wxyyyz
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Posts posted by wxyyyz
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I'm not sure if anyone can answer this question but thought I would ask.
I have looked into both taking more courses at my undergrad university, or taking a few courses through Athabasca. Which looks better for schools? Athabasca works better for me because I am out of the country and their distance education is much better than my university's offerings. But I am wondering if it looks bad on an application that I have taken just a few extra courses from another university.
Does anyone have thoughts?
During my undergrad I needed up upgrade my marks at athabasca while i was still in school in order to graduate. (I wasn't too great at avoiding the siren song of the bar back then...)
I don't think universities look at anything other than the numbers, honestly. They do take into consideration each school's average marks since some schools use different systems/have higher averages, etc. but if I got in with what was clearly redoing courses at Athabasca that I failed in at my undergrad school, I'm sure it doesn't matter.
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There are thousands of apartments listed on Kijiji in Toronto (~10,000) and quite a lot more on viewit.ca as well
I've kept my eye on both sites for several months and those numbers have stayed steady throughout
The bed bug check is a good idea - you can Google it and a site like this (http://www.bedbugregistry.com/metro/toronto/) will come up
Keep an eye on the listings on Kijiji and get to know what the going rates are in a given area - there are lots of scams on Kijiji and if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. If you're not used to Toronto rent, you may have to compromise on something, so decide what it will be for you: distance from school, physical space, sharing a room, price, etc. Make sure you or someone you know can GO INSIDE the apartment before you agree to rent it. That is the number 1 way to avoid a scam. If you're renting from a large company, do a quick scan of the internet to see if they're on any landlord tenant board cases.
These are my tips as a long-time toronto renter.
ETA: I prefer viewit for trustworthiness, but if you're looking to get in with existing roommates, Kijiji can be better.
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Hey, thank you so much for sharing that!! I have been really wanting to hear from someone with experience at York.
Can you elaborate a bit more? When you say the SW school doesn't fit the standard curriculum, do you mean the CASW standards? Under fire from who (students, or CASW?) I know that York isn't a clinical program, but did anyone in your BSW do a direct practice/clinical placement? Thanks!
To be honest I still don't know what kind of social work I want to do. I'm hoping that some practicum experience will help clear that up. I've done some direct practice work and a lot of research, social service administration, policy, etc. Not sure yet which way I want to go. I partly feel that I should get more direct practice experience, so I have more on-the-ground experience, which would provide context for any research, policy, government work I do. Does anyone have feedback on that idea?
I feel like everyone else has a clear plan of what they want to do (specific population, specific role, e.g. counselling, child protection, etc) -- Is anyone else attending in the fall and still unsure??
Me!!!!
I have no idea. I've tried a little bit of everything and have NO IDEA what kind of placement to seek out when I go to York in the fall. I'm honestly open to a little bit of serendipity.
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Question for anyone who did the 1 year bsw at uwaterloo: I am confused about the prerequisites. Do you have to be accepted to the program to take the pre reqs online? Or can I just sign up to take them?
I'm 90% sure I started taking them before I was "accepted" to the BSW, but it was a couple years ago at this point, so I would definitely double-check with the contact person there.
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AMetallo - you sort of implied that you're using OSAP, but from the perspective of someone paying for their own school I'd want to know if late payments showed up on my credit score at all. If that's something you're doing, you might want to look into it. Credit scores are important.
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also, where might I find the pre-approved transferrable courses? thanks!
I dug pretty deep and can't find a list.
However, I was looking into the prerequisites a while ago and maybe they've gotten rid of that or maybe I imagined it.
Looks like you have to contact them directly now.
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I am considering this as a back up plan. I would take one year off as I only applied to U of T and it looks like I will not be getting in. I have a four year degree from Brock in child and Youth studies. I am wondering about the prerequisites that they list online.
- SDS 250R (formerly ISS 250R) Social Statistics
- SDS 251R (formerly ISS 251R) Social Research
- SOC 224R Poverty in Canada and its Social Consequences OR SDS 312R (formerly ISS 312R) Homelessness & Public Policy
- SOCWK 120R Introduction to Social Work
- SOCWK 220R Social Work with Individuals - Theory and Practice 1
- SOCWK 221R Social Group Work
- SOCWK 222R Community Organization 1
- SOCWK 300R Canadian Social Welfare Policy
- SOCWK 301R Understanding Diversity in Canada OR PSYCH 349R (formerly PSYCH 222R) Cross-Cultural Psychology OR SDS 311R (formerly ISS 311R) Public Policy and Native Peoples in Canada
- SOCWK 321R Social Work with Families
I have stats and research methods, but I don't have much in terms of specific social work courses (which is why i want to take the post grad BSW) How will they consider this? Did you have to take a bunch of classes that fill these prereqs or what? I am a bit confused. My degree is very social sciences but I have like zero socwk classes, where does this leave me in terms of my chance of getting in?
Thank you so much!
Yeah, I did spend about a year doing the prerequisites even though I had a humanities degree.
Having the prerequisites isn't a factor for being accepted, they're just prerequisites. So you do need to have these exact classes or equivalent, but if you're only missing a couple you can be accepted pending your completing them.
This is essentially why Uwaterloo's program is 10 months to other schools' 2 years (York, for example). However, the prerequisites are all available online, so I did them while working.
If I remember correctly from when I applied, they had a list of pre-approved transferrable courses. I needed to do 9/10 prerequisites, but some people needed only a couple depending on your major.
ETA: My university stats course only counted for the SDS250, and some other courses I thought would be equivalent were deemed not to be, but you will need course outlines to determine them if you went to a smaller school or out of province, so make sure you keep those!
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Where did you complete your 1 Year BSW?
I ended up doing it at UWaterloo.
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Congrats on your acceptance into the advance standing!
If you don't mind me asking, where did you get your one year BSW from?
It looks like I'll be heading to Lakehead for a one year BSW and am worried because I assume that I will be applying for advanced standing MSW in October 2015 (I don't know if you can apply to regular standing 2-year MSW if your do a BSW?) and I don't start my practicum until January 2016, which is after you submit your applications to pretty much all the programs.
It seems like it would be difficult (if not more difficult) to get accepted into a advanced standing MSW after competing a one-year BSW (especially if I don't start the practicum until after I submit the application – In January 2016).
If you don't mind me asking, what were your experiences like?
I think you'll find the opposite - getting into the advanced standing has been WAY easier for me, and I have a 1 year BSW. You're entering a pool of fewer applicants for the same/more spaces and you have more schools open to you (like Dalhousie and Ryerson, which don't do non-BSW programs).
If you dig a little deeper, you'll find that many '4 year bsw' programs actually start in 3rd year of a 4 year degree, so most people are in the same boat as you would be. I highly recommend doing a BSW if you have any trouble getting into a 2 year MSW - it can take the same amt. of time overall (or close to it), and you can benefit from improved grades, improved references and definitely an improved personal statement.
You are totally on the right track - don't be afraid of the advanced standing programs. Obviously the dream would be to just dive right into the MSW, but I know that I have benefitted greatly from my BSW experience, in terms of MSW eligibility.
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Hey guys,
For anyone who didn't get in, didn't get in yet, or who didn't get into their first choice school, this book might be a great read for you. It's meant to put everything in perspective a little regarding the flawed admissions system. Technically it's american, but there are parallels with canada.
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WOW really?:S that is so discouraging.
I got into Laurier. I had an 82 in my last year and 80 overall average. But i had over 10000 hours of experience paid and unpaid in the social service sector. I worked full time and volunteered throughout my whole undergrad and I've been out of school for 2 years. One more year of experience and you will definitely get accepted! Laurier appears to put more emphasis on experience than grades. Toronto is definitely more research grades than anything. Due to my 76 in my third year research methods course I was waitlisted last year and still have yet to hear this year
I didn't apply to Laurier, but I have worked in non-academic settings with Laurier profs in the past. They're probably not on the admissions committee, so take this with a grain of salt, but: I think Laurier is a very competitive program that produces amazing social workers. The profs I knew from there talked about a lot of their class work involving a lot of self-reflective practices and evidence of real self-awareness.
This sort of leads me to believe that the school itself might also care a lot about hearing those words from your references and seeing those practices in your personal statement. Having someone from the school I applied to review my personal statement helped me, I think, if that's an option for you.
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I accepted my offer to York.... and I'm still waiting to hear from U of T. I'm 99% sure I'll attend York. I just want to see if I get in to U of T, not because I'll go but more out of curiosity, I guess (to see if I get in or not, I mean).
No matter how I look at it, though, it would cost me about $30,000 more to attend U of T. I got $21k in funding from York, and U of T's tuition is $9-10k more than York. And I wouldn't get any money from U of T... so that's a ~$30k difference. So even if I do get into U of T, I just really wouldn't be able to justify it in my head. York wasn't my top choice but it's a good program and has sort of unfolded as an amazing/unexpected opportunity.
For those of you admitted to York did you receive more than 9000? My email said minimum of 9000, not sure if there is a possibility of more and if the official acceptance letter would state???
Did any of you receive more? I am very content but just want to know!!!
That person did?
Anyway, I got 9000 and it is as a TAship or GAship or research position (TBD) and apparently funding can changed based on getting scholarships/bursaries. (I assume they would guarantee less in those cases).
The official letter lays it out a little better, but most of the details are still unclear for me - e.g. timing of funding, how hours work, etc.
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Crazy I just got accepted to York . I was seriously convinced I didn't make the cut. Such weird way of informing people smh
Congrats! I'm doing my advanced standing there next year. Exciting!!!!!!
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Oh good point. I am starting to wish I had applied for a BSW program this year as a back up option. Oh well, something to look into for next year.
Thanks
If you want to do it, look into them now and see if there are any prerequisite courses you'll need and don't have so you can take them now for application next year. You can probably take them while you work and/or have international adventures!
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To be honest I am finding it hard to remain optimistic and I am struggling with choosing my plan B. All of this talk about improving your application is making me think. I am worried about moving back to Ontario and not being able to find relevant work. So I am wondering if it would be better to do unrelated work but in a more exciting location (Australia, France, Thailand, S Korea etc).
I think the main thing that needs upgrading anyways is my grades, as I have almost 3 years worth of hours. But I am not even really sure where to begin with that. Does anyone have experience with this?
Hi Bettyg -
My undergrad marks were crap, and I didn't have an academic reference because I was out of school for so long at the time I wanted to get an MSW. I didn't apply for the 2 year, but I'm sure I would have been rejected on all fronts: marks, references, experience.
I did a one year full time BSW, which gave me better marks, lowered the amt. of time my MSW would take, opened up more options for schools and gave me access to the advanced standing programs which are less competitive to get into. I got in, and I would recommend taking a BSW if you're very set on getting your MSW. I'm certain I wouldn't be in an MSW if I hadn't. I also think that having an adventure can be pretty important, too, though.....
ETA: I did my BSW at Waterloo, in case you're wondering where I did it. 10 months full time if you have all the prerequisites, which I didn't, so it was closer to 2 years for me. However, the prerequisites are all online so I worked while I did those.
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I did my BSW at McMaster. Everyone speaks highly of the program but the elephant in the room is that it is 90 % white bougie white kids. Most importantly, there's not a lot of support for racialized students. The expert on anti-oppression is a straight white able-bodied british man who is worshiped like a god there and i just found this odd.
Another important note is that Mac MSW does not have a placement and is thesis based.
BSW at Waterloo is similar. Mostly straight white kids. There was more class range, but not a lot. It was really uncomfortable when talking about race or sexuality, etc. to be in a class with no one of those groups, OR with one person from those groups. They became sort of 'tokened' and i don't think they were comfortable with representing 'people of colour' in general or what have you. It's a major issue that only some of the admin at waterloo seems to openly acknowledge.
The faculty was not as diverse as it could have been, but in the classes that were specifically designed to address racial issues there were profs of colour. Which seems like a decent compromise for a small program and the lack of diversity in phd level humanities generally.
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I received my letter from York dated March 11. The funding doesn't really go over any further information that wasn't in their emails - but as I York BSW student I can tell you that you get $3,000 per semester (2 year program = 5 semesters I think) but you also have to commit to being a GA and work 10 hours weekly, while tuition is somewhere around $2, 000+ per semester (around $6,000 for 1 year MSW). I'm not sure if the strike at York will lead to higher wages for MSWs next year, but tuition remains the lowest in the province and all MSWs qualify as unit 3 for CUPE 3903, so they also get wicked benefits from Sun LIfe.
Ryersons's funding package was on the second page of the email, under the heading "FInancial Support", stating the amount and that they would send more info shortly (I'm guessing by mail)? I'm still not sure if Ryerson's funding is contingent on being a GA, if anyone knows, I'd really like to find out, thanks!
I also just got my letter from York - although mine does say the funding commitment offered whereas the e-mail just said "minimum of...", so that was a little more helpful in my planning. The letter also says the funding may be adjusted if I get a significant award from another source (unlikely!)
My letter was also dated March 11, and I live in Toronto, for those of you frantically checking the Canada Post mail system's inner workings. Maybe it got slowed down a lot by the strike barricades?
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I got this email too. It sounds extremely positive - but still, vague.
In the case this is an acceptance, can anyone help me decide between Ryerson and York be (1 year program)? They both are critical perspectives, I know.
honestly I think it comes down to practical stuff - funding, location (downtown v. north york), placement options (although york and ryerson have a lot of overlap in placement options). Ryerson has more elective options, but they're not all available each year. Faculty perhaps, although it's not a given you will work with any particular prof.
Otherwise if those things really don't matter to you (esp. the first 2), then go with your heart. In the end, while your placement may provide some jumping off points, employers aren't usually looking at your school when they look for your MSW on a resume.
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Yes, for the advanced standing.
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I got my e-mail from york!
I'm in.
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Have any advanced standing students heard back from York yet?
Nope.
I checked back a few years and it looks like they have always sent out their responses at the END of march. (March 28-31) So if this year is the same, it'll be a while still. However, it sounds like this year might be slower because of the strike.
So....blah?
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I applied for advanced standing.
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YorkU says the strike may make the admissions process slower, but that it's continuing. In case anyone wondered.
Canadian Universities MSW. The waiting game 2015 admissions
in Social Workers Forum
Posted
FWIW, you CAN complete a placement at York in a hospital if that's what floats your boat. There are many hospital opportunities available. I'm not sure how it shakes out in terms of opportunities v. number of students, but the potential is definitely there. You just won't be able to access UHN hospitals, I think.
(I'm a York student next term and I have seen the list of former placements they've done. Also they specifically mentioned hospitals at our orientation.)