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Does anyone have any suggestions for finding somewhat relevant summer employment in the GTA? I'm finding it brutal to find anything..

Did anyone else here accept their offer from Ryerson? I spoke to the graduate coordinator today and she said that anyone who was offered funding will get details by early this week. But she told me that my funding is a graduate scholarship, so essentially free money .

ShayRonee93, do you hope to continue on and do an MSW at a Canadian University, and/or work in Canada? If so I would definitely contact the CASW to see how completing a BSW at an American University may impact registering as a social worker in Canada in the future. If you hope to do a Canadian advanced standing MSW program afterward I'd also check to make sure Maine's BSW program meets the admission criteria for the programs you'd be interested in. Good luck! . I'm from the east coast as well (originally from Newfoundland although I'm in Toronto right now).

Rural living definitely isn't for everyone. But if you are interested, don't let the cost totally deter you. Often agencies will pay for at least some of your relocation costs (mine was free). But the cost of leaving when you decide to move elsewhere is expensive. There are usually living allowances and housing allowances depending on where you go. Usually you have to stay at least a year or two to really benefit from these (some places will have you sign contracts for a certain period of time and financially compensate you for doing so). I was making $35 an hour so I had more than enough to live on, but for a lot of people the compensation isn't worth it. Ultimately I found it too difficult and decided to come back. But even just six months of being there put me in a way better situation than when I left. If I could have found a job in mental health and addictions I would have stayed, but protection is not for me. Hating your job and where you live is not an ideal situation.

I agree almost entirely. The GTA is one of the most competitive areas in the country to get a social work job right now, so if you have any flexibility at all I would recommend moving. I also think it's important to note that it is still difficult to enter the job market in the GTA/southern Ontario with an MSW. I met people in rural Alberta who were graduates of Ontario MSW programs and simply could not find work in southern Ontario. You certainly have a better chance of getting a job than with a BSW, but it is still difficult. That being said, despite being flexible I have still found getting a permanent position difficult. I worked a temporary contract in northern Alberta but I quickly learned that child protection wasn't for me, and I did not renew my contract when my six month contract ended. The drop in the price of oil has really decreased opportunity in Alberta. The government now has a hiring freeze and I was unemployed for three months before I decided to move back to Ontario. I got a few phone calls right when I was leaving... but at that point my partner had accepted a job in Toronto. Surprisingly it seems somewhat difficult to get a job in NWT and Yukon. I applied for a few and never got a call, and where I lived was only an eight hour drive from NWT. I worked with a few people who had been in Alberta for a few years but wanted to be in either Yellowknife or Whitehorse (they had family there), and they told me that it can be difficult to find employment in NWT/Yukon unless you go to the most remote communities. Also, as much as I think taking the risk to build your career is a very important move, it's also very difficult to be so far away from any family and friends. Ultimately, I think I am taking a risk to get my MSW with only six months post-BSW experience. But I am also open to moving again afterward. That being said, I hope I will be able to land a job in southern Ontario, Halifax or Calgary... ah!

I am planning on commuting to Ryerson from Newmarket or Aurora. It's definitely doable considering the cost of living in Toronto! I know U of T has placement options in Burlington and Hamilton (Reach Out Center for Kids and City of Hamilton definitely, but there are definitely more). I am hoping I might be able to get a placement in the York region to make my commute a little easier..

It was noted that I receive funding at the very end of my acceptance letter from Ryerson, but it did not state specific details. Congrats on your acceptances! One of my favorite profs from my social work undergrad used to teach at McMaster and had a lot of good things to say about the McMaster program.

I am wondering the same thing!

It seems that the Ryerson system updated! I got accepted with a funding package of 5k.. not sure if it is a scholarship/TA position or combination of both. Apparently I will receive a letter with more details.

Ahh!! I just want to know!! Anyone else get an actual letter from Ryerson opposed to a vague email?

Why would they do this at 4:00pm. We might not hear until morning lol. No sleep for me tobight..

I just got an email from Ryerson stating that my admission decision should be under communications on RMSS within 24 hours. But the letter says that they look forward to my "positive response" within the deadline on the letter... So it sounds like I got in but I am not certain. An official acceptance/rejection letter is not up on the system yet. My heart is going to be pounding for the next 24 hours....

It says on their website that TA assist ships are sometimes available but it does not go into detail. I hope we hear soon!!

I only applied to Ryerson which makes me nervous! I started the application process rather late because I was actually planning on going back to school in 2016, but the government hiring freeze in Alberta impacted my employment options (the freeze started right when my temp contract ended and I was supposed to transfer to a position in another area..). Ryerson is my top choice, but if I don't get in this year I am going to apply to Ryerson, Carleton and Laurier next year as I will be more prepared for the application process.

How do you know we might not hear back until the last week of March? I called both the social work school itself and the graduate admissions office and all they could tell me is that we should hear soon, but said that they could not specify a timeframe. In previous years it seems that admissions offers went out early/mid March so I am hoping it is soon!!