lightning1129

Hey, current U of T student here!
From what I understand from conversations about taking students for next year at my placement, the hospital placement situation is a bit more complicated. I could be wrong for hospitals, but from what I understand, any agency that has an agreement to take U of T students doesn't have to not take students from other schools, they just have to agree that any students they take from other schools won't interfere with the U of T student's placement. And I know for a fact that SickKids, which has a bunch of U of T students, does also take students from other schools (one of the other placement students from my placement last year goes to a school in the states and did her placement at SickKids this year).
Also, from earlier posts, I know there have been some questions about popular and unpopular specializations- from my understanding, there's no quotas or anything for specializations, they just plan the number of sections for each course based on enrolment in each specialization, so you don't have any better or worse chance of getting in based on the specialization you choose. Which I suppose is good news for people wanting popular specializations and bad news for people wanting less popular ones =P

Hey, current U of T student here!
From what I understand from conversations about taking students for next year at my placement, the hospital placement situation is a bit more complicated. I could be wrong for hospitals, but from what I understand, any agency that has an agreement to take U of T students doesn't have to not take students from other schools, they just have to agree that any students they take from other schools won't interfere with the U of T student's placement. And I know for a fact that SickKids, which has a bunch of U of T students, does also take students from other schools (one of the other placement students from my placement last year goes to a school in the states and did her placement at SickKids this year).
Also, from earlier posts, I know there have been some questions about popular and unpopular specializations- from my understanding, there's no quotas or anything for specializations, they just plan the number of sections for each course based on enrolment in each specialization, so you don't have any better or worse chance of getting in based on the specialization you choose. Which I suppose is good news for people wanting popular specializations and bad news for people wanting less popular ones =P

This exactly! For me, I was leaning towards York as my top choice for a long time, but I think that even if I were to be accepted off the wait list at York at this point, I would still choose U of T. Even though York lines up much better with my personal philosophies and is much more critical and anti-oppressive, which is something that is really important to me, ultimately, what I'm looking for in my MSW is clinical skills, and I won't get that at York at all (my sister is in the first year right now there and says they have barely talked about practice at all, let alone clinical skills specifically). Being critical and anti-oppressive is one of my strengths and I have been developing those skills outside formal education for a long time and plan to continue to do so, so that shouldn't be my focus for grad school- my focus is going to be the clinical skills that I haven't really been able to develop on my own and is where I feel stuck when I am working in the field, so U of T is the clear choice for me, even though I'm sure there will be parts that frustrate the hell out of me =P. Your grad school should be the one that helps you to best achieve your goals and helps you develop the skills that you are looking to develop. We are paying a lot of money for this experience, so we had better make it one that works for us!

This exactly! For me, I was leaning towards York as my top choice for a long time, but I think that even if I were to be accepted off the wait list at York at this point, I would still choose U of T. Even though York lines up much better with my personal philosophies and is much more critical and anti-oppressive, which is something that is really important to me, ultimately, what I'm looking for in my MSW is clinical skills, and I won't get that at York at all (my sister is in the first year right now there and says they have barely talked about practice at all, let alone clinical skills specifically). Being critical and anti-oppressive is one of my strengths and I have been developing those skills outside formal education for a long time and plan to continue to do so, so that shouldn't be my focus for grad school- my focus is going to be the clinical skills that I haven't really been able to develop on my own and is where I feel stuck when I am working in the field, so U of T is the clear choice for me, even though I'm sure there will be parts that frustrate the hell out of me =P. Your grad school should be the one that helps you to best achieve your goals and helps you develop the skills that you are looking to develop. We are paying a lot of money for this experience, so we had better make it one that works for us!

This exactly! For me, I was leaning towards York as my top choice for a long time, but I think that even if I were to be accepted off the wait list at York at this point, I would still choose U of T. Even though York lines up much better with my personal philosophies and is much more critical and anti-oppressive, which is something that is really important to me, ultimately, what I'm looking for in my MSW is clinical skills, and I won't get that at York at all (my sister is in the first year right now there and says they have barely talked about practice at all, let alone clinical skills specifically). Being critical and anti-oppressive is one of my strengths and I have been developing those skills outside formal education for a long time and plan to continue to do so, so that shouldn't be my focus for grad school- my focus is going to be the clinical skills that I haven't really been able to develop on my own and is where I feel stuck when I am working in the field, so U of T is the clear choice for me, even though I'm sure there will be parts that frustrate the hell out of me =P. Your grad school should be the one that helps you to best achieve your goals and helps you develop the skills that you are looking to develop. We are paying a lot of money for this experience, so we had better make it one that works for us!

It has no bearing on whether you get in (though when I got CGS last year, the very first thing my profs told me was that I should inform the department. It didn't change anything, but there's no harm in it). Admissions decisions are made by the social work department while awards decisions are made by the graduate awards offices, and they don't talk to each other. You should inform the social work department at Laurier that you got OGS, especially while you know they are still working on decisions.
 
Congrats! Getting a major award like OGS, whether you wind up being able to use it or not, is a huge accomplishment! You should feel super proud =D

You can only hold one government award at a time.
 
Also, I got it for U of T!!!!!!!! Alternate at York, but that's not a surprise since they switched me from SSHRC to CIHR and there are only 8 CGS awards under CIHR. Plus U of T is where I am accepted (waitlisted at York), so I am pretty thrilled =D

You can only hold one government award at a time.
 
Also, I got it for U of T!!!!!!!! Alternate at York, but that's not a surprise since they switched me from SSHRC to CIHR and there are only 8 CGS awards under CIHR. Plus U of T is where I am accepted (waitlisted at York), so I am pretty thrilled =D

You can only hold one government award at a time.
 
Also, I got it for U of T!!!!!!!! Alternate at York, but that's not a surprise since they switched me from SSHRC to CIHR and there are only 8 CGS awards under CIHR. Plus U of T is where I am accepted (waitlisted at York), so I am pretty thrilled =D

blh22, you have reminded me of one of the things I do to relieve stress!
 
Colouring books. They're AMAZING. And if you feel like you don't even have the creative energy for that, you can do as I do and get colour by number books. I have this one http://www.amazon.ca/Colour-Numbers-Book-Fiona-Watt/dp/1409566544/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1427383692&sr=8-3&keywords=usborne+colour+by+numbersand it's AMAZING! It either lives next to my bed for when I am stressed or in my hospital bag, lol
 
I'm also a huge completionist, so I also find the Lego video games (Lego Lord of the Rings and Lego Harry Potter in particular) super super relaxing, and they're not too expensive either.

blh22, you have reminded me of one of the things I do to relieve stress!
 
Colouring books. They're AMAZING. And if you feel like you don't even have the creative energy for that, you can do as I do and get colour by number books. I have this one http://www.amazon.ca/Colour-Numbers-Book-Fiona-Watt/dp/1409566544/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1427383692&sr=8-3&keywords=usborne+colour+by+numbersand it's AMAZING! It either lives next to my bed for when I am stressed or in my hospital bag, lol
 
I'm also a huge completionist, so I also find the Lego video games (Lego Lord of the Rings and Lego Harry Potter in particular) super super relaxing, and they're not too expensive either.

blh22, you have reminded me of one of the things I do to relieve stress!
 
Colouring books. They're AMAZING. And if you feel like you don't even have the creative energy for that, you can do as I do and get colour by number books. I have this one http://www.amazon.ca/Colour-Numbers-Book-Fiona-Watt/dp/1409566544/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1427383692&sr=8-3&keywords=usborne+colour+by+numbersand it's AMAZING! It either lives next to my bed for when I am stressed or in my hospital bag, lol
 
I'm also a huge completionist, so I also find the Lego video games (Lego Lord of the Rings and Lego Harry Potter in particular) super super relaxing, and they're not too expensive either.

Seconded! My friend, who is currently in the program, said that the admin person at York has been away sick, but is back in the office today, so chances are good that if people are going to get a reply at all, it will come in the next few days.
 
I know some people have received emails that they have gotten in or been waitlisted, so it would be awesome to know where that leaves the rest of us. I know last year, people received acceptances and wait list statuses at the very end of March, and then I had emailed York a few days later asking about the status of admissions, never got a response of any kind, and then my myfile changed to "Decision made- unsuccessful" almost a month later. So if anyone has heard anything, that would be great. 
 
I haven't gotten in touch with them this year, but if I haven't heard anything by the first week of April I figure I will send off an email.

Seconded! My friend, who is currently in the program, said that the admin person at York has been away sick, but is back in the office today, so chances are good that if people are going to get a reply at all, it will come in the next few days.
 
I know some people have received emails that they have gotten in or been waitlisted, so it would be awesome to know where that leaves the rest of us. I know last year, people received acceptances and wait list statuses at the very end of March, and then I had emailed York a few days later asking about the status of admissions, never got a response of any kind, and then my myfile changed to "Decision made- unsuccessful" almost a month later. So if anyone has heard anything, that would be great. 
 
I haven't gotten in touch with them this year, but if I haven't heard anything by the first week of April I figure I will send off an email.

Yeah, it can be really difficult to find a job in the field, I have a professional undergrad degree in child and youth care and it's hard. One place where I am working now that DOESN'T require something that is directly human services is the shelter system. Myself and a few of my colleagues have human services degrees/diplomas such as child and youth care/work or social work undergrads, but others have sociology or criminology and things that are applicable like yours, but not specifically service training. So the shelter system may be a good place for you to look, especially if you're in an urban area that has lots of shelter beds. It will obviously depend on the shelter whether a non-service/professional degree will get you in, but there are lots that would hire someone with your qualifications.

I got up yesterday and had the day off, and was just starting to get moving and decided to check the online web portal even though the department had said just a few days ago that they hadn't even started reading applications yet (and they get about 900 of them) and I said to my partner "Okay, I'm really sick of waiting, you have to make them magically accept me!" and then I logged in and my status had changed to "Invited"!

It's right on the first page- where it used to say "No Registration History" in big red letters there is now a little chart that says Invited.
 
That being said, remember that on Monday, Angela told someone here that they hadn't even started reading people's statements and resumes and references yet. Acceptances are probably going to be happening for at least another week, more likely another few weeks.

Mine too! Congrats!!!

I applied and did not get accepted last year. I'm still pretty disappointed, but on the other hand, I had a lot of problems with focus and anxiety my last year of undergrad (though a lot of that was because of grad school applications) and it's nice not to have the pressure and homework that goes along with that. I'm reapplying this year, even though I'm not 100% sure how up to it I will be by September, but if I get accepted, I can make a decision then.
 
In terms of how I have been spending my time since hearing, I had to finish up a summer internship for my undergrad, I've been working on a couple papers in hopes of getting them published, and mostly looking for work in the field while doing a little bit of freelance tutoring and PSW work. I did just get a job as a relief counsellor at a group home for young parents and their babies, but I do have to tell you, getting a job in the field right now is hard, even if you have a professional degree like a BSW or Child and Youth Care (what I have). 
 
Grad school is a ton of work, and if you're in it for you, then I'm certain you can do it! If you're in it for family and friends though and you don't feel like you want to do it now, it's going to feel insurmountable. There are some fields where you really do need to do your masters right after undergrad if you want any hope at all of getting a job, but this isn't one of them. Yes, it's hard to find a job in the field right now, but I don't imagine it will really be that much easier as a new grad with an MSW than as a new grad with an undergrad degree, it just changes the specific jobs you can apply for. 
 
I would say that if you can afford it, apply. But also make sure you spend some time this year networking for potential employment, because that's really the way to get employed in this field. I have spent MONTHS putting in job applications and I would up getting this relief position because I mentioned I had finally convocated and was unemployed on facebook and my supervisor from a summer job a few years ago messaged me to tell me she was hiring relief workers and did I want to work for her again. This way, your options are open for if you don't get in or if you do get in but decide it's not the right time for you.

How do they know, though? I just took another look over the reference form and it never asks for the referee's level of education. One of my references is the program director, so they can assume his, and one is a recent grad of U of T's MSW PhD program, so the admissions people will likely recognize the name, but for my third reference and anyone's references, particularly field references, how would they even know? I'm not sure how much I buy that referees have to have a minimum education if they have no way of knowing for many of the referees they're going to get. 

I dont know the situation, but If the TA was cute (and yes, being a women is required to be cute in this case) I would rather speak to her than the dude. But I'm guessing that kinda gender bias is more acceptable? 

7 replies and nobody has bothered to ask for the relevant data in this situation?  
 
Pictures, man. We need to see pictures of this girl before we advise on the correct course of action.

smpalesh and zebra_mountain-
 
Yeah, chronic illness definitely changes a lot of things! Access to my health care professionals is part of the reason I only applied to schools in Toronto. We should start up a network of chronically ill human services professionals . Actually, one of my potential ideas for a thesis or MRP if I get in somewhere is looking at the experiences of disabled and chronically ill social workers/human services professionals and looking at what kinds of things agencies can do to support us and what is feasible and effective.

Not sure if anyone here applied (I didn't, since they only have a 1-year program and I am in the 2-year stream), but a friend of mine got an acceptance to McMaster's MSW today. So just a heads up, if anyone here applied there! Don't know any of the details and it's been like 7 years since we've spoken so I'd feel weird asking her for details, she just posted it on Facebook.
 
As for plan Bs, I'm still working on my plan B from last year, haha. I got a few relief positions in the youth services field (one at a youth shelter and one at a group home for young pregnant and parenting mothers) with my undergrad in child and youth care and am still looking for full-time work (I have been looking since JUNE!!!!). Sadly, I had just started these positions when applications came due, so I didn't have a ton of hours to show for them, but it's great experience and learning for me professionally and hopefully it will count for something on my applications . In the meantime, I have just continued to apply for full-time work knowing that the longer I work these relief positions, the better a candidate I am for both jobs and grad school. I figure that if I don't get in this year, I will just... keep working and try again!

Based on things I heard from someone who is currently in the program, apparently once the social work department at York gets all the applications from the central graduate applications at York, they do a round of rejections purely based on GPA (I don't know if there is an absolute GPA cutoff or if it's done as a percentile and I have no idea how strict/extensive it is), so it seems likely that the committee hasn't gone through applications in depth yet and anything happening now is purely based on GPA. I know last year I didn't find out I was rejected until late April and the person I know in the program now found out they were accepted within the first few days of April, so they probably haven't gone through applications in depth yet.