insearchofmsw

I turned 40 this year and am changing careers and going into social work, I am happy to be one of the more mature students in my cohort so I can DOMINATE the kids! haha just kidding of course, yes there was some trepidation leaving a comfortable job/salary for the student life but I hated my job and wanted to do work in a more fulfilling profession and luckily have a supportive wife who works to help support us.

I was on pending status with CSULB since early March, but I received a phone call last Thu from the department informing me that I have been offered a slot in their 2 year OAF (Older Adults/Family) track. Going to turn them down b/c I've decided to attend UCLA, hope one of you gets offered this vacant slot. My first choice was the 2 year CYF (Children Youth Families) track and was told I can continue to be on that pending list if I prefer to wait it out and see if a slot opens up so it looks like slots are continuing to become available. Good luck everyone!

Yup I got it and it is NOT the same as health insurance. We all need to get this liability insurance and it's pretty affordable, I called Marsh and they quoted $41/year. You can also get it through NASW for $23/year, but you also have to join NASW and the student rate is $48/year. I'll probably just get Marsh's coverage...

Here's my current CSU info for those who are interested: I was admitted into CSU San Bernandino on Monday (received a letter via snail mail), and was invited to CSUN for an interview this Friday (received an email from Tiffany last week). Still on the CSULB wait list though have not heard anything since March from them. I was invited to interview at CSUF a few weeks ago but did not go to the interview. I have not heard a peep out of CSULA. I was admitted to CSUDH in March. I was accepted to UCLA and am going to attend their program in the fall. Seems like CSUs are still wading through apps and filling slots so for those still waiting don't give up hope yet but be prepared to reapply for Fall 2014. Good luck!

I have not received that email yet either (Placement Profile for Field Education), in fact I still have not received the SIR email from the grad division which seems odd. Going to reach out to Lance (again) and I'm sure he'll tell me to be patient, that they're behind, etc. I met with Tanya yesterday and she said the grad division is really lagging this year.

I think no news is good news but not great news as many spots have been surely been filled. I still have not heard from CSUN, CSULA and CSUSB, figured b/c I submitted my apps very late for those schools I am last to be reviewed. As for CSUDH I was accepted but decided to attend UCLA instead, I let DH know on 4/8 that I was not going to attend their program so that should've freed up one slot. I know the waiting game sucks I hope you hear something soon.

Congratulations everyone, I will attending UCLA this fall. Weird thing is I still have not heard back from CSULA, CSUN or CSUSB...not that it really matters since I'm going to UCLA but I would still want to get some notice from those schools.

Quality problem to have to choose between UT and UCLA, two great programs. If price is not an option then I'd suggest you go to UCLA if your visit goes well. I'm assuming you do not have children yet, if you do stay close to them and put them first. I think it's important to experience life outside your "comfort zone" so you'll know what you want and where you want to settle down later on in life. If you've been in Texas your entire life why not experience California/Los Angeles for a few years if you hate it you can always go back. You'll make friends quickly in the program as I'm sure we're all giving people as we are pursuing MSWs. And I promise you're not going to hate it, Los Angeles has so much to offer...weather, beach, best music scene in the world (seriously everyone comes here), film, yes traffic sucks. Good luck with your decision.

Deadline to let CSUDH know was 4/1 but I asked for an extension until 4/8 and got the OK. There is a national graduate school intent day (4/15), but CSUDH is not a signatory school to that particular guideline which I found strange. Good luck!

Hey RM5, somuchintheair and any other prospective UCLA MSW students... I still have not received the formal email from UCLA's graduate division, I'm assuming it's just taking a long time to get through all the applications and what not. But it's been over 3 weeks since I received my letter from the department which was dated 2/24... Anyway, probably just being paranoid for no good reason although I have until 4/1 to inform another program I'm turning them down so hopefully will get the UCLA grad email before then. I did get Lance Fooks' recent email about welcome day and other info which is a good sign, did you all get that one too?

I received my acceptance letter from the department on March 6th (dated 3/5) and from the university on March 15th (dated 3/13). I hand delivered my application on 1/3/13. Not sure if I'm going to attend their program, leaning towards UCLA and still haven't heard from several other programs I applied to. Good luck to those of you still waiting to hear from CSU-DH. This is my second time applying to MSW programs I got rejected from all 6 schools I applied to for Fall 2012, so don't give up my fellow future MSWers. Even if this time around does not work out for you do what you can to improve your application (volunteer more, take a class in psychology or social work and get an "A" and a good letter of rec, etc).

Hey NHL, may I ask when did you submit your UCLA app and the first letter of your last name? thanks!

Hi RM5, think we talked about this on another forum maybe the Cal MSW accepted one? Anyway, I'll keep you posted as to when I receive the email with the link from UCLA_Application (still no sign of it as of now and I too checked the decision status login and got the same response as you "To date no decision has been made etc etc). We can be stressed (probably for nothing) together until we both get the official acceptance from UCLA...I'm assuming you are going to accept? I spoke with Lance and told him verbally I plan to attend UCLA. My last name starts with a "P" and I submitted my application the day it was due 1/15/13, my guess is they are sending out the emails based on when applications were submitted maybe which means I'll be one of the last ones to get it haha!

Thanks for that heads up, unfortunately to this date I still have not received that email you're talking about. I'm sure it will arrive soon enough, hopefully before 4/1 which is my deadline to let CSU-DH know whether or not I'll be attending their program!

I too am waiting for the formal email from UCLA's grad division. My letter was dated 2/24, received 3/4, I spoke with the admin officer who also assured me that I have been accepted and that they are using a new "system" this year which is delaying the whole process and that I should be getting that email soon. I stopped feeling nervous about being "formally" accepted after speaking with the admin officer...but even after having that conversation I have too admit that I still feel a little anxious about not being officially accepted just like you. I suppose it's still just a matter of time (another week maybe) before we all get the SIR email. I think in due time we'll all get the email and we can have a good chuckle about it when we meet at orientation.

That's strange, I received my acceptance letter a few weeks back and it notes April 15th as the deadline date so probably safe to say you have until then to decide as well. I still have not received the confiirmation email from UCLA's graduate division but I spoke with the admissions officer who said it just takes some time for the system to process and that I have indeed been accepted. Stil a little nervous (not sure why)... Did you receive an email from the grad division or have you been accepted via the decision status login on their website?

Congrats RM5! I too applied by the 1/15 deadline and I received a letter via snail mail from UCLA last week on 3/4 (it's dated 2/24/13) but have yet to receive an email from the graduate division. While I'm glad to receive the letter I'm still holding my breath until I get the thumbs up from the grad division and have been wondering why it's taking so long to get that email. The letter does read that the chair has "recommended to the UCLA Graduate Division that you be admitted to the Department of Social Welfare as a full-time student......Fall 2013." Recommended does not mean accepted, although it may just be semantics...I don't know I may be stressing over nothing but I am nervous because UCLA is my top choice. Any other UCLA peeps out there that can help me with my quandry? May I ask what the first letter of your last name is, perhaps they're going in alphabetical order? My last name starts with a "P". I also received a letter via snail mail on 3/6/13 from CSUDH (accepted) and an email the same day from CSULB (pending status aka wait-listed). Today (3/12/13) I received an email inviting me for an interview at CSUF, problem is the first available interview they have is 4/8 and I have to let CSUDH know by 4/1 if I want to attend their program. Good luck to everyone else, stay patient believe me I know how hard it is to wait but hang in there.