Purplescarves

It's impossible to ever see things objectively or without some level of bias. That's just the reality of being a human. We never completely leave our opinions at the door. Rather, you learn the ethics and values of the profession in social work school and you start to strive to reach them. You start to recognize your values, biases, and the situations in which you make judgments that would be detrimental to the client. Sometimes you do really well with a client and other times you are actively struggling in your mind trying to maintain a nonjudgmental attitude. It's a lifelong practice. Maybe you are so opinionated because you care so much? What would you consider to be stupidity? Being a social worker doesn't mean you stop questioning things and judging. You can "call people out" in this work, but the important things are why, when, and how you do it. I worry more about you feeling as if social work school is the only way to not be stuck. I encourage you to think more about your options and why social work. Grad school is an investment in multiple levels and you will definitely want to know once you become a student.

I would rank field work as most important for your future career. I heard this a lot coming in and it's been reflected as the school year progresses. Most of the content I've learned thus far has been in the field.

It depends on what good means to you. I started by looking at the US News & World Report. That gave me names of schools in states that I was interested in. From there, I visited each school's website, requested materials, and when possible attended school events. My final step was making a list of schools that I was highly interested in and contacted the admissions teams. They were able to provide me with contact information of students and alumni so that I could determine if the school might be a good fit for me. For most schools, I finished this process after receiving my acceptance letters.

http://genuinescooters.com

I was clarifying a point that was made earlier, in which you stated that a scooter is a step-through, 50cc and up and requires a motorcycle license in the US. That is incorrect information. It very much is about the varying definitions of scooter, moped, motorcycle of each state, no disagreement there. I am less interested in the actual varying definitions and more so just highlighting that these varying definitions lead to varying requirements in the states. I am also not really interested in what dealerships can or cannot do in the state of CA (as I already have my scooter), but I am a proponent of test riding prior to purchasing regardless of the requirements.

A motorcycle endorsement isn't required in every state to drive a scooter. The state I purchased my scooter in did not require it. Now that I'm in CA, it's required and I'm in the process of getting it. For right now I have the permit, which limits me to only driving during the day. Check out Genuine Scooters. They have a variety of engine sizes, models, and are very well made. You can even visit modernbuddy.com to talk to other owners, get advice, and more. I have a 50cc and drive throughout Berkeley and go up and down hills en route to school/home. I do slow down going uphill. How much depends on what it's in my backpack. I get about 90 mpg, but that is also dependent on various variables. The company typically says 100mpg. I've been riding for several years now and it's been a great vehicle, especially in the city landscape. I wasn't sure if I was going to bring my scooter with me, but I'm sure glad I did. Test ride before you purchase. I was able to do this, but that's because the state didn't require the M endorsement. DO NOT take your safety for granted. I have a lot of gear from Corazzo, including a padded jacket. Most people wonder why I wear such a serious jacket or big helmet. My response is always that I love my life, I love my limbs, and I'd like to maintain all of that. I also don't wear sandals on my scooter. I did take the safety course on my scooter, which helped me get more familiar and comfortable on it when I first made the purchase.

Great ideas posted above. I would second all of it, especially the idea of doing mock job hunts now. In an ideal situation, what job would you have? Find several ideal jobs and then check out the requirements.

Most people that post on here asking about their chances of getting into grad school don't need to worry and that includes you. Though it's grad school, social work schools tend to be far less competitive than other programs. I think you have a great chance at those schools, but I would recommend that you apply to a mix, same advice most of us received when we were applying to college. Choose some 'reach' and then some 'safe'. Seriously, even if you get into all of them, it just creates a peace of mind during the wait process. Also, write superb essays!

Having an iPad has been super helpful! I previously used it as a toy prior to enrolling in grad school, now it's my main tool. Without it I would be lost in a sea of books, paper articles, and massive readers. I can highlight, post stickies, create text boxes, handwrite or type notes, and back it all up with my dropbox. It's also super customizable with various fonts, colors and settings. I only need access to the internet if I want to upload something to my iPad or auto-sync with my dropbox. If I really want to print it all, I can. If I want to search it on my ipad or computer, I can. I also really appreciate it because I'll have access to it forever. I've let go of so many books and all of my articles from previous educational experiences mainly because it was too much to haul through each move. Now I get to keep it all, including my annotations, for future reference. If I do buy a book, it's because I want it on my shelf through thick and thin, haha. This semester, the only book that received that status was the DSM. I thought I was a paper person, but I guess not. Paper seems too tedious and inefficient; and consequently, quite an investment in various aspects. It took a month of grad school to try this new system out to convince me though. I started with only partially investing in the digital route. Next semester will be completely digital. I can't believe this wasn't available during undergrad!

If you do apply, you have to explain what caused the low GPA in your essay. Not everyone does well in college the first time around. Social work admissions boards tend to be aware of that, but do expect that you self-assess. If you think you're ready, convince them that you're ready and show some evidence of more recent accomplishments.

Great comments have already been posted, but I'll add that you should do some research of your own. Contact USC and ask them to connect you with 2-3 current students as well as 2-3 alums. Contact those current students and alums and ask them about the quality, prestige, and worth of USC's social work program. Don't be afraid to be direct. I did this and received such incredible feedback. As a result I was able to make some hard decisions (in hindsight, should have been easy because there's no way I would even consider debt now) and went into my program with open eyes. It did take time to have that many separate conversations, but I also saved myself USC tuition. A great bargain in my eyes!

For Social Policy: American Social Welfare Policy Dimensions of Social Welfare Policy Transformations of the Welfare State We don't have a textbook' for our Ethics course.

I think 1-2 years of relevant direct service experience should be enough. You want to have something to write about in your essays, especially if you plan on writing scholarship essays. I know people who have been accepted into each of the programs you listed and are within that range of professional experience. The acceptance rates at social work schools are pretty high compared to other graduate programs. USC has one of the highest, they accept a lot of people. Maybe because they get turned down a lot because tuition is so high and financial aid is so low? Just speculating on that front.

I'm pretty giddy right now. I want to get as much as I can out of the next two years. I'm excited about the journey and the destination. My field placement starts in a few weeks and I can't believe I'm going to be in a room, with a client, and running a therapy session. Finally!!

I would second this book. It's on my kindle and I read it before applying as well as referred to it throughout the process.

When I first came to this forum, I found this post very helpful: The questions you have can be answered by the school(s) you might want to attend. Ask USC alumni, faculty, and current students their opinions. I did that of each school I was accepted into and I think I gained an improved perspective of what I could expect at each school. USC was actually one of those schools and I came to the conclusion that it's an overpriced degree. However, that conclusion is based on my situation. You do have to decide for you. If you are low on time, you might be better off targeting the school and alumni because you want to know what happens after graduation for USC students. Hope this helps!

University of Chicago $40,770 Smith $30,060 The types of grants and scholarships are dependent upon the school. Smith is mostly need-based, while Chicago and Berkeley seem to take both into consideration. USC...I'm not quite sure what their deal is. It is true that you don't know what you will pay until you apply, are accepted, and receive your financial aid package. Private schools have a few full-ride scholarships to give away and then typically are generous with providing scholarships that are usually up to 50% tuition remission. Public schools in CA offer great financial aid packages due to the stipend programs. UC Berkeley also offers some grants and scholarships outside of the stipends that can be really generous (full tuition and a living stipend). In my conversations with the admissions teams, I learned that merit scholarships went to candidates who had substantial experience and on-the-job knowledge to contribute or would add to the diversity of the program. Overall, you can expect that financial aid packages for Masters programs won't be as generous. Even a school like Harvard, which does provide decent financial aid for undergraduates, is limited in what it gives to graduate students.

Montway Auto Transport

It was out of the blue for me as well. I didn't request it. I just received an email a few weeks after receiving my overall financial aid package.

My spouse and I had to do this too. We called over 20 companies. It was stressful, but we just chose a moving company and we feel confident about it. PM if you want more specific information.

The recent incidents that occurred in Boston are rare, which is why there was such a frenzy. It's not something we expect and we have been looking forward for things to return to normal. I agree with the posts above, it's a city so there is crime. If you want specifics, you can look at the Cambridge 2012 Crime Report: http://www.cambridgema.gov/cpd/communityresources/crimereports.aspx

I'm guessing you don't yet have the experience, but you will be getting it? It looks good! You'll want at least one letter from a college professor. You should reach out to them now. Not necessarily to request the letter, but just to establish communication if you think that could be difficult. Are you prepared to pay for the MSW? That's often a consideration that people don't make until it's too late. It seems like high academic achievement as well as substantial experience make candidates more competitive for scholarships, grants, or fellowships. Good luck!

This is tough. I think mainly because it's so emotional. I was torn last week about my decision, so I can understand. I imagine you also need to decide pretty soon, which adds to the stress. The prospect of not making the 'right' decision is scary. What helped for me was to slow down. It may sound over the top, but I created a spreadsheet. That was when I started to see things very clearly. I feel very confident with my decision now. Prior to that, I was lost in the giddiness from all of the acceptances. It's so crazy how much my gut instinct was thrown off. Before I started the application process, I was adamant that I would select the least inexpensive school, mostly because of what I've come to know about MSW programs. Yet when I got the acceptance letters, I was lost in the clouds thinking about what could be. Fortunately, I found my way back and I've chosen the most cost-effective route. You are probably racing against time, but I would suggest trying to figure out the answers to some questions to help clarify your options. Where do you want to live for the next ten to fifteen years? Can you picture yourself in these different locales? Can you visit the schools and cities to confirm your predictions? This is huge for several reasons: the licensure process, building a professional network, and standard of living. Most professionals in the field would recommend that you attend school in the locale that you plan to work in. You do build a network while in school and you want to be able to use it. Also, you don't want to bounce around from state to state and have to repeat the licensure process each time. Finally, while the average starting salary of a social worker might be higher in LA, you also have to consider that the cost of living is also higher. You don't want to choose a school based just on the 'prestige' and then wind up hating the city. NY, LA, and Houston are vastly different experiences, without even taking into account the school's own culture. Can you defer your acceptances? Can you work for a while and save up some money and pay down your undergraduate loans? Are you willing to gain some social work experience now to be more competitive for scholarships in a couple years? You are not royally screwed, it's just the path that you have chosen to take. You can get a decent paying job with a BS. It may not be psychotherapy, but it could be close. I only have a BA and I have a job that pays about on par with what the average social worker makes. I also work within the mental health field. I don't do advocacy, I do direct service and I see the difference it makes with my clients daily. I am far from a receptionist. How successful are these schools with job placement? What career services are offered? Will you be unemployed for a long while after? Having limited social work experience prior to the MSW does make this more likely. What coursework is available? Does it align with your goals? What do current students think about their courses? Is it on par with what they expected? What about alumni? Is the 'prestige' opening doors for them compared to other grads they know? Are they getting higher salaries compared to other grads? Are you willing to limit your employment opportunities to non-profits and government agencies? What if something happens and you wind up not getting the loan forgiveness? It's not a complete guarantee. Like you, my goal is to be able to provide psychotherapy (amongst several other services). When I found out how expensive MSW programs are and how limited scholarships can be, I too was pretty disheartened. Yet there will always be hurdles to get to where you want to be. It rarely, if ever, is a clear path. So I called on friends, mentors, and even complete strangers to strategize. Taking on a large amount of debt just wasn't in the realm of possibilities, so I hatched a plan to make the MSW possible for me. While I wanted to go back to school right away, I had to be patient and put in some hard work. I've busted my behind to get promotions, new and challenging work responsibilities, and essentially craft myself into a very competitive MSW candidate. It worked and I'm really proud of myself. I think the reason you may have gotten some responses that you don't like is because you painted your options in such extreme black and white terms. You used language like 'only choice', 'a lot of debt no matter what', 'I'm pretty much screwed', "dealt similar cards'. In a way, you victimized yourself. Yet you are in no way a victim. This isn't your only choice. You don't have to be in a lot of debt. There are several career paths and various iterations of mental health work. You have chosen to limit yourself to one. No one is forcing you to go to grad school right now. This doesn't have to be tragic. You have options, even the option to go to a fully funded program with living expenses. You say you are open to thoughts, not judgements, but you seem to have made a lot of your own judgements. This doesn't make you or them 'right', I'm just making observations and the main thing I see is someone who is incredibly distressed. Breathe. Slow down. Think. I think you are courageous for posting your question here and being open to advice. This is a great time to utilize your healthy coping strategies to clear your head, re-ground, and rise back up.

Are you willing to spend about $45,000 for one year on just tuition and fees? If you include living expenses, that could be upwards of $100,000 for just a social work degree once you're all done. I'm not sure if you have received your financial aid package yet, but USC SSW isn't known for giving a lot of scholarships. They are known for accepting most students that apply and those students use loans to pay. Like the previous poster asked, are you interested in working in Boston or LA? Have you considered that breaking into the education scene is much more difficult in CA than it is in MA? Do the professors at one school align more or less with your interests? Have you talked to students and alumni at both schools? What are the job prospects upon graduation?

I received $1500 from one Master's program.