alex bo balex

I just wanted to offer a word of warning re: CSULA....in that I would not recommend entering this program, once you guys start receiving letters. It is *extremely* disorganized on an administrative level, the instruction is inconsistent, and there are a lot of problematic aspects surrounding racism/sexism. I don't feel comfortable saying more as I'm still in the program, but if you want further information you can contact me privately. Just didn't feel it was right to not give a "buyer beware" heads up.

I just wanted to offer a word of warning re: CSULA....in that I would not recommend entering this program, once you guys start receiving letters. It is *extremely* disorganized on an administrative level, the instruction is inconsistent, and there are a lot of problematic aspects surrounding racism/sexism. I don't feel comfortable saying more as I'm still in the program, but if you want further information you can contact me privately. Just didn't feel it was right to not give a "buyer beware" heads up.

I understand! What are your areas of interest/long term goals?

I was admitted to both as well, and will be attending CSULA. I heard back from CSULA very early on--I think they accepted me in late February---and I've had a really good experience communicating with them so far. Some of the things I took into consideration: they're ranked identically, and both seem to have well respected programs (although from what I hear CSULA's is older and more established.) People seem to prefer CSULB for the campus, location, and some concentrations/specializations, while the forensic concentration is a big draw for CSULA. Since the campus was irrelevant to me, and I wanted to be more centrally located (for field placements, and for my husband's job), I was happy to accept CSULA. I'm also pleased with the agency they've placed me for my first year, so I think it'll be a good fit. Anyway, if you do decide to go to CSULA, please feel free to join us over here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/csulamsw2017/

I just did the "self service" status check and it said I've been admitted. I haven't received any correspondence from them (postal or email), so it was a bit of a surprise. I also can't login to my portal to see the admission letter, so I'll have to wait to hear back from the helpdesk before I can confirm for sure. I have kind of mixed feelings about this. I've already accepted and am planning to attend CSULA, which I'm happy about (and have been extremely impressed by the efficiency of their communication)...but I also know a lot of people hold the Long Beach program in high regard, which gives me the tiniest bit of "what if?" feeling. I think if I'd been accepted to CSULB earlier, I would have been more torn in my decision--but now that it's so late in the game, I can't see any reason to change course. I guess I'm just confused about why they're taking so long to get back to everyone, since people have to start making plans and everything. Anyway, good luck to everyone still waiting to hear back! I know this process is pretty stressful.

Just thought I'd post this again, as more acceptances go through: https://www.facebook.com/groups/csulamsw2017/ Hope to see some of you over there, and congrats to those who've heard back from their schools!

I am! I'll actually be starting my MSW at CSULA in the fall. My areas of interest are women's rights and homelessness, so it's entirely possible we'll cross paths once I'm out there!

That also affected my decision re: USC, so I completely understand. Additionally, I couldn't get my head around the idea that they charge so much to complete a social work degree, which seems extremely at odds with the values of the field. So glad to hear that you love LA, though! I'm excited about it for all the reasons you mentioned, too.

Saidy, I'm curious--what are your thoughts on the various CalStates (pros and cons)? Is there a reason you're leaning toward one/some over the others..?

I'd love to see this thread boosted too; I think it would be really interesting to hear some perspectives from people who either live in CA, or have attended any of the CSU's. Any thoughts appreciated! (re: campus, location, faculty, coursework, student body, culture, diversity, opportunities, etc.)

If you're set on applying to schools that require it, then yeah, it's probably not a bad idea to study hard and try again (unless they're only interested in the analytical section, in which case, you may be alright.) I know many schools use the GRE as a cut off, so it's generally in your best interest to get above the 50th percentile if you want to give yourself the best chances. Again, though, it will depend on the schools, and how strong the rest of your application is.

I know CSULB and CSUF don't require the GRE--do the other schools you listed require it?

Thank you! And I'm rooting for you--I've seen your other posts on here and appreciated your insight/feedback, so I really hope you get good news soon. Hang in there!

Sure thing. I applied on January 17th, for the two-year program in the Community Mental Health concentration. Which program/concentration did you apply to?

Hey dreamcatcher, thanks for the info--that's good to know, and confirms what I suspected. I'd say the email I received today was more unprofessional than anything else, and left me unimpressed. But, all's well. I was accepted to my first choice in February, so this transcript situation has largely been an unexpected nuisance. It would have been nice if the application time/money hadn't gone to waste....but all the same, I'm not willing to pay for a new batch of transcripts to compensate for their error, just so I can get closure. In any event, I hope my experience will be useful to applicants during the next cycle. Good luck to everyone still waiting to hear back!