dannika_star

Yes I was quite surprised to hear back so quickly, especially considering I had a very high average and some experience. Although when speaking to admissions they did say they would consider applicants straight from their BSW which is what I'm doing but the large majority are working professionals with years of experience. It's also health-based so I am not sure it was a good fit for me, and they might have saw that as well. Fingers crossed for U of T it's my first choice.

Well, heard from Waterloo today so that's out. Waiting for Lakehead and Toronto to make their decision. This waiting is absolute agony I just want to KNOW so I can start planning my life! I'm sure all of you are feeling similar. This truly is a waiting game.

I found out about my acceptance to the HBSW program in late April last year. I know they usually post decisions (which show directly on your account you make in the application process) between mid to late April. Hope that helps!

I'm in the same boat, currently completing my BSW and all my classmates know I have applied. Since you're doing your BSW at Waterloo would you happen to know when they send out decisions for the Master's? I cannot seem to find it anywhere on the website! I am living in limbo too, and will need to make some quick decisions once I find out where I get in!

This is exactly what happened to me last year! I was accepted into Lakehead but got wait listed for U of T. Although I know there was little movement on the wait list and only a few got in off of the wait list! It is unlikely that by July you would be taken off the wait list but think of it this way even if that WERE to happen: It is never a bad thing to get into the BSW because really it's the almost the same time frame anyway… 1 year BSW 1 year Master's or do a 2 year Master's! There are also many jobs you can do with a BSW and if you get your BSW from Lakehead an d then choose to do your Master's, you can actually work as a social worker while completing the 1 year masters. Hope that perspective helps!

Also does anyone know when Waterloo sends out decisions? I can't seem to find the date or even anything mentioned about sending them out at all on their website!

My status on U of T has also been updated to under review. That is going to drive me crazy now until I get an answer. Only about 2 more months left of waiting

Fingers crossed for getting into Toronto or Waterloo (Advanced Standing). If i don't get into either, I will still have my BSW, so definitely working either in Ontario or moving out west! Fingers crossed for all of us. The waiting game begins!

I am pretty sure when I applied last year for the 2 year program, I still had to indicate whether my first choice was full time or part time, however did NOT need to put specialization as that is only for the advanced stream.

Also, does anyone know when Waterloo sends out their decisions? I can't find anywhere on the website where that info is listed. I am assuming March/April but I would love to know the exact time period!

I am at Lakehead University. The program just runs in a different format, so I am not really missing out on hours just the timing is difference. For instance instead of doing placement 2-3 times per week during the whole year as many programs do, ours runs January-June however we are doing placement 4 days per week and then from April-June strictly placement 5 days per week.

I am wondering if anyone else is having the same worries as me. I am completing my BSW, however it's the 1 year program and so I don't start placement until January. U of T wants you to have one of your referees be your placement supervisor, however they told me that in my situation I can replace this referee with another one and submit a cover letter explaining my choices. I am worried that this will impact their decision to accept me and leave me at a disadvantage in comparison to others who have had a full year placement and have their placement supervisors as their reference. Any thoughts on this?

Same here for stressing over the written statements! It's all I have left to do for U of T, and I am unsure if I should keep what I said last year or change it drastically! Good luck to you though, we still quite a few days to work on it so I am sure by the time we hand them in they will be to the best of our ability!

Sorry my response above should really have been directed to you regarding the BSW program!

I would have to agree. I applied last year for the 2 Year MSW programs, was waitlisted for U of T, but thankfully had also applied to Lakehead for their BSW program and was accepted. It saved me from waiting another year and re-applying multiple times which seems to be the trend for some people. I am also gaining valuable practicum experience and there IS less competition for the 1 Year MSW programs considering the requirement is the BSW, so less applicants. It's also another year that you're not wasting and then having to re-apply the following year for the 2 Year MSW. I would strongly urge you to consider applying to BSW programs especially if you don't feel confident in the amount of hours you have. Dalhousie offers online, Waterloo, and Lakehead are 1 year so something to consider.

Thanks for the input! I also like the idea that it is offered online! Do you happen to know how many applicants there were for the MSW program at Waterloo for 2013 and how many of those were accepted?

Thanks for the input. That's my concern too, I suppose I will wait and see if I get in anywhere else and then I will decide. I am hoping to practice social work within the health-based field so it's really exciting, at least for me, for Waterloo to be offering this focus.

Ya I've already sent in my application. Just don't know if they offer me admission if I would take it over Toronto, just because the program is so new... I guess we will see!

Anyone applying to Waterloo for the 1 Year MSW? It's fairly new, so I'm not sure how credible it is and how others recognize it. I know it's in its pre-accrediation stage and will be accredited by late 2014...It's online which is nice though because you can work/live wherever you'd like and complete coursework online.

Hi There! Sorry I've been so busy with the school the last few weeks I haven't had a chance to get on until now. Just as the rest on here have suggested, I would say that you should not only apply to the HBSW but also re-apply to Toronto. I was waitlisted as well last year, but thankfully got in to the HBSW, so I am re-applying to Toronto again. In all honesty, the application process for the HBSW is similar to the MSW applications, and as Jenste said, they open up your account for a few days to answer some essay style questions. My saved applications from the masters really helped me in this aspect. As well, the HBSW only takes 60 at Orillia and 25 at Thunder Bay. I was accepted into Thunder Bay. Considering they get roughly 500 applicants per year, your chances of getting in are similar to that of the masters. As well, about 3/4 of the people in my program are from Thunder Bay, so I think they really tend to accept a lot of people from Thunder Bay over others. In response to this, I spoke with many supervisors already and they strongly suggested that unless you have high A or a 90 to not even bother applying, as the bare minimum average does not guarantee you will get one. However, if you have the time to dedicate to the application process, I would suggest doing it, as it is free money. Also, something to consider is if you are doing the 2 year masters, you can also apply next year, or during the first term of your masters, if you get in and you have a chance of receiving funding for the remainder of that year. That way, you won't be as stressed due to applicaitions, and your average may improve. They also calculate your average based on the last ten courses on your transcript at the time of application, so if you finish this term and have a great average, applying next year half way through your program gives you a better chance. Hope that helps.

I will be applying this year as well to Advanced stream MSW. I am from Southern Ontario and currently completing my BSW at Lakehead University.

Hey Guys! I've been following this forum for a while. I first want to say congratulations to everyone who was accepted into any MSW programs! I also want to strongly encourage anyone who did not make it in to the MSW programs this year to consider applying to Lakehead for the BSW (it's only 12 months) which then allows you to do the 1 year MSW at a university the following year! I originally applied to Laurier, Toronto and Lakehead, the first two for the 2 year MSW, and Lakehead for the BSW. I was accepted in the BSW and am currently studying here during the summer and absolutely love it! I am still interested in pursuing a MSW and would be eligible next year Sept 2014 for a 1 year MSW and would LOVE some input from people who have been accepted or know any info about the following schools: U of T, Laurier, Waterloo, Ryerson and Western (all for the 1 year MSW). Since I am taking a whopping 7 courses in the fall and also working I will find it difficult to apply to all five... and would like to consider some schools that may not be as popular, which may let me have a higher chance of getting in. If anyone has any suggestions about these programs, especially Ryerson, Western and Waterloo I would really appreciate it! Thanks guys and good luck to everyone in the fall

http://www.facebook.com/groups/148943128612343/?ref=ts&fref=ts That's the link for the group . I also contemplated applying to St. Thomas, but due to the fact that it is 1.5 years and Lakehead is only a year, I chose Lakehead, as well the program looked really good and the campus is beautiful.

Thanks! I ended up getting in at the Thunder Bay Campus! I see you were accepted to Laurier and Lakehead. Which do you plan on going to? I have created a facebook group for those attending Lakehead, if interested. It's titled Lakehead University HBSW Program Students. Best of luck!

That's awesome! I just created the group it's called Lakehead University HBSW Program Students if you want to join it, and if anyone else you know is going to either Orillia or Thunder Bay feel free to tell them about it as well so we can swap info, resources, questions etc.