anonynon

Yes, I certainly did not mean to imply that this one factor matters over everything else, but it is one of many that gives you a competitive advantage. But yes, a strong endorsement from a respected person who can comment on the reference area (academic, clinical) will matter, but that is not all that matters. A top researcher can give you a good but lackluster reference because he only taught them in one class. The same researcher can give another student a brilliant reference because they worked together on a project over an extended period of time. Which is a better reference? Obviously the second. So, of course the same alone does not matter. But I was responding to someone who was dubious that academic references should have a PhD and so my response focused mostly on that issue. I think that what everyone needs to remember is that these are all pieces of a puzzle for graduate schools. They are looking at all factors and weaknesses in some areas can be compensated for by strengths in another. But if the pieces are all strong and lock together, then of course that improves your odds of admission to competitive schools dramatically. A student who gets a brilliant reference from someone who is prominent in their field likely also has other achievements and experience, so the relationship is not necessarily one-to-one.

It is a very, very small world and you would be surprised at who knows who. Academia in particular is very gossipy and people in certain professions often know of each other from networking events, conferences, professionally, etc. Furthermore, your references will usually sign your letter with their full credentials and position: Dr. XXX, MSW, PhD, Program Director for YYY. So they make sure it is known. References often mean more if the person writing them is already highly successful in their field. It is not hard to imagine that a PhD is better able to comment on research ability than a part-time lecturer with an MSW who mostly works in practice. Further, a reference from a well-known, prolific researcher will look better than the one from a guy who graduated last week. This is all well-known stuff. I would not bother to submit an academic reference from anyone without a PhD. It is below competitive. However, what matters most for all references is prominence. In academia, usually that is associated with a PhD, position and research productivity. However, for an MSW clinical reference, I doubt that they would have to be a PhD. For example, if your work reference is the director of your agency it would still look good regardless of whether they have a PhD. You impressed that person enough that they were willing to write you a letter and they know how you compare to other students. Now that is not to say that you will not get in without prominent references (most people do not have them) but they are a huge competitive advantage. Having the Director of U of T s program and a PhD graduate from the same program is a strong, strong endorsement.

Your comment about hoop jumping is so perfect! I feel the exact same way. I honestly think that I am drawing more on my first BA for my social work practicum than my social work classes. Like you, I feel that postmodern theory does not apply easily in practice, but more than that, postmodernist theory only ever criticizes everything and replaces it with nothing, which I find it frustrating as I feel like I come away classes with nothing at all. I suppose that I just need to suck it up and focus on developing my experience to strengthen my profile overall. As for your question about schools being weighted, I meant to make that comment in relation to academic programs (so, MA and MSc). I know this because a friend of mine was told so by a professor. As I remember the story, he was looking at a particular MA program in his subject of interest and his undergrad thesis advisor told him in no uncertain terms that he should not study there if he intends to do a PhD because their graduates are not taken seriously within the academic community (something along these lines). And having once gone through the graduate school application rounds myself (and admitted to 3 of 4 programs I applied to), I have to say that it seemed abnormally easy to get in compared to the experiences of some of my other more brilliant (with higher GPA) friends from other unis. I credit the reputation of my BA institution as producing grads who are well prepared for graduate studies, although I suppose that I cannot know this for sure. I was simply worried that this would also be the case with the MSW, but was not sure. What you say makes absolute sense. You are right that admission likely has much more to do with the experience that you bring to the table as well as your personal statements. I think that I am being overly anxious and building imaginary barriers in my mind, which I am wont to do. One last question: when they ask for academic references, did you submit references from the BSW or from your previous degree. I am not sure what BSW professors can really say about us, given they only know us digitally. Thanks very much for taking the time to chat with me. You have helped tremendously (genuinely).

Hey! Thanks for your great insights and advice. You obviously did a lot of research and prepared yourself well. Congratulations on your admission to UBC-O, too! Down the road, I actually think that I want to focus on policy in my MSW (another thing UVIC does not adequately prepare students for). But I think that having good clinical experience will be an important prerequisite and I would like those skills. I know that in academic programs the university you are graduating from is privately weighted and I am worried that this is also the case in MSW programs. UVIC has some pretty fringe ideas and I worry that their post-modernist orientation will close the doors for me with schools having an orientation more similar to my own. I am glad to see that that has not been your experience and that you got one (possibly two) of your preferred choices! In any case, thanks for your great advice. Best of luck in September!

From past experience applying to other professional programs, they basically email you when a spot opens up. There is usually a waitlist shuffle that begins around May when students start rejecting admissions offers and others accept in their place. This happens all summer long. As spots open up, you will be contacted, but you could be waiting until August to be admitted or, just as easily be waiting until August with no response whatsoever. I know some programs have even admitted waitlisted students in early September.

Hi guys, I hope you do not mind if I hijack this forum for a question about quality and orientation of social work schools in Canada. You are surely a knowledgeable group and there are no other Canadian social work education forums, so I hope that no one minds. I have a BA but recently began a BSW at UVIC rather than an MSW because of a lack of formal experience in human and social services. The program seemed good because it allows me to keep working and despite being online, I assumed that its CASWE accreditation meant that its training was fairly standard vis a vis other social work programs. Nope. Unfortunately, this school has not been the fit that I anticipated because it has a theoretical and pedagogical approach that is not a good match. They do not teach basic clinical skills and the teaching is not is empirically-based. There is too much of an emphasis on critical reflection over teaching concrete information. Now of course, it is important for schools to emphasize critical skills, but I do not feel that this should be to the exclusion of the actual skills expected in the profession. I am strongly considering switching to another university, but I have missed all the deadlines for September. I am deeply worried that I will graduate without adequate skills to practice or do an MSW. First, I am curious if anyone has an idea of how UVIC is perceived by other universities and by other social workers. I am afraid that this school will be perceived badly and torpedo my chances of getting into the MSW program that I want. Second, I wonder which schools best emphasize empirical clinical education and social policy. Third, is it worth it just to leave and get a job in the field and apply for the MSW in the Fall? Fourth, is my practice experience ultimately going to be more important for an MSW than where I went to school? I have had a great practicum so far and I am looking forward to another great site). I am just a bit worried about looking ill-prepared because I have already been asked to do things that are not being taught at UVIC and that I have virtually no time to research independently! Any insight would be so, so appreciated. I will also be calling around to social work program advisors in the coming weeks, but I imagine that they will be busy and it would be great to get student perspectives.