casualrunnergal

I think a lot of these responses to the original question are fairly self-righteous. The poster has every reason to be concerned if she's been informed her clients have displayed physical aggression. Being a good social worker doesn't mean taking on a martyr complex and entering blindly into potentially dangerous situations. OP, if the risk feels unacceptable to you (discounting your own personal biases, which I can't possibly know), then you need to sit down with your supervisor and make your concerns known. Maybe there's a way to work around this limitation, maybe not. But people get hurt when they ignore warning signs, and the priority for you has to be safety. If you can't help yourself to stay safe, then how can you expect to help anyone else?

I got $3000 work/study per year at UMich... not enough to sway my decision! This education is going to put me so far into debt I don't want to think about it.

Yes, I'm all but decided! Good luck to you

Hiclub - no reason to read into it. If you haven't heard yet then you're still in the running!

Just got my acceptance! Hooray!

Yep, that's what I figured. I'm thinking of it as a sort of "wait list" situation... oh, well.

No! This wait is driving me crazy. Whatever the result, I just want to hear back.

I got accepted to Smith today! I was wait-listed in early February, and they informed me they'd have a final decision by the end of March. I didn't expect to hear back so early. Now it's between U of Michigan and Smith... still waiting to hear back from Columbia.

EdPolicyGuy - you're in the Social Work forum.

Hiclub, I'm right there with you. I haven't been notified yet either, and I'm thinking this is not a good sign. Congratulations to all those who were accepted!

This is very helpful, thank you! It also makes me feel a lot better about the amount of debt I'm expecting to take on.

Given that social worker salaries seem to vary from about $40,000 to, eventually, about $80,000, how much debt would you consider taking on for an MSW program? My circumstances are that I don't have any debt from undergraduate. I have a decent amount in savings, plus an Americorps education award, that would allow me to pay for the first year of a private program. However, I would be taking out loans for the second year, and, factoring in living expenses, this could well be about $50-60,000. Would you consider this too much? What would be the upper limit for you when it comes to student loan debt? Thanks for any and all feedback, it's much appreciated!

Weirdly I've received an e-mail but no notification on WA. Hmm...

I didn't see a thread started for Columba in NYC yet! Anyone else apply? I submitted my application Dec. 1st. I have my fingers crossed for this one.

Thanks guys! I submitted my applications for both U of M and Columbia on Dec. 1st. I am planning to specialize in Interpersonal Practice. I prefer Columbia's program because it offers 3 days of fieldwork per week, versus just 2 at U of M. I am also a native New Yorker and I plan to stay in the northeast long term (I've been living in California this past year and miss home!), so Columbia would make more sense. That is, if I am accepted! Also, congrats on your acceptance, nightwolf! Boston is a great place.