jharper

@Zee21 I've already committed to NYU (and VERY excited about it!!!) but just wanted to thank you for writing out all of the above regarding your experience at NYU! It sounds like you are having a positive experience, which is reassuring!

Personal reasons- nothing to do with the program at VCU. I've been in undergrad for five years and have gone through a lot in my personal life in that time and just kind of wanted a fresh start somewhere else. If my personal circumstances were different, I would happily stay. In fact, A LOT of people from my current BSW program are staying at VCU for the 2year or advanced standing programs because they WANT to. It's a great school and supportive/inclusive/open-minded community that I think you will enjoy

I am a current VCU BSW student who also got into VCU and Columbia. I have ruled out Columbia because I felt their clinical program was not strong and they just rely on their name. It's 100% not worth the money in my opinion. VCU has a strong program and I know you will leave it feeling prepared to be a competent social worker. Michigan is like the #1 school and has been for a long time... I have one friend who went there and loved it. If I were you I would visit Michigan to try and make the most informed decision possible and then decided between there and VCU.

Congrats on making a decision! I know it is such a good feeling to be done with admissions and waiting for decisions and deciding between schools

HEY! If you end up choosing NYU for advanced standing, join the Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/758610267579778/

Hey friends from this thread who end up choosing NYU for advanced standing- I made a Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/758610267579778/

Ok here's the group for advanced standing people starting this fall! https://www.facebook.com/groups/758610267579778/ Join it!

Ok! I will!

We were trying to start a FB group for advanced standing students since we are not class of '17 (we will be class of '16)

Advanced Standing people! Someone send me a message on here with your name so I can add you on Facebook to make the group. FB won't let me make the group until I have one person to add to it.

Alright I am making it but it needs me to add one member to finish creating it. Does someone want to DM me their name to add on FB and then add you to the group so the group can be created?

I also walked away with a similar impression, Chilly8. I went to NYU on Friday and loved it. An advisor met with me for over an hour and offered really realistic advice as well as her experiences. She didn't give me "the sales pitch" and even said that she wasn't going to do that. Instead we just had a really great conversation followed by a tour. Today at Columbia, I felt like they didn't provide any more info than what is already on their website and instead just relied so much on their name. My two cents is that you might want to use the Columbia name to get ahead if you are a policy person working in government or something but as a future clinician my clients aren't going to care that I went to an Ivy or not- they just want the best service possible and I feel like I will get a stronger clinical education at NYU because that is what they specialize in. I had been hearing from professors in my current BSW program that they don't hold Columbia in any special high regard and that in fact they know it is not as rigorous or amazing as you think it would be. Also, Columbia SSW is a huge research program so that is what their focus and effort is in- publications (not all professors, but most). Some schools like Smith College is just a teaching school so you'd be learning from professors who are there because they want to shape the next generation of social workers and teach, not work on research or other things. I just really liked NYU and have always heard very positive things so I feel really good in my decision because I know I've done everything (talk to students, professors, advisors, etc.) to make an informed decision. For those who choose Columbia, I totally respect your decision and know you will also get a good education and be successful! Good luck to all!

Can we just make it or is it done by someone already at NYU? If we can I don't care I'll start it

I got in! Didn't get an email but there was a status update on my application in the portal.

@jillchristine how many people are typically in each class?