Cali_Coast
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Posts posted by Cali_Coast
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I got ACCEPTED TO CSULB! I just received the email stating to send in my application checklist.
Congrats daisydukes!!! It's a great program
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Did you get an email/webportal update first? or letter in the mail? I'm assuming email, but just want to double check! Thank you in advance
Nice, congrats!
Thanks daisydukes. And yes, I did receive an email first. So far, CSULA is the only one that came by snail mail.
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I didnt apply too much longer after that and still have not heard back :/ what year program did you apply to?
It was the 2 year concentration, integrated health
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When did you apply tO sdsu and when did you hear back from them?
I applied on 12/1 and heard back on 1/30
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Didn't see a topic for UW, and honestly it's my number one choice right now. Has anyone heard anything back yet? I applied for the day program by the dec 1 deadline, hoping to concentrate in community-centered integrative practice.
I'm waiting for a reply from them too. Based on the message boards concerning UW, people usually don't hear back from the early reply deadline until early March it seems. Perhaps if they're lucky, the last week of February. It was my first choice due to the proximity to hospitals and being close to the VA Medical Program, but more focused on CA right now, however, I'd still like to know. It's a great program.
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I agree with you. When I researched schools, I also sensed SDSU is very selective in "weeding people out" and assumed their rigorous requirements probably meant their program is robust and competitive.
You mentioned acceptance rates. I respect schools that keep their cohorts reasonably sized so class size is manageable and students can foster a personal relationship with professors.
You are right...this site is a great sounding board. Someone else wrote (paraphrasing) that it doesn't matter where exactly one goes, as long as its a credited school. In general, it makes sense and is probably true that some jobs only care about a graduate from a legitimate MSW program. But realistically, where one goes to school has pragmatic significance. I could be wrong, but I think for initial jobs for new graduates, being local is advantageous. Like you said, forming connections with local agencies/non-profits/charities, networking, etc... all helps. If for example someone graduated from a "far-away" school, if s/he is applying to jobs, how practical would it be to go for an interview? Sure, phone and web-cam/Skype interviews may be possible, but local applicants may have an advantage to in-person interviews. This is based on what I read from http://www.reddit.com/r/socialwork/comments/2szq2d/msw_postgraduation_advice
Attending a school outside LA (like SDSU) doesn't exclude or prevent you from getting a job in LA, but I can see how some benefit from attending a nearby MSW program. Someone else wrote that HR managers and agencies probably form positive impressions if they have previous hires who attended the same school.
Someone else posted on this forum that it's not just the school that matters, but the person...what you make out of it and how much work you put into it helps determine your future success.
A girl I'm dating is in the U$C MSW program, and I'm nervous for her because of her loans once she graduates. My opinion is just because she and her classmates attend a "famous" school like USC, it doesn't necessarily guarantee anything, let alone a good after she/they graduate.
Anyhow, it seems like you're weighing everything and taking everything into consideration...so you'll be fine with whatever you decide.
Not everyone would find this credible or worthwhile, but maybe you might be curious:
I did not think to look at ratemyprofessor, even though I looked at it pretty regularly for undergrad. It seems SDSU and CSULA both have a high number of reviews from former/current students unlike CSULB. Across the board, it seems all 3 programs have pretty high regards for their professors.
I definitely agree with you and others on the board who actively think about the debt to income ratio upon graduation. That is my number one concern and I'm sure I'm not alone on this. Going to either CSULB or CSULA will keep tuition costs low, but the cost of living is high, even in comparison to San Diego. Then tack on traffic and competition with others MSW programs you're competing with say a minimum 500+ people (assuming there's around 100 for each MSW program) versus SDSU, tuition is low and you're only competing with your fellow classmates.
I agree, being local is a definite bonus when it comes to getting a job right out of grad school, but in terms of being close yet far with SDSU, it might be appreciated to have someone come aboard that isn't from the immediate area but familiar with the areas needs and clientele and still close enough to do in person interviews like you mentioned as they'll already see the interest in being in the L.A. area just from applying.
They're all good accredited programs, each with their own niche in producing quality social workers, so it does often come down to location, area of focus and post-grad job prospects. Decisions, decisions. Hopefully this will be helpful to others in the process of choosing as well. Thanks again.
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The CSULB info meeting gave a general overview of their program. The director, Dr. Meyer-Adams, presented the program pretty well. She mentioned some highlights and strengths of the CSULB program without being arrogant. I liked that she was respectful of other MSW programs.
My impression is all three programs are good...which probably explains why you applied to them in the first place.
Some people care about rankings, and supposedly SDSU is ranked higher. Many people view San Diego as a desirable and attractive location...the beaches are beautiful...there's less traffic, etc.. Plus, it genuinely seems like a strong program. This may not matter, but they require the GRE while CSULA and CSULB do not. Plus, SDSU explicitly requires a certain # of hours of volunteering (500 hours) AND proof of volunteering while CSULB and CSULA do not. These two things may not mean much, but it could be viewed as a positive reflection of their high expectations.
Something mentioned in the CSULB meeting is all the nearby MSW programs share many of the same agencies. So that may mean a lot of competition among MSW students from CSULA, USC, UCLA, CSUDH, CSULB, etc.... I don't know, but my guess is you may have more options (less competition) for your top choice(s) of field placement in San Diego.
Lastly, if you haven't already, maybe visit SoCal during a weekend. For example, you can visit CSULA and CSULB on a Saturday and then drive to San Diego on Sunday.
Maybe visiting the campuses and the respective city/area can give you a better sense/feel of which school is right for you. Cheers!
Hey SocialWaiter, thanks for the info. I did take into high consideration the fact that there's a high concentration of MSW programs around L.A., whereas San Diego only has SDSU and USC's San Diego Academic Center for Social Work (which is more focused on military social work in SD). I also looked at the stats for how many from each school go on to take the lcsw exam and actually pass. CSULB and SDSU had some of the highest percentages of pass vs. fail only after UC Berkeley, USC and UCLA. I maybe making a big assumption but it does seem that San Diego does put extra effort into "weeding people out" so to speak, with having to take the GRE, and a required minimum amount of social services hours. Though CSULB has about a 19% acceptance rate (over 1100 apply) vs. SDSU which has about 23% (over 400 apply) per petersons. Plus SDSU makes you take a comprehensive exam to even go on to the 2nd year, you fail, you re-apply for the following year. Ultimately I do want to wind up in L.A. as I think there are more opportunities there in terms of job stability and advancement, however coming from San Diego, I won't have the same connections that those interning through L.A. programs will have. Then again, San Diego is only 2 hours away so who knows what connections professors and field sites have in L.A. Thanks again for the added insight. This site is a great sounding board when it comes to putting things in perspective.
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Hey all,
Trying to see if anyone out there went to any info sessions at CSULB or knows more about the program than what's up on their website? I'm really interested in the school, especially since they redesigned the program but don't know if it's better than SDSU or CSULA. I applied to the integrated health concentration and got in, but really undecided if CSULB is a better program compared to the other two, or even a better location. Thanks all for any help.
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Thanks saidypoo and deez. It's kinda good to half relax. Still got to think about the whole moving thing.
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Just heard back from CSULB today. I got in! Pretty excited about it, though I don't know 100% what to choose. They have a really good program but so does SDSU, my other top choice. Anyone out there apply to CSULB as a top choice?
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Hey Bacchanalia I've actually been researching areas myself for attendance at SDSU. I know UCSD is in a different area, but I found the website forrentuniversity.com to be very helpful in seeing how close places were to the university and this map Community Profiles | Planning Department to be helpful in terms of knowing the surrounding communities. Hope this helps out a little
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I was actually having this same thought when it comes to my soon to be internships through the MSW department. I currently have an eyebrow piercing (bar) and lip piercing (circular with two studs). I was thinking of not getting rid of them but making them less noticeable, mainly the lip one, by replacing it with a stud. I agree with being yourself but also finding that delicate balance. I don't know about the biomedical engineering field, but in social services it's pretty laid back in terms of dress, tattoos and piercings. If anything, I've found in interviews sometimes it's a conversation piece as some still fathom why pierce anything besides your ears.
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Hey just a heads up to anyone waiting to hear back from CSULB, I talked with admissions today and they said those that applied in December should hear back in the next two weeks.
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Wow, that's a lot longer than I expected. Especially when most decisions start rolling out between Feb/April. I'm pretty positive I'd turn it down if accepted, but still, it'd be nice to know something sooner rather than later.
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Anyone else hear back from CSULA? I was hoping to hear back from CSULB first but they're taking their sweet time.
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For anyone else waiting on SDSU, I just got my letter of acceptance today. 2 year program clinical/direct practice. Anyone else apply?
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Congrats Jax_Nise. I'm waiting for CSULB myself. Did you apply for the advanced standing or two year program?
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That is bad news. Thankfully SJSU tuition isn't so high as to deter me from accepting if I do get in. The bay area has some great opportunities when it comes to health/mental health concentration.
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Hey all, I thought I'd ask here before going to the trouble of contacting USC admissions since I'm sure they're bogged down with applications right now. Does anyone remember seeing something about having stats as a prereq? For some reason I have it in my notes but when I go to the USC School of Social Work site, there's no mention of this anywhere (nor does google yield any results). I have in my notes that if you don't have at least a B in stats that you have to take it again sometime during your first year. Granted I have a lot of notes from a lot of schools and info could have gotten mixed up, but just wanted to see if anyone else has heard of this.
Thanks for any clarification
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Depends when you turned it in. I didn't make the earlier deadline, turned it in about a week or so after it and still heard back pretty early.
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Ameliaabuzuhri - I applied a week after the priority deadline and heard back from them on 1/23 for the 2 year program.
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Not soon enough. I'm guessing sometime in April. This is the only program I applied to in NorCal and have heard great things about it. Not applying for the iv stipend but if I do get in and decide to go, I will be applying for the mental health stipend my second year since health/mental health is more my focus. I hear it's a pretty hard program to get into since they focus a lot on related social work experience. I'm only coming in with 2 years part-time total across one paid job, one internship and one volunteer. Hope it's enough.
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Just received my offer of admission today. Anybody else get theirs?
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Congrats arandomtree! Anxiously waiting on PSU myself. Unfortunately it's for the 2 year option so I got a way to go in the waiting game but they're definitely my top choice along with UW. How was the BSW program there?
Fall 2015 Applicants
in Social Workers Forum
Posted
Like someone else mentioned, ask for an extension. I did this about 2 weeks ago, because I was waiting for a specific school. It definitely works. Just say you're really interested in their program still but you have received offers from x,y, and z, and you were wondering if you could get an extension? Usually this buys you another 2 weeks to a month. I'd email them sooner rather than later though.
Yes, you can withdraw later. They may not like it, but not much they can do about it. Hopefully it's not a school that asks for a deposit up front.