nightwolf1129

I wouldn't mind providing some feedback on your SOP. Just send it to me via private message.

Dabode, Since most graduate schools require at least 2-3 LORs, it's often a good idea to have some variety (e.g., former/current employer, former/current professor, etc.) and many programs ask recommenders to talk about and/or highlight on the questions they are able to (or feel comfortable) in answering. In other words, it's okay if a recommender is not able to address or talk about all of those particular skills or attributes which you listed above. I, for example, had 3 LORs (one from my current supervisor, one from a former professor, and the last one from my volunteering supervisor) and each could talk about different things such as academic performance, work ethic, leadership potential, etc. By having a variety of LORs who can speak about different things about you (and perhaps have some common overlaps), they may be able to paint a better picture about who you are because that's ultimately what you want your graduate school application to do: to demonstrate to the admissions committee who you are.

Icelestial, They will have sufficient classes for every student (hence why there are about 10 sections for each core class); however, many of the classes in the morning and early afternoon are the first ones to fill thus leaving only the evening classes available. Sorry to hear that you're currently in China and have to contend with the huge time difference. Hopefully the registration officer is able to help you out.

Yeah I ran into that issue when I tried registering for a class that was full within 15 minutes. For those who choose to register via the downloaded program, make sure to hit "Enter/Return" and type "Save" before registering for your next class. I believe you could contact the Dean and request to be added on the waitlist for any classes or notify the office if there's a scheduling conflict with any available classes (e.g., only ones that are available during the evening and you have a child to care for in the evening) and they might be able to squeeze you in. Who knew that classes would be filled within an hour of registration opening?! And to think that they say registration is open until the end of June.....

MSWplease123, Thanks for taking the time to pose this question on the forum as I'm sure your situation is not uncommon. I have to say your overall level of dedication and breadth in volunteer experience, the two graduate level certificates, and post-bacc credit hours speaks volumes by demonstrating your willingness to improve and grow as a person both professionally & academically. You mentioned that you have an unrelated bachelor's degree. May I ask what major? The reason I ask is many MSW programs require at least xx credits in social sciences (e.g., Psychology, Social Work, etc.) if you don't have a related degree such as B.A. in Psychology, Sociology or Social Work (BSW). I think it's a good idea to study and take the GRE this summer/fall as you're already planning because most MSW programs (especially the really competitive ones) recommend submitting GRE scores if your undergraduate GPA is at or below 3.0 or if your Junior & Senior GPA is less than 3.0. I'm unsure if your post-bacc credits & graduate level certificates will offset your low GPA but I'm sure they won't hurt your chances of acceptance either. I guess the only way you can find out is by applying this Fall to a few programs and see what happens. If you don't end up getting into any of the programs, you could then inquire about ways in which you could improve your application should you choose to reapply. I would also advise taking time this summer to begin drafting up your personal statement. If there are any colleges/universities that you're interested in, you could use their application questions as a template. The thing you'll want to remember is to not make excuses for your low GPA, but briefly explain the why & what, and what you've done to improve yourself. The emphasis should be on how you've improved yourself over the past 1 1/2 - 2 years since you graduated and what you've learned about yourself and how you've grown professionally. Your personal statement should help narrate a story about who you are that goes beyond your GPA or resume. Since you earned a degree in an unrelated field, explain why you've decided to pursue a career in social work. The key to success is proving to the admissions committees that you're capable of succeeding in graduate school and to demonstrate your level of dedication and motivation through what you've done. I took almost an entire year to write my personal statement and though it might've been a tad bit excessive, it never hurts to take this time now to begin brainstorming and preparing yourself. As my favorite NFL quarterback Russell Wilson says: "The separation is in the preparation."

I recently downloaded the program used to register for classes. Though I haven't messed around with it yet, I believe you enter the course code (e.g., SCWK 7723 01).

Very well thought out response TLC. Change and growth typically only happen when we are stretched and challenged (e.g., "growing pains")...heck that's why basic training in the military is often one of the toughest things to do because we have to overcome our greatest obstacle: our own fears and doubts. People such as our parents, teachers, and drill instructors often see the potential in us that we may not necessarily see and just because we may not think we are capable doesn't mean we're unable. I too agree that it's the difficult and challenging moments in life that are often pivotal and growth-enabling. How then is a baby able to learn how to walk if he/she doesn't fall on their butt a few thousand times?

Though I understand your concerns Little Darling, Figaro does make several very valid points. As someone who is a disabled combat Veteran (who suffers from mental health issues related to my time in the service), I know first-hand how stigmatization against those with mental health issues can often deter someone with a mental health issue to seek treatment. Currently I'm a research assistant and one of the research studies my supervisor specializes in is stigma and barriers to mental health care. Those who have mental health issues are people just like yourself, and though someone with a mental health diagnosis may have a greater tendency for negative behavior (e.g., attacking someone, verbal abuse, substance abuse, etc.), you have to understand that negative behavior such as violence is not isolated to those with mental health issues. Unfortunately the media thrives on stories such as the Colorado Theatre Massacre, the Fort Hood shooting (Maj. Hasan), and Sandy Hook because the perpetrators all suffered from mental health issues--thus it's easy to assume that those with mental health issues are unstable. As a Veteran, one of the main hurdles I've had to overcome is trying to reintegrate into a normal life as a civilian. The military changes you. Fortunately I wasn't on the ground in Iraq or Afghanistan (Lord knows I'd be a completely different person if that were the case), but how are we as Veterans (who often suffer from mental health issues) supposed to be reintegrated into society when we're often stigmatized as being "unstable, unpredictable, broken, etc."? I'm not saying that you shouldn't address your fears and concerns (like Figaro said), but it's important to see the patient/client as a PERSON just like you. Should you ignore their past violent behavior or violent tendencies? No, absolutely not. It's not different than when someone walks home from a bar or party late at night and may be intoxicated---it's probably a good idea to be aware of one's surroundings and maybe have a friend walk with you for added safety (or calling/texting someone to let them know you're on your way home). It's all about remaining aware of your surroundings and helping to defuse situations that could potentially become violent. If you recall the Stanley Milgram social experiment where he brought in participants who, though they seemed rational and moralistic, often continued through the study issuing severe shocks to the confederate because the "doctor" told them to continue with the study despite the confederate's screams for help. What does this mean? It means that the potential is in us to act out negatively, but that doesn't mean we have to act upon it. Past behavior does not necessarily determine future behavior. By believing in someone who's struggling with mental health issues or other issues that are often comorbid (such as substance abuse) that they can change for the better, is one of the ways in which a social worker can help. Most of us have had people who've believed in us and seen potential within us that we may not have necessarily seen (e.g., a teacher or a parent).

I'm sure many of you have already been contacted by your Field Placement Specialist (for those who've been accepted and are attending BC this Fall). Have any of you received your field placement for this upcoming year? I was placed at Boston Rescue Mission working with homeless struggling with substance abuse issues. I'm really looking forward to it. Oh and as a reminder, registration for classes is coming up in a few weeks: Monday June 2nd @ 9am SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mila, Graduate school (especially in the field of Social Work) is not a decision to be taken lightly and like pdwilks mentioned, it's important that you have the love, encouragement, and support from your husband as MSW programs are quite demanding (even as a part-time student). I'm assuming the concern about $$ is from what you'd be earning as a practicing Social Worker out in the field? As someone who's currently working for the Veterans Administration, I can personally tell you that landing a social worker position within the VA is one of the best paying opportunities you could find. If you have a VA hospital nearby, you may want to consider possibly interning with the VA during your final year---or at the very least applying for an internship opportunity. Not only are most of them paid internship positions, but it could help you secure a potential job upon graduation. I think the bigger issue, like I said, is to have the support and encouragement from your husband--especially since you have a child and most likely you'll need assistance from him to help take care of him/her. Furthermore, it'd probably be a good idea to sit down and discuss what your future career goals and potential salary ranges along with the approximate cost of debt and how that may affect your family. This way there is a lesser chance of being caught offguard. There are quite a few non-profit organizations that employ social workers in low-income/high need areas that offer different types of loan forgiveness benefit programs. Either way it's okay to have these doubts and concerns because it's good to look at things realistically so you're better prepared for what's to come. Graduate school is a huge step and you're doing the right thing by facing your doubts, fears, and concerns head-on. Hopefully, with the love, support and encouragement from your husband and family, you'll be able to battle through them and succeed.

When I mentioned a monthly payment of about $1250 a month that was based on roughly $100-120k of student loan debt @ the default 10 yr payment schedule. So though your payments may not necessarily be that high (assuming you qualified for a low income payment method), your monthly payments will definitely be a lot (or at the very least you'd be paying them for a lot longer). As for the state university idea, I was simply trying to offer a potential solution for you to earn your MSW without accruing hellish amounts of debt and subsequently dealing with the stress that's associated (e.g. why you started this forum post in the first place). Obviously it may not necessarily be optimal for you in your current situation since the local state university is more micro-focused; however, would you (or have you) considered an out-of-state state university? Sure you may have to pay out-of-state tuition rates but I can certainly bet that the cost would be significantly less than attending a private school. Yes a private school may be more appealing for a myriad of reasons (e.g., wanting to study economic development) but I'm sure that private school is not the only one in the nation (or your general region) that offers a similar program. Yes you would be required to move (should you choose to apply somewhere else), but it may be worth it in the long-run because you're not innundated with so much debt. At the end of the day (e.g., 10-20 yrs down the road) what's worth more: having an MSW from that private school w/ tons of debt vs. having an MSW from a more affordable alternative? As long as you do well in your MSW program, it honestly doesn't matter much where you attend. Just my $0.02

hello dlr129 (et al), Though I'm extremely fortunate to be fully funded throughout my graduate program + a living stipend (all provided by a VA funded program), I can definitely understand how difficult of a decision it is to embark on a journey towards social work without accruing significant debt that may leave you financially crippled for many years. Something to consider is the cost-benefit ratio. Though there are certainly programs such as the income based repayment plan and public service loan forgiveness programs (as Lifesaver previously mentioned), many of these job positions do not pay much---because let's face it social work is not a 6 figure a year job. I currently have $40,000 in undergraduate loans and I pay about $500 a month. So if you're adding $80-100k on top of the average $20-30k of undergraduate student loan debt, you'll be paying roughly $1,250 a month shortly after graduation once the grace period ends. That alone is about $15,000 a year and since most entry-level social work jobs pay around $40k or so, you'll be living off of $25,000 each year to pay for bills, rent, food, etc. In otherwords, you'll need to consider what kind of a lifestyle you want to have upon graduation. Many of the loan repayment programs will require you to work in that job for several years before they begin to pay back part of your loans. This means you'll be required to pay for those student loans in the meantime. I say all of this not to scare you away from pursuing your dream of social work, but to help you realize the cost of that education. Are there any state universities/colleges in your area or elsewhere that may offer a social work program? This may be something to consider (don't know if it's too late) but may mean that you take an additional year to save up and then reapply in the Fall. Reason I ask is the cost of attending a state university may be much more affordable in the long run, thus helping to alleviate much of the stress that you're dealing with right now. All in all, I'm glad that you're sitting down and crunching the numbers. Sometimes it's tough to do but well worth it in the end when you start looking at the benefits & risks involved in a realistic and objective manner.

I have now been validated by the infamously awesome Gnome Chomsky. Thanks My work here is complete, I can go home now lol

Just a question, but didn't you write papers as an Undergrad where you were required to double space? I mean certaintly there are many tabs, dropdown menus on Word that can make it confusing (and sometimes frustrating), but isn't proficiency with Microsoft Word or any other document/presentation-related software required at the Undergraduate level let alone as as a Grad student? And even then, there's always google or your basic internet search engine. Forgive me for sounding a little brash or like an "asshole" but the question seemed a little "obvious" especially when in the Paragraph tab it does say "Spacing" followed by "Line Spacing" to the right. I don't think you can get more obvious than that.....but then again I come from a generation that didn't have stuff spoonfed to them.

hiclub2 did you apply to the full-time or part-time program? Because the deadline for full-time was March 1st; however, the part-time program (e.g., 3-4 yrs) has rolling admissions.

I myself served in the military for 8 years before earning my B.A. in Psychology. During my Undergrad, I interned with an Intensive Case Manager for a semester who worked with severely mentally ill clients. Currently, I've been working as a Research Assistant which has been great experience, and I'm also volunteering here at the hospital helping local Veterans to gain career-related skills. You might be able to volunteer at local homeless shelters, youth center (e.g., Big Brothers & Big Sisters) or nursing homes (depending on what population(s) you want to eventually work with). Opportunities are definitely out there as long as you keep your eyes open. It's good that you're already thinking and planning ahead.

esimanon, I'm sorry to hear that you got rejected from both schools you applied to---that must be a very tough pill to swallow. If I may add (or contribute) to this post with some of my own thoughts, here goes nothing... First, if you haven't already it might be a good idea to contact the admissions offices in a couple months (once the chaos of admissions processes are over) to find out what you could do to help bolster your application since you're planning on reapplying in the Fall. Second, it's important to note that your new application (particularly your SOP) needs to be different from the original (assuming you're applying to the same programs), and to show what you've done in the past year or so to help improve your application (e.g., any volunteering opportunities you've had, retaking the GRE, etc.) Third, make sure that when you talk about your past & current experience (especially if it's not directly related to social work), that you tie in that experience the best way you can. For example, I served in the military working as a steam-propulsion engineer and I continued that for a couple years when I got out of the miltary. Though that experience had nothing to do with social work, it showed me how much I prefer working with and understanding people vs. machines. With that said, it's important to find some kind of theme or "common thread" that you can weave into your SOP. This might be a passion/goal (e.g., working with children, older adults, etc.), but what's key is that you have a theme that all the experience, examples, etc. point to. This will help connect certain key points throughout your SOP and will help you steer clear of simply answering the question prompts and moving onto the next question. The SOP is by far the most important aspect to an MSW application, and as several people have mentioned, requires a fair amount of time and devotion to writing. I myself took almost an entire year to write my SOP. Lastly, please don't get discouraged. If there's anyone who's had doors slammed shut in their face and feeling like there's nowhere to turn, it'd be me. A wise person once said that for every shut door, there's an open window. Remember to stay positive and focus on those things that can help you improve as a person overall in order to turn you into a stronger candidate. You're doing the right thing in being open to feedback, criticism, and ways that you can improve yourself.

The only program I applied to was Boston College and I accepted the offer. One of the major reasons I chose to apply to Boston College was due to their interest in the Veterans & Military population which resulted in the establishment of the Veterans & Military Families Initiative. Because I am a Veteran myself and want to eventually work with these populations as a LCSW, Boston College was of particular interest to me. I was also impressed at the vast selection of electives and certificate programs that they offer. Lastly, I live within walking distance of the campus so logistically it made perfect sense. I think those three schools you're considering are great programs and since most offer similar courses and areas of specialization, it might simply come down to who offers you the most $$$ and which will cost you the least amount of $$$ to attend because at the end of the day it doesn't necessarily matter where you attend but how well you do.

Assuming she doesn't incur $$$$ in student loan debt to earn an M.A. in Psychology, she would still be required to complete the full 5-6 yr PhD track even if she was going in with a Master's. The only reason to pursue a Master's onroute to a potential PhD is if you do extremely well in the program and obtain a high enough GPA to offset the lower Undergraduate GPA. But again, it's all about the cost-benefit ratio and whether it's worth accruing more debt. Working as a Research Assistant might be a cheaper alternative to jumping into a Master's program. Unfortunately even having a Master's degree is not always an automatic guarantee that the applicant will get accepted into a PhD program. I think retaking stats class at a local Community College and looking into some research & volunteering opportunities is a good "first step." As a wise person once said "Why stare at a closed door when there's an open window beside?"

Keying off of what PsychGirl1 said, it might be worthwhile to visit your local Veterans Affairs hospital (since you live in a military area there should be at least one close by) and see if they have a psychology/mental health department. Most psychology research departments at the VA have Research Assistant (or Research Technician) positions that only require a B.A. in Psychology and you would be working under a psychologist for approx. 2 years. Most of these positions are term-based and are funded via research grants. In addition, you'd have an ability to author or co-author poster presentations (as PsychGirl1 said), or perhaps collaborate on a paper. I've been working as an Research Assistant at the VA for about 2 years now and have had the opportunity to author a poster which I've presented at an international conference, and am co-authoring a paper submission. Many of my colleagues on the RA level have been able to use this experience to help further their chances of admittance into PhD programs (especially since many PhD programs are research heavy). One thing to consider, though, is many researchers who hire Research Assistants are interested in candidates who have a strong statistical and research background (e.g., did well in Undergraduate statistics class, did some research or took a research-based class as an Undergraduate, etc.) because much of what I do is centered around research and knowledge of psychological statistics. So taking a stats class at a local community college might be a good idea to help bolster your resume should you apply for an RA position. Lastly, if you're not able to get hired as a full-time research assistant, you can also look into possibly volunteering your time to assist in their research. Several of my co-workers who had once volunteered, have been hired full-time.

Sorry to hear that you got denied RBWilliams. Yes I forgot to mention that VocRehab's focus is on employment rather than education. If your career goal requires a Master's degree (e.g., becoming a social worker) and you've met the prerequistes for the program (e.g., having a B.A. in a related field such as Psychology, Sociology, etc.), there's a strong chance you could be approved. However, like RBWilliams mentioned, it's not a 100% guarantee unfortunately. Acceptance into the program is up to the decision of the counselor you're assigned. As for the Yellow Ribbon program, here's a link with some information: http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/yellow_ribbon.asp and here's a link that you can search for schools in the state(s) you're applying to which participate in the Yellow Ribbon program: http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/yellow_ribbon/yrp_list_2013.asp The way the Yellow Ribbon program works is if the school's tuition is $35,000 a year and the max tuition paid for through the Post 9/11 GI Bill is $19000, then the difference is $16,000 a year. If the school participates in the Yellow Ribbon program and offers $2,500 in scholarship money, the VA will match that amount so you would only owe $11,000 each year. Obviously participation in the Yellow Ribbon program is contingent upon having time remaining on your Post 9/11 GI Bill and will end once you've exhausted those benefits. But like I previously mentioned, there are a few Veterans and military-related scholarships that are offered for those seeking graduate-level education.

For those Veterans who might already (or are planning on) applying to MSW programs, this is for you: As you all know the Post 9/11 GI Bill has been active for almost 5 years and is a huge help for us Veterans in earning a college degree; however, it only lasts 36 months and though it covers full public tuition, there's a cap to coverage of private tuition. If you are receiving any service-connected disabilities (with a rating of at least 20%) and you have at least 1 day left of your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, I highly encourage you to look into the VocRehab Ch.31 program and here's a link to some information about the program: https://www.vets101.org/a/38/ Unlike the Post 9/11 GI Bill, VocRehab covers 100% of both private and public tuition, along with the cost of books & supplies, and if you have at least a day left of your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits prior to applying to the program, you'll receive the monthly stipend as well. Under VocRehab, the VA can cover your educational expenses up to 48 total months so if you have 4 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits remaining, for example, and qualify for VocRehab, you'll receive a total of 16 months of benefits which = 2 years of graduate school. Another thing to consider as well, are Veterans & military-related scholarships such as the Pat Tillman Foundation (http://pattillmanfoundation.org/) which, if you are accepted, can cover some of your graduate school expenses.

so if I may recap and highlight the main points of what SheTaz and I said: 1. Boston is an expensive place to live but has a comparable cost-of-living to places like the Bay Area and NYC 2. Availability of affordable (and decent) apartments will quickly disappear the closer you get to Sept 1st, and if you're not willing to shuck out $$$ right away or put down a deposit (that doesn't always guarantee you'll get the apartment), then chances are 10 people are eagerly waiting for that same apartment. So if you're able to, it's a wise idea to start looking within the next couple months when requests for lease renewals are sent out. Tenants usually have by May to make a decision whether they will continue renting their apartment or move out by Sept 1st. 3. Sept 1st = a complete and total nightmare in Boston. Coupled with already crowded narrow streets & crazy ass drivers, it's best to avoid moving into Boston on Sept 1st at all costs. And if you do decide to move on Sept 1st, it's best to arrive as early in the day as possible. 4. If you can avoid it, don't have a car in Boston as yearly excise taxes, limited visitor/out-of-state parking, ticket & tow happy Boston PD system, and extra $$ each month for rented parking spots, makes for a wonderful experience. So again, be forewarned if you decide to bring your car. 5. Use the MBTA when getting around Boston. It's a great and affordable transit system. $70 a month for unlimited subway & bus use (need I say more? lol) 6. Lastly, plan ahead. Boston's an awesome city to live in, and if I may add something regarding the "B" line: it's not as "unpredictable" as SheTaz makes it out to be. I should know, I live right on the B line and it's far from unpredictable---I don't call it my 5am alarm clock for nothing

Eunice, don't quote me on this but I think if you're in need of any type of financial aid (whether it's in the form of scholarships, loans, or a combination of both), that you still need to file a FAFSA. You don't have to accept the loan amounts that are offered to you. It's great that you've been offered a substantial scholarship from BC that, along with your savings and AmeriCorps award, will allow you to attend virtually cost free. Since I noticed you're living in Boston, are your living expenses covered? Because if not, you may want/need to take out loans (or a part-time job if you could squeeze in the time). Otherwise, if you're still leaning towards BC, looking forward to having you as a classmate

Or maybe I'll just come in my Jedi Master robe & lightsaber like my profile picture hahahaha