socialworkette

I'm a current msw '17 student at Columbia. There's a lot of options, and I deliberated for a while....but I ended up checking the box on the app that said "do you want to be considered for the arbor" and I said yes. Well I got placed in a two bedroom at the arbor and I LOVE living here. It's gorgeous, my roommate and I have a huge apt and the building/apts have a lot of amenities and the building is located in a quiet area. Some people don't like the distance it is from school and they skip applying for the arbor, but I've had zero problems with it. There's a subway stop close enough and a free arbor shuttle runs residents to campus and back on a regular schedule. It's one of the more expensive UAH options but I think it's been worth it - I'll be renewing my lease!

Ok let's chat. Who went to the Admitted Students Day on campus today? Thoughts? It seemed to be quite a good turnout but was definitely a long day. I'd already accepted their offer for admission so I didn't need to be "sold" on anything but I did come away with good information and being able to get the current students' input on classes, housing, method areas, etc was helpful.

Thanks everyone and thank you also for all your insight, it's definitely giving me a better idea on what to do!! At this point, only my 1 closest coworker knows my situation and I think it'll stay like that based on your responses. I wouldn't want word getting around to my supervisor/etc. before I've had a chance to tell them myself. You've all definitely convinced me to stick to the typical 2-to-4 week notice schedule - while I would HOPE that they wouldn't go ahead and replace me before I left, I still wouldn't want to risk it. I'm probably going to err on the side of 4 weeks, but that's something I can figure out when the time comes closer. Like you @justwannagetin, I really like the people I work with including my supervisor and its like a little work family so I don't like keeping this from them, but at the same time I have to remember my supervisor is my supervisor and they probably have duties to report to HR or whatever. So keeping things in order and basically getting all my projects done before I plan on leaving will be top priority. I think what I'm a little worried about is if my former supervisor asks me how my apps went (as she did one of my LORs) - what do I tell her? If I tell her I got in to Columbia, then word may make it back to my current supervisor, which I want to avoid. But I also don't want to lie to her. Hopefully she'll be too busy in her current role to think about it (lol). I guess I could always say that I'm considering my options but haven't decided on anything concrete... Again, I know I'm overthinking it. I just want to leave on good terms - this is the first job I've had to leave that didn't have a defined "ending point" (i.e. I did undergrad internships that lasted for the year/semester, worked at an on campus job that I obviously had to leave when I graduated, etc) And who knows, I'd like to keep the option of returning to the organization open.

Hi all So I applied to my one school and got in for 2 year MSW (Columbia) starting Fall 2015. I've been working at this nonprofit agency for close to a year now and intend on staying basically up until I leave for school in August/September. My former supervisor (who wrote one of my LORs) has now moved on to another role in the agency and now I have another (great) supervisor, who didn't really know of my plans to go back to school. (I didn't think I would be necessarily going back this year either, but it worked out and I feel like it's the right time to do it.) My question is - how do I go about letting my new supervisor know about my acceptance and my plans to go back to school? I'm the youngest person working at the agency so no one would hold it against me to leave and pursue my MSW, but I want to do it as tactfully as possible. I don't want to make things awkward because I LOVE working at this agency, and love the people there, but I know I need to pursue the MSW to really be able to get deeper into the field, continue my education, do what I ultimately want to do, get my LICSW, etc. I know most people give "2 weeks notice" when leaving a job on any other terms, but obviously that probably wouldn't fly in this case and want to give them more notice - but I would also still be working there for another 5 or so months after telling my supervisor that I'll be leaving in the fall. Is that weird? SO, do I tell them now? Do I wait for a few more weeks? Do I give them like 2 months notice? 1 month? Maybe I'm over thinking it (after all people leave jobs all the time, especially in the human services field with its high turnover….) Any input would be appreciated!!

Almost 2 weeks I guess. But I'm not surprised about the delay....

It's been 2 weeksish since we heard back on the 2nd and I believe they said that the follow up letters/$$ stuff would be going out the week after...so hopefully soon....

I was an undergrad psych major with a social work concentration and spent a ton of time in the SW dept, and a lot of my BSW friends went on to the Columbia MSW program (albeit the advanced standing program.) Everyone I've spoken with really enjoyed the program and have nothing but good things to say about it - they've said that the profs were readily available, classes were engaging/interesting, field placements were generally good (though you don't have much say in the first year placements if you're a 2-year), and of course the school has a recognizable name on top of that. So maybe all their good experiences have made me biased xD They all did the clinical track (as will I) but I think it will be nice to get continued exposure to the macro side of things as well because I think I'll want to get further into macro later on…so we'll see. Something I found interesting was that a girl I met at a Columbia info session last fall who was a current NYU MSW student pulled aside the admissions lady and was essentially begging her to see if she could still apply for transfer (I think because the transfer deadline had just passed or something) because she was super dissatisfied with her NYU experience (citing the fact that one of her finals had been watching a movie, that the classes she was in had been a joke, etc.) Of course, that is just ONE student's experience of NYU so that could mean absolutely NOTHING, or she could have had beef with a certain professor she had, whatever. People have gripes about Columbia's program too, like it's not worth the money, it's just about the name, too macro, etc. So I think what it'll boil down to is that no program is going to be perfect and you gotta visit both schools and see what vibe you get, how it aligns with your goals, compare the $$, etc

@rachrose aw MAN I'm blind. Thanks for pointing that out!

Do we know if there's an accepted students day already planned? I couldn't find anything relevant online...

@caitdownie the platform you use to apply. There should be a link to it in your inbox from when you initially applied

Ps @puravida21 I got that email 4 minutes before they sent the official decision email so it must be a glitch or something.

AHHHH JUST GOT MY EMAIL AND IM IN!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHH

@PuraVida21 congrats! That's weird you didn't get your official link yet but maybe call them to confirm?

@PuraVida21 thanks for calling, that's so good to know. I'm such a chicken when it comes calling for stuff like that LOL

@jharper I'm right there hoping with you!