Lifesaver

Just wanted to throw this out there for shiznats and giggles.
 
Just because people are paying big bucks at NYU, Columbia, and the like, doesn't mean that they're getting great field placements and are having the time of their life, etiher. Based on the experiences of a handful of friends of mine who went to the aforementioned schools, they were really displeased with their field placements. Due to the amount of MSW programs in NYC, they firmly believed that the market for interns was saturated and they "took what they could get." So don't believe that you're being slighted simply because you aren't at one of the big name schools. Hopefully you will be able to secure a great placement soon. Hard work and determination do pay off. Just make sure you're defending yourself in a respectful manner. Even the slightest big of body language can be seemed as offputting and rude. i'm not accusing you of such, just stating a fact. Be extra sweet, even if they don't deserve it. It'll get you further.

Normally I'd agree that one day/week is too soon to make the determination that the field placement isn't suiting, and the field director in my program asked us not to do that (and to give it more time), but given that OP's placement didn't even have an on-site social worker is a bit concerning, since she is learning how to be a social worker. I'm sure it wasn't as extreme as this, but for arguments sake... If I'm in social work school, interning at a chemical plant under the direction of an engineer wouldn't do me any good.

How are your classes going? Are you learning anything? Do you like your professors? Assuming your next field placement goes well, can you see yourself being productive at this school for the next two years regardless of this mishap?
 
It's still early in the semester and everyone is trying to adjust. Including the faculty. I think you ought to muscle through the semester and re-evaulate then. If worse comes to worse and you need to re-apply elsewhere and transfer, so be it. But don't pull out and lose an entire semesters worth of money.

Normally I'd agree that one day/week is too soon to make the determination that the field placement isn't suiting, and the field director in my program asked us not to do that (and to give it more time), but given that OP's placement didn't even have an on-site social worker is a bit concerning, since she is learning how to be a social worker. I'm sure it wasn't as extreme as this, but for arguments sake... If I'm in social work school, interning at a chemical plant under the direction of an engineer wouldn't do me any good.

How are your classes going? Are you learning anything? Do you like your professors? Assuming your next field placement goes well, can you see yourself being productive at this school for the next two years regardless of this mishap?
 
It's still early in the semester and everyone is trying to adjust. Including the faculty. I think you ought to muscle through the semester and re-evaulate then. If worse comes to worse and you need to re-apply elsewhere and transfer, so be it. But don't pull out and lose an entire semesters worth of money.

Contact the admissions office. They are the ones who will give you the best answer.

I don't know if this will help, but I read something recently that really changed my thought process: Grad school isn't about the classes. The classes can be helpful, but your focus should be on research. Basically, the professors are no longer in charge of your learning. You are.

Don't ever, even partially, base your educational decision on a man. No matter how long you've been with them. It's not a good idea. I'm super happy to be here, in this city, and to be going to this particular school, but I'm still annoyed at myself for letting him play a part in my decision making process. He's such a douche. Even thinking about him makes me mad.

i found littleD 

By doing something other than moping.

I've been told and have read that doing so isn't suggested. I see an SOP as an opportunity to promote myself and my skills, not somewhere to air my dirty laundry, per se.

Can I throw the BS flag?

The life-long friend can't/shouldn't write your LOR. Since you already have two professors writing on your behalf, your employer/former employer should write your third. When you get to filling out your applications, you will see that schools are very specific about who writes LORs.
 
I can't vouch for anything in California. Didn't apply anywhere there.
 
Definitely start volunteering! Volunteering is HUGE for SW school and the application process.
 
And as far as the personal statement goes, I suggest starting it early and having everyone read it. I re-wrote the first three paragraphs of mine several times. When I finished writing, I proof-read it several more times. Even then, I still missed a few grammar errors that were later caught by my mother's friend who is a self-proclaimed grammar Nazi and ironically, a SW herself. That being said, she was the third person reading for grammar and the two before her (both have PhDs!) missed the majority of the mistakes she caught. So, I mean it, have everyone you know with half a brain read your statement.

Not sure what happened with your decision, but don't worry, you don't want to live in Columbia anyway.

Don't ever, even partially, base your educational decision on a man. No matter how long you've been with them. It's not a good idea. I'm super happy to be here, in this city, and to be going to this particular school, but I'm still annoyed at myself for letting him play a part in my decision making process. He's such a douche. Even thinking about him makes me mad.

Don't ever, even partially, base your educational decision on a man. No matter how long you've been with them. It's not a good idea. I'm super happy to be here, in this city, and to be going to this particular school, but I'm still annoyed at myself for letting him play a part in my decision making process. He's such a douche. Even thinking about him makes me mad.

Don't ever, even partially, base your educational decision on a man. No matter how long you've been with them. It's not a good idea. I'm super happy to be here, in this city, and to be going to this particular school, but I'm still annoyed at myself for letting him play a part in my decision making process. He's such a douche. Even thinking about him makes me mad.

Don't ever, even partially, base your educational decision on a man. No matter how long you've been with them. It's not a good idea. I'm super happy to be here, in this city, and to be going to this particular school, but I'm still annoyed at myself for letting him play a part in my decision making process. He's such a douche. Even thinking about him makes me mad.

Don't ever, even partially, base your educational decision on a man. No matter how long you've been with them. It's not a good idea. I'm super happy to be here, in this city, and to be going to this particular school, but I'm still annoyed at myself for letting him play a part in my decision making process. He's such a douche. Even thinking about him makes me mad.

The application fee was for processing your application. They did so. 
 
There was not a contractual obligation on the part of the school to notify you in a manner that pleases you that you were not accepted. 
 
Quite honestly, you come across as exceeding self-centered and antagonistic in your emails to the department, and I would imagine they are breathing a sigh of relief that they did not admit you. Especially if that was indeed your first email to them, and you had not politely inquired about your status previously. 
 
Most of us in higher education fight every day against education being considered a business, or students being considered clients. 

Subaru has the best AWD system, hands down. I wouldn't buy a Honda if you're relying on it to get through snow. A Chevy, maybe. I love subies.

Not for nothing, but what does your boyfriend think about all of this? Is he jumping on the bandwagon for you, or does he actually want to/has the means to travel internationally for an undergraduate degree where no one speaks his language? Sounds a little one sided to me.

Paris. If your relationship is meant to be, you'll survive the 450 km. Especially since it's only a year.
 
Also, you mention a potential PhD in the US in the future. Would she be coming with you then? Because that's a huge commitment on her end. So, if it's possible that you'll inevitably be split up by the Atlantic Ocean for a handful of years later down the road, why sacrifice your education for her now? Ya know?

Nope Nope Nope Nope Nope
 
Do not buy from Enterprise. Rental cars are the absolute worst things to purchase, people treat those things like crap when they have them, and you still are paying a dealer premium.
 
If you don't want to haggle, go to Carmax, buy the extended warranty (read the Jalopnik writeup on it, it's basically the only warranty they say is worth buying), and relax.

Here's my back story.
 
Undergrad was rough for me. I was sick like 50% of the time because I needed to have major surgery that would require me to leave school. I muscled through it and had surgery almost immediately following. Also, my boyfriend was deployed, which caused me a lot of stress and anxiety. I transferred schools twice, and I just wasn't in a good place and I was completely disinterested in my education at the time. Thus, my grades suffered. A lot. I came out of undergrad with a whopping 2.3 GPA. I can defend it til I'm blue in the face, but nobody really cares about my excuses.
 
Here's what I did.
 
I worked a really awesome job for eight years. While my friends were mixing drinks at a bar or folding shirts in a store, I was saving lives as an EMT. I have a pretty cool resume since I took every possible class offered to me, pertaining to my job. I also got great references from people that I worked with/for. I also did three years of volunteer work, played a college sport, speak a foreign language, and some other odds and ends that come up on my resume. Sounds like you've got all that covered.
 
I knew I'd eventually have to go back to school to raise my GPA when I started applying for jobs and they wouldn't even give me the time of day due to my GPA. At the time, I was very passionate about law enforcement and being employed by a three letter agency, so I decided to go back to get my masters in criminal justice (no MSW program in the area). Even if I didn't get a job in the field, I would at least enjoy the subject matter. The only school in my local area that offered a CJ minor was a very small private university (virtually unheard of outside of SC), nothing like my huge undergrad public university. I had to stay local due to my medical issues, so I only had that one option. I went in and spoke to an admissions rep who told me that my GPA was too low (3.0 requirement), but if I scored high enough on the GRE/MAT, they'd admit me provisionally on academic probation. So, I took the MAT (I'm awful at math, GRE was out) and scored really well. They admitted me immediately, no questions asked. I spent my first semester on academic probation, but was removed and admitted to regular standing after I pulled off a 3.9 GPA that first semester. A few semesters later, I graduated with my masters and a lovely 3.83 GPA!
 
When applying to MSW programs, I found that the majority of schools I was applying to asked their applicants to explain briefly any academic mishaps in their SOP. So, at the end of mine, I touched on my medical issues and stated that I could provide physician documentation, etc, blah blah blah. Use that SOP wisely! If you've got a good reason, tell 'em!
 
As you can see in my signature, I made out pretty well when I applied for my MSW, regardless of my craptastic undergrad GPA. Only one school (NYU) decided to start me off on academic probation. I even got scholarships from two schools! One was a significant amount of money.
 
And that's my story. Took a while for me to get here, but I'm here, and couldn't be happier with my options. I'm also very happy that I got my MSCJ first. I LOVED graduate school and everything about it. It was night and day from undergrad. Doing a first masters has also prepared me for my MSW. I did a lot of research, wrote a thesis, and made great contacts, all while beefing up my resume and GPA. What could be better?
 
All in all, my advice is to find a school that will admit you via test scores. I know that there are a few out there that require applicants to take the GRE/MAT if their GPA is below a 3.0 - I'd lean towards applying to those schools, since many don't require and don't want test scores at all. Don't give up! Someone will give you a shot. It may not be your dream school, and it may not be immediately, but you'll get there. Good luck!