
LP3
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Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
I also believe that some programs do require another quantitative and qualitative research course. Dalhousie's online MSW in particular has a "Research X" and "Research Y" course, but they were unclear about the nature of the courses, other than being research. -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
Thank you! Long term, I will need to go for my MSW. I also don't want to be trapped under the glass ceiling. I feel like I will have more freedom and more options with my MSW, it's just a matter of when I do it. That being said, I am still going to try for Laurier's Advanced Standing. I am excited to be a part of the waiting game after creeping this forum all year! -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
Wow- Thank you both for the supportive responses. I'm glad to hear that it's not the end of the world. Lightning, I too have problems with anxiety, as I had mentioned in previous posts. All relating to school stress. Did you find it beneficial to have that break? I really appreciate hearing from others who have gone through something similar. To be honest, some days I question whether or not I am "ready" for the responsibility of my MSW, as I will be 23 if I do it immediately. I would like to be able to do it and get it over with, but I'm starting to see the benefits of stepping back and allowing myself to gain some professionalism in the field, even if it's a very, very entry-level position. -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
Any thoughts from students who may be on the fence about doing their MSW right away? It's likely that I won't get in due to my lack of experience (and many professors have noted how difficult it is being accepted right out of school) but I'm wrestling with a feeling of failure if I don't. My only back-up plan is to work, volunteer, and spend some time upgrading courses as a post-grad student. The break might be a great thing to gain more experience, but I don't know how to explain to my friends and family who believe that grad school should come directly after your undergrad finishes. Can anyone share their thoughts about not being accepted? How did you feel, and how did you spend your time? -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
If it helps at all, so many people told me that the BSW was hard to get into. There would be stories flying around about people with a lot of experience and perfect grades being rejected. In the end, everyone I knew got accepted -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
Thank you for the very detailed, and informative answer. I really appreciate your insight about the personal statement as well, you mirrored my thought process about fearing that I'll seem unprofessional or incapable. I still think I will be leaving my story in my personal statement as it's really my only strong point aside from my brief employment and volunteer experience. -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
It's a bit of a long story but it was during an informal assessment of a client for a counselling project. Our focus was on anxiety and I'd disclosed having experiences with anxiety before, therefore I would try to pass on the techniques I'd used. Since I'm young, I figured that relying on that life experience would give me more credibility in that situation. Unfortunately, that level of self-disclosure was frowned upon. -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
Regarding the personal statement, I've also included a majority of personal details which have encouraged my choice to become a social worker. I included them in my BSW personal statement as well and was accepted. I'm not sure about the MSW either though, if it will be unprofessional, as I've been told recently in the past year NOT to disclose mental health information about myself to others unless they are close confidants. I'm not changing my personal statement though, because there's no other way of explaining why I want to be an RSW. What do you think? Hmmm... -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
I've e-mailed both Laurier and Dal to ask about the experience recommendations upon applying. I've asked Dalhousie if they accept the equivalent of 2 years (say if someone has a few month stretches volunteering at various agencies) and asked Laurier if they even accept anyone straight out of their BSW or undergrad. Still awaiting answers on both! Applying for my MSW feels like buying a very expensive lottery ticket... -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
Good advice I'm glad to hear it's doable. Where did you find a practicum btw? I'd assume it'd be really hard since Laurier and Waterloo have this place locked down like the Social Work school mafia -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
I have looked into Windsor but I'm not interested in the MSWwp format- you have class every Friday night and Saturday, and it's very fast paced yet takes 3 years to complete with normal-priced tuition per semester. It's a pretty expensive program from what I saw. The full-time advanced standing MSW appeals to me at Windsor as well, but theirs starts in May and continues on for a year, so if you're applying right out of the BSW at Waterloo, the programs are impossible to do right after another as they overlap. I'm considering applying to Windsor for the following year if I don't get accepted elsewhere. -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
Yikes . Laurier did a presentation at Renison during our first week of the BSW. I didn't attend, but a lot of students left discouraged. When you applied to U of T, did you intend on moving to Toronto or commuting? I'm still considering applying to Dal because it's strictly online and you can do your placement either part time or in 4-day blocks over a semester. I did see that they require 2 years of full-time experience, but they consider experience gained before and during the BSW. -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
Can anyone advise on how tough it actually is to get into Laurier's advance standing? I'm currently doing my online portion of the app and continuing to edit my personal statement, and I'll be approaching my references this week to ask if they will provide a good word for me. I'm feeling really nervous, almost like my life will be over and I will be living in a box if I don't get into my MSW, but scared that I'll get in and be too poor/tired/burnt out and feel uncomfortable throughout the program. Same with commuting to U of T, if that might be too exhausting. -
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
LP3 replied to smpalesh's topic in Social Workers Forum
Hi everyone! After a lot of ambivalence about whether or not to apply to my MSW or wait a year or so... I THINK I'M GOING TO DO IT! I've worked at community centres for the past year, volunteered at a homeless shelter for a year prior to that, and am currently doing my BSW at Waterloo where I am gaining some practicum experience in a macro setting. I wrote my personal statement a few months ago so that I can continuously edit and tweak it as my experiences change. I have a lot of life experience from leaving home at age 16 and fighting through the system to make it to university, so I hope they look favourably on this. My current top choice is Laurier's Advance Standing IFG program. I have heard that the acceptance statistics are very tough, you need a LOT of relevant experience as well as excellent grades. My second choice (still on the fence though) is U of T. I know someone who is doing her program full-time from KW and commutes to campus every Monday and Tuesday for class. I don't know yet at this time if this is something I could be capable of doing, as winters are tough and I'm a new driver. Lastly, I am considering the MA Theology and Psychotherapy from Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, as many have told me that it's a great way to get your foot in the door, and then you can apply to the MSW after a year or so there. Looking forward to this excruciatingly tense next few months with everyone!