nightwolf1129

You could briefly address this in your personal statement(s) mentioning that you experienced some family problems which resulted in difficulty maintaining passing grades during your Freshman year; however, you transferred to another University and managed to achieve a 3.50 GPA. You can also mention how you've learned and grown from this situation....basically turn a negative into a positive as best as you can. If an MSW program is doing their job, they'll look at everything holistically including your internship experience, extracurricular activities, work in a nonprofit company, organizing community events, etc. I hope this helps!

I can only speak about Boston College, but the minimum GPA required to be in good academic standing is 3.0 As per the grading scale for all classes, "B" work (3.00 GPA) is considered satisfactory work at the graduate level. Generally speaking if you do decent in your classes, you'll easily earn at least a B+ (3.33 GPA) or an A- (3.67 GPA) which could equate to about a 3.50 average GPA.

CupofJoe23, Graduate school (and especially private MSW programs) are not cheap. I strongly believe in the concept of smart financial planning. Unfortunately those in the social work field do not make a ton of money; however, the sheer cost of obtaining an MSW can often leave graduate students indebted for many years. You may have to ask yourself if you're willing to take on a substantial amount of debt for the initial "gratification" of an MSW 2 yrs from now, or perhaps find a cheaper alternative (e.g., saving up $$, going part-time vs. full-time, etc.). Debt can often stunt or inhibit personal growth and achievement such as buying a home, having children, etc. It's just something to consider. Take me for example. If it wasn't for the military (and my subsequent disabilities), I wouldn't be able to afford graduate school. Because my wife and I were already well over our heads in debt when we first got married, it honestly didn't make any sense to go back to graduate school and take out over $50,000 in student loans in the process. Nightwolf1129

Dx44, I will second that. I'm a Veteran and having worked at the VA hospital along with my volunteering experience there, it greatly helps you. One thing to add is the VA give preference to Veterans and disabled Veterans who are applying for jobs within the VA. So just like TLC said, if you are interested in working with Veterans (which btw, I am very pleased to hear someone who is very passionate about my cohort), getting your foot in the door at the VA--whether it be through an internship or volunteering opportunity, is the MOST IMPORTANT THING!!!!! To be quite honest, clinical internships at the VA are very hard to come by and are extremely competitive.

Social Innovation Day is different from LEAD. As a macro student, I'm taking a class on Social Innovation and this was the culminating event. Was very interesting. I'm assuming that you went to LEAD? What were your thoughts? I lobbyed for a proposed bill aimed at further increasing substance abuse treatment services. It was a mad house at the State House---but a vast majority of the legislatures were at the Ted Kennedy library opening ceremony. I guess an event like that trumps LEAD lol

Hey there TLC!!!! What's going on?! I've switched from clinical to macro, still focusing on Veterans. Although the switch was not entirely my choice (long, difficult story), it is definitely a much better option for me. Earlier today I participated in a Social Innovation Day where I had an opportunity to meet the former Secretary of Massachusetts Veterans Services Needless to say I connected with him lol Hope all's well with you TLC! Maybe we could grab some coffee sometime. Shoot me a message if you wanna connect!

Hello kaykay, I'm sorry to hear that you had to immediately leave your previous MSW program this semester due to financial reasons. Assuming that you're not currently living in the Boston area, the sheer cost-of-living and roughly $40,000 a year in tuition, fees and books makes Boston College one of the most expensive MSW programs to attend. The average cost of rent is $1600 a month for a one bedroom apartment in the Allston/Brighton area (near Boston College). Two to three bedroom apartments (which generally are floors of a 3-4 story house) run around $2100-2400 a month. So the average rent per person, if you could figure splitting that between 2-3 people + utilities, may run you around $700-800 a month. I'm saying all of this because, depending on the causes of your leaving your former program, Boston College may or may not be a cheaper option in the long-run.

Hello stateofmind! I'm glad that you've found this information to be helpful. I'm currently working with my field advisor on figuring out my next year's field placement. I'm very interested in working at the VA hospital where I used to work; however, since I'm a macro student (and a majority of Social Work internships at the VA are clinical), they are trying to figure out how this could. I'm hoping to have my final year field placement by the beginning of April so that I can schedule my classes in the Fall accordingly. Fortunately I don't have to work part-time or full-time because I'm covered under a VA funded program which provides my wife and I's financial needs. First year field placements are generally Mon & Tues and classes are Wed, Thurs, and Fri. All Fall & Spring Social Work classes meet once a week. What most students do is they try and block their classes on one or two days to give them at least one day off during the work week. Final year field placements are 3 days a week. Due to the increased workload during your final year, students are given the option of taking up to 2 summer classes between 1st & final year which count as electives for your final year.

Good afternoon Drdoom, I believe the overall program is really good. BC has the only Social Work library in the entire New England area. The professors are really knowledgeable and resourceful, and the field placement advisors are excellent as well. Yes, the price tag is quite steep especially when you factor in the cost of living here in Boston. Although I'm one of the anomalies who has their education fully covered (thanks to the VA since I'm a Veteran), generally speaking most students receive some form of scholarship $ to offset the tuition costs. If the cost is scaring you, you could opt for the 3-4 year part-time program and pick up a graduate assistantship on-campus that provides some tuition remission as a form of $ compensation + a small monthly stipend. I have a good friend of mine who's in the part-time program who did just that; however, the thing to keep in mind is that most of these require between 15-25 hrs a week. Depending on whether you choose the 3 or 4 yr part-time program, you'll eventually be in field placement between 2-3x a week. As for the safest and cheapest neighborhoods close to campus, Allston/Brighton is a really good neighborhood to live in. My wife and I live in Brighton right along the B line on the MBTA (a straight shot to campus) and are within a 15 min walk as well. My wife and I pay approx. $1700 a month in rent; however, depending on the # of roommates you get, you'll most likely be paying around $800 a month for a room. I would HIGHLY recommend NOT bringing a car into Boston. So far this winter we've received over 100" of snow which has caused quite a mess for finding parking spots let alone the commute (to say the least). Should you bring a car, I'd recommend getting MA plates & a resident parking sticker or finding an apartment which offers paid parking. Generally speaking most paid parking spots can avg. around $150 a month and you would be able to negate having to switch plates & registration to MA. The town of Brookline is quite expensive, so I'd stay away from there. Lastly, with respect to the website question regarding roommates, BC has the following website: https://offcampushousing.bc.edu/ You will need to log-in with your BC credentials. I hope this information helps.

Hey there hopefulmsw, I'm a first year Macro student at BC and several of my classmates just got accepted into the Global program. They told me the interview process wasn't too bad. Certaintly it makes you a stronger candidate if you have relevant work experience and language skills (esp. Spanish), but I know of a few students who are working within the U.S. in the Global program. When I get to class next week, I'll ask a couple of them what the pre-requisities were and I'll get back to you.

Good morning Becky, I went to Undergrad @ SUNY New Paltz and I had an internship during my Senior year. My field supervisor graduated from Adelphi (I believe the campus in Poughkeepsie) with an MSW. He told me it was a good school. Brian

The only reason I used the word "selfish" was because it seems as though she's putting her own personal desires ahead of what might be best for her family. As someone who's married, I'm no longer making decisions solely for me but my decisions have consequences (both positive and negative) that will affect my wife and vice versa. Some of what Trufflesalt had said concerned me which was why I brought it up. Yes you are absolutely correct Kristopher in that my job is not to try and correct her behavior nor tell her what she should do. I will be honest that it's often difficult for me to simply give advice and leave it at that especially when I can see the potential and/or actual damaging effects. I apologize if my words/actions came across as rude, condescending, or inconsiderate. I guess that due to my upbringing (my father was in the military) and my own experience of being in the military, I'm not someone who necessarily sugar coats and I will often call something as I see it. Obviously my approach is not welcomed and/or appreciated by some; however, I believe that many of the issues that arise which require the interceding of social workers (e.g., homelessness, substance abuse, etc.) may require "tough love." During my senior year as an undergrad I interned under an intensive case manager who was a male and his approach with his clients was from a "tough love" perspective. I saw the benefits of that especially when many of his clients were extremely manipulative. So with that said, I've said my peace and I will do just that---leave it be.

Kristopher, Have you taken the time to read this entire forum post from the very beginning? The OP had posed a question (e.g. "Is an LCSW worth it?") and provided a lot of background information regarding her family situation, school she wants to apply to, talks she's had with her husband and his doubts, fears, and concerns. Now granted I could've overlooked the glaring problems and simply said "Yes an LCSW is worth it" and left it at that; however, all of my posts come from personal experience. I've lived in New York and I currently live in Boston. I too am married and had it not been for the VA program that's funding me through grad school, I wouldn't be able to pursue grad school for the simple fact that my wife doesn't want to incur anymore student loan debt. So am I judgmental and "rude" for rementioning the problems that may very well occur if the OP does in fact decide to move her family to NYC and attend NYU? Because if you've read the forum post in its entirety it seems as though she's still determined to attend NYU. Now yes just because someone elicits (or solicits) advice doesn't mean the other person has to take it to heart; however, as I mentioned in my previous post, if I see someone steering towards a cliff I'm going to try and do what I can to prevent a tragedy from happening. I simply want Trufflesalt, in this case, to succeed. Sometimes the best advice is the advice someone may not want to hear. As someone who was in the military, sometimes you have to be a little more "in your face".

Trufflesalt, Though I'm glad to hear that you're not a "troll", I'm still confused as to why you're so insistent upon attending NYU when there ARE cheaper and just as good alternative schools that offer well-known MSW programs. Please explain why you're still willing to force your husband to completely uproot himself all so that you can become an LCSW in NYC and attend one of the most expensive universities? New York City is NOT cheap. I lived in a one bedroom apartment about 2 hrs north of NYC and I paid over $1200 alone in rent. I currently live in Boston and the median rent for a one bedroom apartment is $1700 a month. NYC is much more expensive than Boston. You'd be lucky if you could find a closet in NYC for rent, and the fact that you have a child means you'll require at least a 2 bdr apartment. Unless you're willing to live a couple hours north of NYC and commute to and from school, it'll be impossible for you and your family to survive while you're incurring $$$$ of debt at NYU (not to mention the hellish cost-of-living in NYC). But hey if you're willing to potentially run your family to bankruptcy all for your selfish ambitions without considering your family's needs and cheaper alternatives, then go for it. In all honesty, what you're considering and forcing your husband to do is bound for failure. Trust me I've lived in the northeast for the past 7 years. Should you decide to attend NYU and move your family to NY or NYC for that matter, you're in for a VERY rude awakening. I'm not trying to be an asshole or tell you what you should do, but if I see someone steering towards a cliff, I'm going to at least wave my hands in hopes to prevent a tragedy.

If I may chime in, I currently work for the Natl Center for PTSD and there's a researcher here who has a PhD in Psychology and specializes in eating disorders and how it relates to women's health, PTSD, etc. You may want to also look at how anxiety disorders such as depression may interact with eating disorders.

Hi nicoleann, Is your overall GPA below a 3.0? Have you had any related volunteer or work experience since graduating? Often times having a couple years of related work and/or volunteer experience can help bolster your application. Lastly you may want to consider studying for and taking the GRE. Many schools recommend an applicant to submit a GRE score if their overall GPA falls below a 3.0 or whatever is their low threshold.

LOL thanks TLC I appreciate the support I just find it ironic, whether a forum troll or not, how often people will pose a question asking for advice and/or suggestions when they themselves may not necessarily be open-minded to what someone says (e.g., if you're not going to agree with me or tell me something I want to hear then I'm going to ignore/dismiss whatever you say)....yet it's often that kind of advice which needs to be said. I just don't want to ever come across as an asshole

It'd suck if that was indeed true because I've taken quite the effort to generate thoughtful replies....time that I could never get back. Should I call the police and report a robbery of our time? lol

I guess you'll ultimately do what you want to do Trufflesalt. It just seems a little odd to me that you pose a question at the beginning of this thread almost as though you're expecting people to go along with your plan whether it makes logical sense or not, instead of being open to feedback and potential criticism. To me it sounds like you're being extremely selfish without putting the needs of your family ahead of your own all for something you're "willing to try". But as I mentioned in my first reply, I sincerely wish you the best and truly hope that this decision to pursue an MSW doesn't prove to be detrimental to your marriage, family, etc. at the cost of financial debt, unnecessary stress. I honestly think you have too much you could potentially lose should you choose to relocate your family to NYC to attend NYU. NYU is not the only "top school" for MSW programs in the U.S. and there are definitely cheaper but equally prestigious/recognized MSW programs elsewhere. Having lived a couple hours north of NYC for about 5 years (and now in Boston for over 2 years), you're in for a very rude awakening should you choose to move to the northeast--especially from the midwest. Cost-of-living here in the northeast is not too forgiving. Again, good luck to you.

Trufflesalt, I'm a little concerned about your recent post because it still seems like you two are not on the "same page" and that even if your husband agrees to move wherever you get accepted, provide daycare for your child(ren), pay off your undergraduate debt & graduate school expenses, the simple fact that you feel "indebted" to your husband can be a recipe for disaster. The decision to attend graduate school (to obtain your lifelong dream of becoming a therapist) should not be held for ransom. Now please keep in mind that I'm by no means a marriage counselor; however, as I previously mentioned, there are quite a few "red flags" that shouldn't be ignored or pushed aside. It's not a wise thing to be selfish in a relationship---let alone a marriage where you have the needs of others to take into consideration. Should you follow your dreams? Yes, of course; however, if the pursuit of those dreams comes at a high cost (emotionally, financially, etc.) to others, it may be something to reconsider or at the very least restructure. The fact that you'd expect him to quit his job altogether without the certainty of an equally paying job at the new location (especially with this economy) all so that you could move your family to attend graduate school? That's a lot to ask of your husband, no offense. It sounds awfully like manipulation and cohersion to me which don't foster a healthy supportive environment. Now if you were given a full scholarship for both years then that'd be a whole different story. Unfortunately not many graduate programs (if any at all) offer such scholarships. The most I've heard of is 75% because let's face it, universities are businesses and they want to receive some profit. All in all, what you're asking of your husband to do is a tremendous burden which can be very taxing. Like I said in my previous post, had I not been able to receive a full scholarship, I would not have been able to attend graduate school anytime soon. For me to have subjected my wife to maintaining 2+ jobs just to pay the bills while I went to school (all the while accruing more debt), is not fair to my wife nor our future. Yes I might've had an MSW which allowed me to become a therapist, but at what financial and emotional cost? I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but I'm trying to lend some sound wisdom from someone who's a husband and who wants a better life for his family.

Good morning cord123, Though most MSW graduate programs do indeed look at the applicant as a "whole" (e.g., taking experience into account, background, etc.), GPAs are often considered to be a litmus test (especially for those programs that don't require the GRE) of how an applicant will do in graduate school. Though the GRE is typically seen as a good evaluation of how well someone will do in graduate school (similar to the SAT/ACT for undergraduate programs), I believe GPA paints a clearer, better picture because graduate programs (whether private or public) are investing their time and energy in their students. They ultimately want the students to succeed. Furthermore, many graduate programs require a minimum 3.0 GPA as a graduate student to maintain good standing in their program and anything lower can result in academic suspension/probation or removal from the program altogether. Those programs that don't require the GRE for all applicants do recommend the GRE for those students whose GPA is below a 3.0. Regardless of whether you decide to go to a public or private university, MSW programs as a whole are generally very competitive. USC, for example, has one of the best MSW programs in the nation which means they receive applications from all around the country and all around the world as well. I say all of this not to discourage you from applying, as I can clearly see you have the motivation and drive that's necessary to succeed in graduate school (plus your 5+ years of related work experience); however, having a good GPA (e.g., at least a 3.0) is essential to the application process. Obviously this may be difficult for you to do based on your overall undergraduate GPA. Though the courses you've taken at the community college may help, nothing will truly offset your past GPA because you will be required to submit the transcripts from all the colleges you've attended and/or taken classes at.

Hello all! I hope registration for this upcoming Fall semester wasn't too painful or stressful. Only until recently was I made aware that immunization records are due by August 1st else the student faces a $70 fee and inability to register for next semester. Here is a link to the downloadable form you'll need your health care provider to fill out and sign: http://www.bc.edu/offices/uhs/forms/immunization/ In addition, we all have a BC email address (I had no clue one even existed until recently). The way to access it is as follows: 1. Log onto your agora portal and select "change secondary password" (in case you haven't already) 2. Follow the prompt and change your secondary password. This is the password used for your BC email 3. Click on "Student Home" and at the top of the middle column should be a link that says "Go to gmail account" 4. Your username will be your agora portal username@bc.edu (e.g., smithjr@bc.edu) 5. The password will be your secondary password as mentioned above

Trufflesalt, First I want to say that I can empathize with you with regards to your concerns. As a married man myself who's living in Boston, the only schools that offer MSW programs are all private with estimated yearly tuition alone at $40,000 (not counting the cost of books) and the cost-of-living here in Boston isn't cheap either. Between my wife and I currently, we have about $70,000 in student loan debt. When we first moved here to Boston I was contemplating grad school after my job ends (I was only offered a 2 yr term position that expires next month); however, the thought of incurring over $80,000 in student loan debt was not even going to happen. Talk about a source of contention between my wife and I. Here I was feeling stuck with no ability to pursue my career goal because we simply couldn't afford it. Fortunately, thanks to the GI Bill, I'm able to attend free of cost. However, that's not the point I'm trying to make. First and foremost, it's important to understand that as a married couple both parties must be on the same page. I can only begin to imagine how difficult it is for you in your current situation feeling as though you're indebted to your husband. Though NYU may be your dream school, it's imperitive that you and your husband sit down and discuss if there might be a more affordable alternative. Without the love and support of your husband, you may find it difficult to get through graduate school regardless of the financial cost because grad school (especially MSW programs) are extremely rigorous and demanding. You mentioned "but I'm willing to try it out if I end up with a social work job I'm not thrilled about" which kind of concerns me a bit namely the "willing to try it out" part. Graduate school requires a lot of commitment. I honestly don't blame your husband for being concerned especially since you stated that you tried a PsyD program and ended up not liking it. Obviously that's your choice, but you've already had a history of trying something and finding out you didn't like it---all at some financial cost. It sounds like your husband is trying to see how devoted and committed you are to an MSW as, you've mentioned, it'll require him to relocate to another job and help financially support you and your child. As a husband myself, that's a huge burden and not something to be taken lightly. In closing, you posed the question "Is an LCSW worth it?" For someone who's dedicated and committed to pursuing an MSW, the answer is a hands down "YES" but it sounds like you're wrestling with some serious doubts and concerns right now which may hinder your ability to succeed in graduate school. It's important that you and your husband be on the same page before stepping forward and applying to graduate school regardless of the program whether it be a PsyD, PhD, MSW, MHC, etc. I sincerely wish you the best success as a potential graduate student, wife and mother---all of which are not easy to juggle and balance.

My wife has a BSW and she's been working with special needs & autistic children in local school districts for the past few years. I think the main advantage to obtaining a BSW is, if you were to decide to pursue an MSW, you'd qualify for advanced standing and would only have to spend a year in graduate school. From what my wife has told me, BSWs are not easy as field placement is a huge component to the curriculum (e.g., unpaid internships). As for pay at the Bachelor level, you'd probably be looking at anywhere between $25,000 - $35,000 a year depending on the type of job and location. In the field of counseling, licensure is always required to practice and state laws mandate that counselors should have at least a Master's level of education. This is not to say that someone with a BSW may not necessarily be able to work in a counseling-related setting, but the interaction with clients would be limited. I believe there are various youth centers, substance abuse treatment faciliites, etc. that hire those with BSWs & BAs in Psychology, Sociology, etc. I myself work as a Psychology Research Assistant but my particular job is a 2 yr term position. Most of my colleagues use positions such as a Research Assistant as a means to build-up their resume/CV for a graduate school application. I don't think one could necessarily make a living with only a Bachelor's degree in a counseling/research field. Lastly, most of the jobs I've seen that hire those with BSWs are typically non-profit organizations or schools which may not pay as well. If you were able to attend a public university to obtain your BSW to help mitigate the financial burden, that might be your best bet. There are schools throughout the country that offer a combined BSW/MSW degree which is typically a 5 year program and afterwords you'd receive your MSW. If I were in your shoes, I'd look into that to see if it'd be feasible and/or manageable.

SLPM23, I cannot begin to imagine how stressful & frustrating it's been for you in your current (and unfortunate) situation. If I may offer some words of encouragement: I served 8 1/2 yrs in the U.S. Navy and originally joined under the Nuclear Power program (a very intensive 1 1/2 yr long program) to eventually work on a nuclear reactor onboard either a carrier or submarine. Academics had always been a breeze for me....until I was at the tail end of the 3rd and final phase of the program. I made it to week 25 of 26 weeks before failing out (over a year and a half of school). I lost my $8000 enlistment bonus because I failed out of the program and was sent to the fleet feeling like a failure. Though a door had been slammed in my face, God (through His grace and mercy) opened several others for me. As someone who's made my fair share of mistakes, I wouldn't be where I'm at today if it wasn't for those mistakes. I'm a stronger person because of it. And though I know it's frustrating when you've spent the past 3 yrs in an intensive SLP program only to be kicked out, my sincere hope is that you can see the growth and learning potential from this experience. Whether you do decide to reapply to SLP or an MSW program, I cannot encourage you enough to continue improving yourself and seeking the support of services such as those at a counseling or academic center. MSW programs are equally (if not more so) intensive as SLP programs due to the field placement requirement along with a full academic load. If you are seriously interested in pursuing a career in social work, please don't hesitate to contact me.