Lifesaver

Har har har.

You're definitely on the right track! Any kind of related work experience, especially volunteer experience, is very important for an MSW applicant. Don't stop! A lot of MSW programs do not require applicants to take the GRE. Some schools will allow you to send scores if you have them, others don't want you to send them at all. I took the MAT (Miller Analogy Test - an alternative graduate entrance exam) for my first masters degree, only because my undergrad GPA wasn't great. So, if the programs you are looking to apply to don't require exam scores, don't take the exam. It's a huge waste of money. The test itself is expensive and sending your scores costs money after awhile. You can call each school you're interested in and ask if they require the GRE/MAT. If they do require an exam, and they accept the MAT (it's becoming a lot more popular now) and you're not good at math (like me!) take the MAT. It was very easy. That being said, I didn't send my scores to any of the 7 schools I applied to. Another thing to consider is location. Where do you want to live? Do you want to stay in your home state or do you want to leave? Would you be more comfortable paying in-state tuition, or are you okay taking a huge loan for Ivy League tuition and sky high NYC rent? With your GPA, you may not be overly competitive for funding from top 15 schools - which NYU, Columbia, and VCU are, to my knowledge. On the topic of finances, familiarize yourself with the federal loan repayment programs for social workers; specifically income based repayment and the public service loan forgiveness program. Google will give you all of that information. Think about your focus. Do you want to be a clinical social worker or do you want to focus more on macro-based things such as research and policy? Some schools have stronger programs for clinical social workers, while others have stronger macro programs. Do you want to do something a little different in the realm of social work? For instance, Tulane has a certificate program for disaster mental health, and the University of Denver has an animal therapy program. Check out each school's program - some of them have really unique stuff. When it comes time to apply (next fall if you want to go straight from undergrad to grad school), don't put all of your eggs in one basket. Make sure you have a safety school if you are determined to go straight into a graduate program without taking time off. A lot of times, people overshoot and apply to a handful of elite universities without keeping in mind that the admissions process can be extremely arbitrary. Some people firmly believe that they can't get rejected. Don't be one of those people, lol. Put yourself in a position to have options. In summation, build your resume as much as possible, make connections with professors because you'll need two to write letters of recommendations for you (and the more personal, the better), study hard and get good grades for the duration of undergrad, do a lot of research on schools, and give yourself plenty of time to fill out your applications and hassle those professors for the letters of recommendation. Professors can drag their feet like no other! If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.

*KABOOM*

If you can only walk 20-30 paces in between breaks, you need to get your health on track. Picking a grad school shouldn't be your top priority.

I swear, if one more person mistakes UPenn for Penn State, I'm going to explode. I'M NOT GOING TO PENN STATE, DAMNIT.

No email, yet again? I think to myself... NYC schools, why are you such slackasses?

Are you going to PhD school straight out of undergrad? Personally, I'd advise against that, if you were asking my opinion. I know very few people who did that, and I know some very successful folks. I graduated college in December (a few years ago), started a masters in August (honestly, because I was bored in a new city and wanted to make friends), and I will say that I've grown and changed a TON since I graduated college. My values, priorities, and life goals have REALLY changed. I can't even imagine coming out of college and starting a PhD. You'll be surprised how much you change between 21 and 25 years old. Again, if you're asking me, I'd defer a year and do some soul searching.

When I got my acceptance via phone call, I thought for sure they made a mistake. Especially since the conversation started with, "Have you received an email from us yet?" Uhhh, no, no I didn't. And when I didn't receive said email for over a week, I got even more paranoid. I ended up emailing them to have them email me. And clarify that it wasn't a mistake. Haha. I'm a fool. But in my own defense, the snail mail letter didn't come for another 2-3 weeks and the status never changed online.

Clearly the logic of someone who needs more Xanax.

#butthurtontheinternet #notworthit

Funny how Fordham is making you decide, yet I haven't even heard back from them yet. NYU told me on the phone last week that it will be mid-late March when decisions are sent out. The NYC schools just can't get it together, it seems. I heard back from the rest of the schools I applied to months ago!

I was asked during my interview with Penn if I have a car/plan to bring a car with me to school. Even though Philadelphia has a decent mass transportation system (or so I've been told), they still seem to want people to have their own forms of transportation. So for $150 extra a month to park, the Jeep and I are going.

Props to you, friend. I could barely handle staying a single semester at UMass. I think I went home (to NY) 75% of the weekends. I would have to agree that GTFO is a great idea

That's insanity. I submited my application in November. It was complete (with all LORs) before New Years. And now I'm peeved that they lied to me on the phone! But that's alright, as I said, I won't be going!

The first 2, I was standing in front of my mailbox. After having not checked my mailbox in approximately 3 weeks. Didn't ever think schools would send SNAIL MAIL acceptances in 2014! The third came in the form of a phone call while I was asleep. I didn't recognize the number and ignored the call. She left a message, which I ignored til the next day. Or was it later that day? I don't remember. Either way, I listened to the voicemail while I was in drive-through line at Bojangles waiting for my bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit. I called her back after I'd gotten said biscuit. So, I was driving down the road when I found out I was admitted to Penn, lol. The fourth, same way as numbers 1 and 2. In front of the mailbox, checking the mail. My fifth, my first and only rejection thus far, I was sitting on my couch, angry that I hadn't heard back sooner. But screw them, I didn't want to go there anyway. Muhahaha.

Yes. Google the years you're looking for.

Good luck!

I called them on Tuesday and they told me it won't be til mid to late March.

Being an NYC native, my family was pulling for Fordham or NYU. Even if I get in, it will be so late in the game that I'm not even going to entertain it. It's a shame, cause I'm sure I'm not the only one in this boat.

It appears that you and I are the only ones thinking about repaying our loans, lol, so I'll focus on Charleston for a minute. Accomodations: I really don't have any idea if you're planning on staying downtown and won't have a rental car. The ones I know of are across the bridge and/or closer to the beach. I know people who have stayed at the Vendu and Francis Marion Hotel, but I can't personally vouch for them. Sights: All depends on what you're into doing. Downtown there's the aquarium, a few art galleries and museums, the market, civil war sights, etc. You can take the ferry to Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. I did this with a friend and we enjoyed it. A lot of people come to Charleston to go to the beach, and there's 4 of them (Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, Folly, Beachwalker). If you cross the bridge into Mt Pleasant, there's Patriots Point, which is a naval museum inside an old aircraft carrier. I think there's a destroyer and a submarine there now, too. You can take a dinner cruise around the harbor, which is nice. Again, most people come to C-town to go to the beach and eat, which brings me to... Restaurants: We have a LOT of them. A few of my favorites are: Blossom, Husk, Halls Chophouse, Circa 1886, Basil, and Poogan's Porch. Those are all downtown and range in price a ton, so make sure you check the menu first. If you're out of the downtown area and perhaps in the John's Island area, Fat Hen and Wild Olive are really good. If you're like me and a huge fan of breakfast, I'd suggest Eli's Table or Toast. The staff at Toast have been a little on the rude side the last few times I've been there, but the food is great. If you're looking for Sunday brunch near the beach, Triange in Mt Pleasant is great. So is Sea Biscuit in Isle of Palms (cash only). So, yeah, that's probably more than you can do in a 24 hour period, but at least you have options, lol.

For those of us who didn't get full/any funding and aren't independently wealthy, are you confident in the IBR and PSLF programs to help you pay back your debt? Are you afraid it's going to blow up in your face in a few years? Do you know anyone currently using those methods of repayment? Is it going well for them? Anyone have any good blogs/articles to read about the success and longevity of these programs?

Reactions to me getting a second masters. A masters in social work. - You know social workers don't make ANY money, right? - You're going to get really fed up with your clients because people don't ever change. - Why would you want to help criminals? - You're going to be $150,000 in debt for THAT? - After being in school this long and being that far in debt, you might as well be a doctor. - I thought you were going to medical school? - Don't you want to be a physician assistant? Or nurse? Or SOMETHING ELSE? - When are you going to get a real job? - Are you going to be in school forever? A personal favorite when I talk about possibly going to Penn: - I hear they have a great football team. Isn't that where Joe Paterno coached?