anothercoffeeplease

From what you've copied and pasted it seems like they'd really prefer 10 double-spaced pages maximum. The school I applied to had about 4 or 5 questions to answer within a 5 double-spaced page limit, so I sort of feel your pain. Is there anything you can remove from the essay? I kind of dig reading stuff like this (have proofread essays for friends/family applying to various grad programs), so if you'd like another set of eyes on it I'd be happy to help!

I would take it and never look back. By all accounts you are going to a well-regarded program in your area, getting a scholarship, getting a headstart so your load will be lighter during field, and will be able to live at home. That is the dream!! Congratulations on your success. You earned it!

I will definitely follow up tomorrow and resend. I'd hate to miss out due to ETS not having their act together. So sorry that happened to you!

Hi all! I just submitted my application a few minutes ago and now I kind of feel like vomiting. Quick question: I took the GRE on 11/7 and, while still at the computer terminal, selected the option for ETS to immediately report my scores as soon as they were ready. When I submitted my application just now the portal says my GRE scores haven't been received. Could it be that the system needs to match my scores with my application and update? Do I pay $27 and submit them again or contact ETS tomorrow? Do I contact the school tomorrow and ask for guidance? Today was the priority deadline for scholarship consideration, so I am eager to have everything d-o-n-e. Never mind! Just got a confirmation from the school saying it takes a few days to match scores to apps. Eeeeeek!!! Now time to freak out every time I receive a new email. Good luck to all!

Yup! I do a bit with numbers at my current job, but it is mostly writing. The math I have to do is pretty basic, maybe some algebra, by definitely no geometry or pre-calc. Bleh. Khan Academy has been really helpful!

Applying to 1 or 2 programs for Fall 2016. Lining up my LORs, making notes for my SOP, and studying for the GRE. Teaching myself math is hard. :/

It's so tough to write about yourself, isn't it? Like Nochal said, you really just need to get started. Make a commitment to spend 15 minutes per day just writing parts of the SOP. After a few days, hopefully you start to see common themes and the block lifts a bit. Once you have some depth to your SOP, then you need to get some eyes on it. Do you have access to career services through your university? A friend that is in copy editing? A family member or professional mentor you trust to give strong feedback? It stings to have people critique personal works of writing, but it is so important. They may be able to tell that you're selling yourself short or forgetting to include a major academic/professional accomplishment. Take all the feedback you're comfortable with, rewrite, ask your proof readers to read it again, and repeat until you feel really great about it. You can do this! Good luck!

Could you arrange a meeting with your AmeriCorps supervisor sometime soon just to review your progress? If the meeting goes well, then it would make sense to ask her for a LOR now. If it doesn't, you would a) know not to ask her for a LOR; 2) have some critical feedback to strengthen your performance/learn new skills; and D) have the option to make the changes she suggests, keep touching base with her, and then ask for a LOR after exceeding her expectations. Good luck!

Surely there are reasons you'd like to attend Berkeley other than to "fight" its sexual assault problem? Conversely, sexual assault is (unfortunately) a problem at many schools--why not apply to those programs instead? Naming the school (which you've said you won't do) just seems like it could be somewhat limiting. It also sort of seems like you'd be doing them a favor by attending. "I can help combat your issue." Know what I mean? Would it be possible to highlight something about Cal's program specifically that would help you advocate for sexual assault victims anywhere or combat sexual violence? Maybe a focus on sexual assault awareness, young adult/urban populations, abuse intervention, etc.? I don't know anything about Cal's MSW so I can't really offer specific advise, but perhaps you could highlight the work you've done at your undergrad institution and say "XYZ at Cal would give me additional resources to create public awareness campaigns about sexual assault" or "I see that Professor So-and-So's research is focused on treating sexual assault victims. I'd like to apply those principles to college students specifically." Good luck! Berkeley is an amazing place to live.

Hello all! I've been lurking for a while and finally decided to make an account. I am in the process of preparing applications for fall 2016 admissions. I am interested in applying to the UNC and NCCU MSW programs. I have been out of college for almost 10 years (Legal Studies degree) working as a paralegal, but also volunteering with various programs (DV clinic, Innocence Project, guardian ad litem, RMH). Right now my two interests are juveniles (I really liked being in the courtroom with GAL) and health care (being in a hospital is exciting to me--I love the energy). Anyway, the two programs I'm applying at are UNC and NCCU (I do not have the science pre-reqs required for NC State). I see that NCCU has a child & family focus and a juvenile justice focus, but no health focus. I know that UNC has a health concentration and from what I gather students can tailor their concentration to their interests. Aside from concentrations, can anyone tell me how each program is viewed in NC, the southeast in general, or even nationally (if that matters at all)? I have a legal background where pedigree seems to matter initially, but I am not sure that is necessarily the case for SW. There is a good chance I will move out of NC after graduating, so I can see where I'd benefit from some name recognition, but again, not sure how much it truly matters once I have the degree and license. Thanks for all your input! I look forward to learning more form y'all and contributing to the forums!