turtle2014

I got that email today too! Well, I did my BSW at York U, therefore I'm kind of familiar with how York's Social Work Department works and know where to find information before it is publicly announced. I'm excited to go to the orientation too, especially to find out more about the Graduate Assistantship [that's what the $9000 funding is about]. See you around on campus!

Yeah, two-year program's 2nd placement starts in September, and the current 1st year students must submit their choices of placement sites by this Feb., so it's too late to have the orientation for 2-year program's 2nd placement now (that usually held in January - "MSW Year 2 Applying for Placement"). http://www.yorku.ca/laps/sowk/practicum/ You can find out lots of useful information from the above link, including the 2-year program's Practicum Manual (although the manual is for last year, they usually only make very small changes, such as dates). Pg 20 on the manual is especially useful when you plan for your course selections.

The York U MSW Orientation should be for the new incoming students, otherwise it wouldn't be for the Advanced Student (the one year program) and 2-year's 1st year students... Because it will be too late for advanced students who are currently doing the program right now--they should be close to completing the placement already and finishing their Practice Research Paper to be ready for graduation in this October. York's MSW students start the placement in January, finish in June, and need to look for/secure placement during the coming Fall semester, so it does make sense to have the new student Orientation and practicum orientation in a single event, so that students can start to think about the place they want to work. [The 2nd welcoming package I received from York U included two letters, one from the Graduate Program Director of Social Work, the other from School of Social Work's Field Education Manager]. I think they should send out information regarding to the Orientation next week, likely through e-mail from Emma, the graduate program assistant. [i got an email from her on Apr 25 informing me more information will be sent out in coming several weeks about the next steps for the MSW program, including information about courses, registration and enrollment and orientation sessions.] FYI, though you can't register for the course till June 3, you can start to see what courses will be offered for the coming year and its schedule. Just go to: https://w2prod.sis.yorku.ca/Apps/WebObjects/cdm.woa/15/wo/PHQqq4xCWCILLlBhA2LDKg/4.1.10.7. Search courses by selecting "Fall/Winter 2014-2015" and "SOWK - Social Work". Course # with 5xxx are MSW courses. [1xxx - 4xxx are for BSW] If you want to be sure, you can always contact the Social Work Department to double check with them. I'm going to York U to attend a whole day Social Work Research Symposium and can check with them regarding to the MSW Orientation. I'll keep you informed if I got more information.

FYI for people who have accepted York U's MSW offer.... the MSW's orientation is coming up, and you can register for it through: http://www.yorku.ca/laps/sowk/practicum/rsvp/msw_orientation.html Hopefully you'll be able to find out more info regarding to the fundings and other matters. York U MSW Orientations: MSW Program & Field Orientation FULL TIME, ADVANCED STANDING STUDENTS-- Monday, May 12, 2014, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Room S802 2 YEAR-YEAR 1 STUDENTS -- Wednesday, May 14, 2014, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Room S822 PART TIME, ADVANCED STANDING STUDENTS -- Tuesday, May 20, 2014, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Room S822 (PS for new students who aren't familiar with the Keele Campus of York U: The location is at Ross Building South (RS) 8th floor, the Social Work Department.)

Feel the same way when asking for references too..... About York's Advanced Standing waitlist, the confirmation deadline is April 9, since York's funding package is really great, many people may still trying to make decisions. After the deadline, York may start to give out more offers for the Advanced Standing program again. Good luck!

Thanks a lot! The info you provided were very useful, as I didn't know much about Adler school at all other than what were listed on its website. It reassured me about the possibility of taking the alternative route vs. my original plan. I did take your advice and listed all the pros & cons for both paths, and it seems that York would be a better choice for me (although it's still too early to make the final decision). I'm a York student too (BSW-post degree) and I'd never felt unsafe walking around the campus either. Once again, thanks a lot, and congratulation for being accepted into Brock U... & post-degree BSW!!!

Thanks for informing. It's nice to know that.

Thanks a lot. I can understand the stress of making life decisions and needing to choose among a few good programs. (although the impact of your choices are much greater...) Now I'm also altering my thought in setting UofT as my 1st choice and am seriously thinking about going to York even if UofT gives me an offer... because the offer from York U is just too tempting -- a funding package of $15,000 ($9000 GAship + $6000 entrance scholarship)!!! It means after one year of MSW studies at York, I'll not only get a master degree, be debt free, but also earn $9000 plus a paid social work related work/research experience to list on my resume. Although I like UofT's program better, but now I'm considering an alternative route of obtaining a "Solution-Focused Brief Therapy" Certificate from Adler Professional School's Continuing Education Program after completing MSW at York. This way, I'll be able to learn about the practical counselling skills that is lacking in York's MSW program. I wonder how others will choose-- a school that provides lots of funding or a famous school with a program you like?

Congratulation for getting accepted to UofT! And I do think you have a very high chance to be given an offer from York... York's social work dept. is known for its slowness in processing the application, if you are informed to be on the waiting list at this early stage and are provided with potential funding, it probably means you are on the very top of the waiting list, and York's waiting list does move!!! Well, the $9000 funding at York is in the form of a Graduate Assistantship (GAship), the students "...are required to work as a Graduate Assistant for 135 hours (about 5 hrs a week) from Sept. 2014 to Apr. 2015. A GAship assignment typically involves working with a Social Work professor or a School of Social Work project or committee. As part of the GAship, you will also receive extended health care benefits." Not sure if every full-time students (or advance standing students?) who got accepted will get that, but it's very likely....I only know that to remain on GAship, you must have a B+ average.

Hi laura016, Congratulation for getting into OISE. I'm in a similar situation that I got acceptance from York MSW and are on the waiting list for UofT MSW, but the one I really wish to attend is UofT since I'm interested in specializing in mental health field and York doesn't have that. What I'm planning to do is to accept the offer from York to secure a spot (& pay $250 deposit fee) while continue to wait for the UofT final result. If later on I get acceptance from UofT, then I'll decide at that time to either give up my non-refundable deposit fee to go to UofT, or stay with York. Most admission offers require people to accept the offer and pay the deposit within 2-3 weeks. The students can change their decisions as long as they are ready to give up the non-refundable deposit fee (each school charge differently). Laura016, I think there are a few things you can take into consideration when deciding the next step: 1) what's your financial situation? Are you willing to give up the deposit fee? 2) what are the chances for you to get accept into other programs? high or low? 3) how much do you like to study in OISE comparing with in other programs? If I were you, I probably would wait as long as possible (and only pay the deposit as late as possible) - since most of school have started to give out offer, especially for the coming few weeks. If by the deadline I still didn't hear any acceptance from other programs, then I'll accept the offer to secure a program, while continue to wait for the news from other schools. It's just my two cents opinion. Although I don't know much about you, if you are able to get into OISE, I do think at least you should have a pretty good chance of getting into post-degree BSW program. Best wish to you.

hi m7238, I received an e-mail from York U's MSW Department informing me that I've been accepted into its MSW advanced program, and stating that an official acceptance will be mailed out in a couple of days. So I guess they are starting to mail out the acceptance letters for the one-year program. Your GPA is good and have work experience in social service field, so I don't think you need to worry too much. York U sends out acceptance letter using a rolling system (since many applicants in Toronto applying to UofT, York & Ryerson at the same time, and most applicants will choose UofT over the other two), and the whole offer-distributing process will take a very long time. Best wish to you.