenging liberal arts degree. The committee will look at the application as a whole and you have the opportunity to address strengths and weaknesses in your personal statement and put a positive (but truthful) spin on it. When I applied, I didn't have NEARLY as much experience as others so I talked about how my biggest weakness as I would need to be socialized into the profession of human services/sw. And I drew on my relevant experience to explain why I was ready and excited to do that...highlighting my strength (I do have some experience), but addressing that it's not my strongest foot to stand on (ie: showing self-awareness...important part about becoming a SW) -- So don't be discouraged just think how you can present yourself as a well-rounded and self-aware professional that is ready to take on graduate level work. Even with how competitive applications are no one has everything....you have something no one else has (or very few people have), so think about hat it is and highlight that and run with it, but don't ignore weaknesses. Gluck!

Did you take the GRE? I know a lot of schools don't require it, but some will still allow you to submit it. I would suggest this if your undergrad GPA doesn't reflect what you are capable of at the graduate level. Also in your admission statements don't ignore the fact that your undergrad GPA is one of your weaker points in your application address the reasons why it's lower, why you believe you can achieve higher academic standards at the graduate level ect. It will be good if you can bolster that with proof from more community college courses/a high GRE score. I would suggest that if the schools you talk to say that your UGPA was a weak point or negative factor in your application. Keep trying! You can get in!

I think you have a lot of good things there to work with! And volunteering even if it is just one Sunday a week at a soup kitchen is never a bad idea. I really don't think I had a lot of experience when I applied, but I had 'something' I could talk about in my personal statement and tied it into what I want to do, like, the last poster said. I think MSW programs def. want some experience, but it's not like you have to have a TON if your other credentials are good/solid as well.

I'm just a lowly law graduate (not an attorney) and all the schools I applied to looked VERY favorably on my legal education and the little legal experience I had (clerkships and clinic experience). It also helped me get the GA position I got! So I imagine with all your experience, most MSW programs will love to have you!!! I really can't see ANY program holding it against you!! Congrats on your decision to enter a new field and good luck!

I think the best idea to get the most bang for your buck and the best options is to apply to State schools if your state has a program you like and ALSO big private schools with a good reputation for giving merit based aid -- they do give a lot of merit aid if you have the credentials. After you line up the scholarhips you have gotten with the tuition cost, I would take my top three choices (least expensive options) and apply for any GA position that I thought would remotely aid my study. That's what I did when I got my J.D. and now as I am going back for my MSW and I had a lot of affordable options. I went to Michigan State University Law on a full-ride (not the best law school in the country but climbing the ranks and def. got a great education) and I'm going to BC for my MSW w/ $20k tuition remission and a GA position that will cover the remainder of my tuition plus a stipend. I had to apply to alot of positions at various schools..it was basically like a part time job trying to find positions that would work with my program and would cover the remainder of my tuition not covered by scholarships. I ended up having several options in by the time May rolled around and I went with BC because it was gunna be free of cost and it was my first choice. I just think applying to both State schools and private schools gives you a lot of options as far as tuition range and chance to get merit aid or other unique scholarships...also at huge univeristy's you have the opportunity to apply for GA positions or teaching assistant positions. I was a TA at MSU for 2 years which helped me not take out many loans for living expenses. Best of luck to all!

Hi SofieCat, BU I just had the option of government loans. But BC gave me 20k in scholarship -- so hopefully, I can use some loans and then work at the same time to cover the rest of the cost. I have my JD already, so my career goals are to work with children and families in the legal system ie: guardian ad litem, custody, adoption, ect...I want to use the MSW to inform my legal practice and get the clinical trianing and experience that I don't have. Congrats on your acceptance! What are the other options besides BU for you? What is your focus?

Hey yeah, I think I am going to BU just bc they gave me the most $ and I really like boston and the program seems solid to me. Boston or Western Mass. is also where I would like to end up eventually. I am not thrilled about the cost of living there, but I think it will be okay. CONGRATS on getting in to BU!!! That is so exciting. So are you going there over BC bc you already accepted?

I think I will be going to BC! You still deciding?

I hate the price of school -- I think it's totally unfair that education is so expensive! So when I started to go for advanced degrees I decided a long time ago I would not go anywhere that wouldn't pay for the whole thing or extremely close to it. When I went for my J.D. I moved across the country to accept a 100% tuition and I worked during my time there to make up for living, but I borrowed a little bc I could not work full time. Now, that I am going back for my social work degree I got 20k from BC and I am looking for work or a grad assistantship to pay for the rest. I will not borrow another dime from the government -- if I don't find any gainful work or a grad position, I will defer my admission or apply to more schools next year and see if I can get more $ somewhere else. I think that most MSWs that I know or work with think that w/e they borrowed was worth it bc they are in careers that they truly love. I just don't want to borrow anymore on personal protest!

I got a response that I was accepted, but I'm not attending. GOOD LUCK!

Hi I am no expert at getting into programs. But overall, I do not think your grades are that bad and I think it would be wise to take some classes online...maybe you could take some social work classes, like, BSW or MSW credits...I know a lot of schools allow for visiting credits. And it would not be a waste of time/$ because you could likely transfer these credits. I also think you can volunteer MANY places that would take you even with a gap in volunteer experience such as local soup kitchens, ect., even this level of volunteer experience would show to MSW programs that you are serious about your future in human services. I think they understand many ppl. must work that's why volunteering 3hrs on a sunday is sufficient if your 9-5 schedule and other commitments wont allow for more. I feel that I had very little human service experience when I applied compared to many ppl. on these boards. Then, in your letter of interest/personal state, you can explain a lot of this to the committee in a positive way if you take classes online you have even more back up for your statement, you know? Not everyone is a traditional student that goes from BSW to MSW right away and graduate programs value diversity. One thing I would caution is NOT saying the reason my grades were low is bc I went to an incredibly challenging and top program for my major...bc every social work program tends to think their program is challening, so you are saying I don't succeed when I am challenged -- Just bc you got a lower grades in your major of study does not mean you are stupid and you do not need to justify it by saying my program was challening (though I'm sure it was), you can show you are smart in other ways --- Just state it plainly that you recognize and take responsibility that your grades were not that good and here is why I think I struggled (ie: I was not as good at journalist as I was at say sociology, I had X, Y and Z going on and now I have delt with X, Y, Z as evidenced by my success in taking X and Y course online at UNC and this has shown me that I am excited to pursue this career along with my volunteer experience at X and Y yadda yadda). You know, I'm just summarizing thoughts -- I think this shows maturity and growth which are all positive aspects of your story. Personally, I think your story is really interesting and you would be a great MSW candidate and I'm super excited for you. You can always talk more to specific programs and see waht else you can add to your application to make it more competitive usually professors on admissions committees are helpful. BEST OF LUCK!

Hey texasgrad, no I don't have any other real questions, but thanks so much for being so helpful. I was accepted into micro. -- What abotu you? I love Boston and I am pretty familiar with the area. I did talk to the admissions ppl. about the hispanic-latino track basically they said that if you pass a proficiency exam you can take 4 classes in spanish (they are regular courses but just taught in spanish) and I would be really interested in that. It is def. a unique aspect that they just added. I don't think it is a formal concentration, but just something extra you can do, so many jobs require you to be bilingual now that I thought it would be a great thing. Anyway, def. let me know how your visit goes. I am sure you will love the campus. Did BC give you any $ or did any other schools? Apparently, there are a lot of GA positions you can apply for in other schools at the univeristy, maybe they will speak more about that at the visit program?

Yeah, right now I am. If you find anything out about their new hispanic-latino track let me know. There is this new option to take some classes in spanish if you pass a spanish exam and I'm trying to get more info from admissions.

Did anyone choose Boston College that got in?

Michigan all the way! I go to state right now for law school and I think they are also ranked pretty high for SW, but UMICH is such a great MSW school, the faculty has so many connections there and they are constantly doing things in the government and doing excellent research it's like a tier 1 research institution and that's very hard to be. AND if it's cheaper for you...there is no doubt in my mind you will be making a smart choice and not scarificing your education at all. I am actually from New York idk where you are from, but I would choose Michigan for school over NYC, it just makes sense. However, w/e you choose be glad that you have to great options! Very excited for you.