horizonmind

Yeah I wonder if U of T exaggerates how many people are on the waitlist and how many people apply to make the program appear more competitive than it is, but that would be so shady, idk

I opened my letter this morning and learned that I have been waitlisted for U of T's two-year MSW, I am pretty excited as this is my first time applying . I have been expecting a rejection letter after I read about how competitive this program is and how many excellent candidates there are. Making it to the wait-list is encouraging for me to reapply for next year. I plan to take some online course to boost my GPA and also plan to gain more experience as a volunteer. I have learned a lot on this forum. Just want to say thank you to everyone for being supportive to each other! Good luck to everyone who is still waiting!

That is for the 2 year, not advance standing.

@AMetAllo I believe 140 are accepted for over 800 applicants, I believe that's what someone else indicated

I dont think you should be too  concerned with "taking up spots". You need to do whats best for you. Whatever option you feel is best then do that. If i were you I would NOT remove yourself off the waitlist. That is just my opinion. Do whatever you feel is best. Personally, if I were you, I would go with option 1 - 100%. Dont give up on U of T, and dont remove yourself off the waitlist! I see no benifit to that - only potentially a lot of harm. 
 
Also, if you get into MSW you should take it. It is so hard to get into. If you waste money then so be it, but better to be secured a spot in MSW then to give it up and then have a hard time getting into advanced standing. 

Welcome to the discussion board! Well, first off it sounds as though you have some well rounded experience. So, don't sell yourself short and take a moment to be proud of what you have accomplished
 
Yes, all programs are competitive in one way or another but be confident in your experiences and convey that to admissions. If you think you're capable of another volunteer experience I say go for it, otherwise I would suggest considering work shops or training sessions as a means of skill building. I have found this a bit more manageable with my schedule and beneficial to my work since it's short term (e.g. 1 or 2 day sessions for 1-3 weeks), does not involve me breaking a contract or commitment (some volunteer agencies require "x" amount of hours per week or 1-2 year contracts), shows commitment to education (e.g. staying up to date on relevant issues) and sometimes cost effective (my job pays for some, others are free within the community).
 
If you don't mind me asking, do you have a specific focus in mind for your MSW? As in what type of population or groups of individuals you would like to work with or specialization?