Nochal

I didnt know that there was a restriction to where I could post, especially when its on the most recent post sidebar. That's fine, I'll shut up, I just think that wanting to know if the color of my skin or my gender gives me an advantage is a bit short sighted; Wouldn't you want it to be an even playing field, or at least one where one's abilities arent in question. 
 
Anyway, I'll shut up. 

"So you're getting a Master's, then?"

"No, a Ph.D."

"But you don't have a Master's!"

"You can earn a Master's while you're in a Ph.D. program after a couple of years."

"So you ARE applying for Master's programs."

"...No."

"...Wait, so what type of program are you applying to again?"

"Psychology Ph.D. programs."

"Oh, got it, so you want to be a therapist or something, huh?"

"--I give up."

Hey everyone I just watched this open house for admitted students from last year and it had a lot of answers to many of the questions everyone here has (including financial aid and admissions decisions dates). It's kind of long, but worth watching in my opinion. Also there is one for this year scheduled to occur on 27 March at 12:00 Eastern. Here is the link to last year's recording:

http://ssw.umich.edu/events/list/2014/03/28/41098-virtual-open-house

"When will you find out??"


Heard this maybe three times a week until I was accepted. It drove me nuts!

Finished my undergrad @ 52, then went straight to grad school.

"When will you find out??"


Heard this maybe three times a week until I was accepted. It drove me nuts!

"When will you find out??"


Heard this maybe three times a week until I was accepted. It drove me nuts!

From my reading, if your application status says Complete, they have made a decision. If you do not have notice on Wolverine then you most likely are either wait listed or denied. Wait list's and acceptances get an e-mail sent to whatever e-mail they stated on the application that they have reached an admissions decision (sometimes takes a few days to come into your regular e-mail after the decision is made) and it states the decision on there. Denials get decisions through snail mail. This is what I have learned from knowing students at UofM and from reading different articles. BEST OF LUCK!! UofM is one of the hardest schools to get into Even being wait listed is an honor. Ann Arbor is an amazing city, the faculty for the MSW program are top notch, and the resources available for any specialization are fabulous. A good way of looking at it, if you are denied from ANY program, maybe they knew you would not flourish in their program and that they do not have the resources to support your goals and future endeavors The waiting part is the hardest but take a deep breathe and know that you are not alone!!!! 

Hi y'all,
 
I was recently accepted to NYU Silver School. I applied to NYU, Hunter College, Smith College, UMN Twin Cities, UW Seattle, and UPenn. I have a Skype interview with UPenn tomorrow morning - any tips? Also my application status on Hunter's website says "interview pending," though I haven't received any emails from them yet. I applied to UW Seattle early decision on Dec 1 and still no word, while NYU accepted me 10 days after I applied, haha. Anyone heard from these schools yet? 
 
Kelsey

The reason that it is relevant whether or not you're in grad school, and what experiences lead you to give this advice, is that this thread was specifically asking for current graduate students to give advice to new graduate students on how to be successful. 
 
You came into an advice thread as (a) not a current graduate student, and ( giving advice that runs contrary to, well, everyone I've ever heard giving advice about graduate school. 
 
It may work for you, but since this is an advice thread, it's not exactly the best place to post your opinions about what will work best for you in grad school, especially when you don't have any experience actually trying your advice, just a feeling you think it will. 
 
Personally, I don't want new graduate students coming here, reading an advice thread, and thinking that having a life is a bad thing in grad school, will be detrimental to their studies, or make them a lesser student. It's not true, and in fact could put them at a disadvantage in all of the aforementioned areas. 
 
Also, you keep saying you're not generalizing, and then you make a general statement (i.e., you think students who put things on hold will be more successful, productive, and finish quicker) when I've already posted at least one study that shows that people in relationships are more successful, more productive, and finish quicker than those who are single. If you want to make a general argument, on an academically based board, at least be prepared to back it up with some form of evidence- empirical, anecdotal, or statistical, your choice. 
 
Simply stating an untested hypothesis over and over doesn't make it a good, or true.

^^Sounds like you are the one with the attitude, I already stated they were my opinions so its funny you are being so defensive, just because I said "you" doesn't mean I'm telling others what they don't need. I am not worried about what others do with their time that is their choice, I am not forcing my beliefs on anyone but I know there are others in grad school who have the same thinking as me. It is just my belief that people who are more willing to make sacrifices will ultimately be more successful, this doesn't just apply to grad school or a PhD program so why does it matter whether I am currently in school or not? You are just upset that others don't share your opinions.

Excuse me, but who do you think you are to tell me that my husband, family, friends, pets... they are "non-necessities?" You may be able to live without those things, and that's totally fine, but you have absolutely no authority to tell anyone else that we "don't need them" and that they are potential hindrances. 
 
I particularly take issue with your insinuation that anyone who doesn't "give up everything" to devote themselves 200% to their studies is somehow less committed than you. 
 
I find your arrogant tone appalling, especially from someone who hasn't even STARTED grad school yet.
 
Good luck. With that attitude, you're going to need lots of it.

Congrats Nochal!! 

Congratulations!!! U of M is an amazing school! 

I think the story of your first sexual encounter is too much information. I think it would be sufficient to explain why the area of sexual dysfunction is important like in your second paragraph and then mention how it relates to you personally (if that is why you want to focus on that area) in more general terms.
 
"Sexual dysfunction is important to the area of social work because blah blah blah. It is an area that I believe is often overlooked and rarely talked about, but is important to sexual health and well-being. Sexual dysfunction is often surrounded by stigma and shame and can negatively impact intimate relationships. I experienced this firsthand in my first intimate relationship and was eventually diagnosed with Vulvodynia which is often misdiagnosed and can affect up to one in four women. I remember feeling/thinking blah blah blah after hearing the diagnosis. Because of my experience with sexual dysfunction I think it gives me an intimate perspective that will allow me to help others in a similar situation."
 
That's just an example of a paragraph that gets your point across without giving details about your sex life.
 
I would also encourage you to re-examine the statement about being less of woman because of not having sex and "What man would want to be with me if I couldn’t have sex?" Basing a woman's worth on her ability to have sex with men is not a good way of thinking and I think would be red flags in your application. Unless you want to phrase it as: "I initially thought blah blah blah, but was able to overcome that negative way of thinking and believe I can help others struggling with acceptance of their sexual dysfunction and help them move towards a happier and healthier sex life."
 
Good luck!

Normally I'd agree that one day/week is too soon to make the determination that the field placement isn't suiting, and the field director in my program asked us not to do that (and to give it more time), but given that OP's placement didn't even have an on-site social worker is a bit concerning, since she is learning how to be a social worker. I'm sure it wasn't as extreme as this, but for arguments sake... If I'm in social work school, interning at a chemical plant under the direction of an engineer wouldn't do me any good.

I am in a different field but wanted to say good for you for standing up for yourself. It is easily to let yourself get pushed around in situations like this and it is great that you are taking control of your education. Good luck in whatever you decide!