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Congrats and continued best of luck everyone! I was accepted today to UofT but will choose Laurier. A smaller program, with the chance of integrating two streams, the inside-out prison exchange, the possibility of an international practicum and the community setting away from Toronto's downtown (which isn't ideal for me financially, sentimentally nor transportation wise) are the major reasons why. I think it will be the best place for me to develop into the kind of social worker I'd like to become. I am so excited to meet all my fellow Laurier 2015's! And I hope this will open up a spot for one of you deserving folk! Fingers crossed!

This is just a Thumper86 appreciation post (thank you ). And you are all wonderful. Fingers crossed for us all!

I wonder if there are any disadvantages in choosing an integrated stream at Laurier. Do you think an employer would think that someone graduating from such a program would be less specialized, or do you think they would appreciate the breadth?

I apologize in advance if I extend this forum too far beyond admissions decisions. I know it is a stressful time, but I think this is interesting. I just came across this blog post about anti-semitism from a professor at UofT Social Work. It`is from 2011, so not too long ago. It reminds me that social work can be very politically charged. I would not have expected this from a professor at UofT, but there you have it. http://eyecrazy.blogspot.ca/2011/06/anti-semitism-and-classroom-jew-count.html ``Bhuyan, an untenured Assistant Professor, who never offered a public apology for her behaviour, was rewarded by the University with a contract renewal . That development has frustrated a number of professors in a dysfunctional Social Work Department that remains divided in opposing camps. Lightman insists this matter must be exposed and wrote a recent article about it for The Journal for the Study of Anti-Semitism. Lightman asserts, “It’s ironic that a department purporting to teach anti-racism is incapable of dealing with racism in its own house. We have a responsibility to students to ensure faculty do not abuse the power inherent in their positions, and to the community-at-large to ensure all the Social Workers it graduates reflect and promote the values of the field. That hasn’t happened here."

Thanks. And to you! Did you accept yours? I don't know whether it`s binding after I click accept, but I think I will wait for one more decision before I do. I`m curious as to whether or not we have to accept the offer first before we can see if we've been considered for a scholarship. Interesting. I received an e-mail from the graduate studies faculty, but nothing in the mail.

Hang in there everyone! For those who have been accepted to Laurier, do you know how soon, after the initial acceptance, we will receive the package in the mail?

Hello. It is both my overall average and my final year average. Good luck to you!

Thanks. I`ve spent a lot of time working and teaching children from disadvantaged backgrounds and was surprised to read in a few UK studies that many organizations are apprehensive about involving men with children. I currently don`t have a preference, as I can see advantages for both schools. Each have excellent programs, Laurier with a bit more breadth for each student and UofT with more depth. I think it may come down to faculty for me. There are faculty at Laurier who I would love to work with in the areas of domestic violence and responding to childhood sexual abuse. However, at UofT there is one professor who adeptly applies the work of Foucault to social work theory and practice. I have a strong background in social theory and philosophy so I may e-mail a few of the professors to try and tease out where my social and philosophical imagination would be best supported and best put to use.

Does anyone know what it might be like or if it's any different in social-work for someone who identifies as male? I know that at Laurier they have an Inside-Out exchange program with a local female prison, which would make me think that male students are excluded. On a general note, I think that men in social work is an interesting subject matter. I think there is a lot of stigma towards men who are interested in working in child protection services in particular, due to the incidence of previous sexual abuse cases, which I think is very unfortunate. Here are my stats: Philosophy major, A- average, 4 years of volunteer work in social services. I was admitted to Laurier last week and am awaiting UofT's decision.