SamSat

Congrats! Me too! I plan in completing them online, so I am staying in Toronto and only going up to Wloo for the final exams. I think the course registration is around July 5-11, but I haven't received any further instruction on that... lmk if you do

I am completing them before Sep 2017 too. I would definitely recommend emailing Laura Newman- her email is on the UW Renison website. She sent me a recommended schedule of completing courses. Also, you'll have to register by Jun 30, 2016 to start your pre-req courses in Fall 2016, which I would recommend if you want to pace yourself well for a Sep 2017 program start. Hope this helps! If you have any other Qs lmk.

Than you!!

Question for those who did prerequisite courses for the Renison HBSW program... is there a way to enrol in some prerequisite courses in the summer? For instance, if I wanted to take a course between May-Aug 2016, how do I go about doing this as a non-degree student, and have I missed the boat to enrol? I have also emailed someone from the programs office, but I think she was on vacation and will be swamped with emails when she gets back, but i want to make sure I don't miss a deadline to enrol while waiting to hear back. Thanks!

Thank you... that helps a lot Will go fishing for the post now!

I don't mind! It is just under $1000 (including the fee to register to be a new student)

Hi, I am curious (and really sorry for the lack of knowledge)... but what does it mean that York's curriculum operates within the anti-oppressive social justice framework? And how is this emphasis different from a clinical focus? Thanks!

Hi Purple-Elephant, I had the same question for Angela Umbrello (U of T 2-yr MSW coordinator) when I applied back in October, as I had a 73 in my research methods course too. She said that the average applicant had a B, and my grade was a B-, and so it would be beneficial to look into doing another research methods course in the social sciences and sending in my official transcript if I get in or wait-listed. I had heard from others about, and Angela also recommended, the Athabasca University online course SOSC 366 (research methods in the social sciences). You have 6 months to complete it and you can do the entire thing online. I am currently about halfway through and I have found it to be about average in terms of courseload and slightly easier than average in terms of difficulty. So far I have a much higher average than I did for my previous research methods course, and I'm hoping it lasts I would recommend looking into it! Hope this helps.

Thanks so much to both of you for your advice! @mswbsw, I have taken steps towards getting involved in a newcomer agency in Toronto and am also basing my research paper for my online research course on barriers to employment/ integrating into society for newcomers and refugees (still haven't narrowed down my topic). This interest really stems from my personal experience integrating into Canadian society and so hoping my passion for the subject really shines through in my personal statement. I still could use some further understanding of what the anti-oppressive framework is, and how I can mould my experience and interest to that framework, so if you know of any good reading material on the subject please let me know! @emilynwt that's great advice about looking for a job with some skills that are pertinent to the field- that is the same advice I got from the Laurier dean a few days after you posted this here. I am starting to look for jobs that I can get with my business degree- employment advising, community engagement, and the like. Fingers crossed!

Hi guys, this was my first admissions cycle and it is a real eye-opener how competitive social work programs are!! Congrats to all those who got in and good luck to those still waiting I was rejected from Laurier and am still waiting to hear from York and U of T for the 2-yr programs, although I think my chances are very bleak at this point. I am making plans for next year already, and I think a good option for me would be to look into a post-degree BSW. I anticipate I will have about 500 hours of volunteer experience directly working with vulnerable groups at that time (would try to accumulate more but I work a demanding full-time job in an unrelated field), am doing a research methods course online right now and hoping to get an A/ A+ in that, and have a 3.79 average in the last year of my 4-year undergrad business degree from U of T. I have an interest in mental health as it pertains to newcomer/ refugee groups, although I also have experience and an interest in long-term care. My question is, does it seem like I have decent credentials to get into the Lakehead HBSW program (and can I apply to both Thunderbay and Orilia to increase my chances?) What are the stats of getting into those programs? I am also looking into the 2-year post-degree BSW at York, does anyone have any thoughts around that program and what it looks for in its candidates? Is there any one area of my application that I can work on over the next 7-8 months? I am also reaching out to the admissions offices of these schools, but everyone on this group has been so supportive and insightful I would love to get some feedback from you all as well. I am really determined to make it into social work no matter how many tries it takes me! Thank you in advance!!

We're in the same boat!! I live 15 mins from u of t, lol.

@Bettyg I have the same question, I would love to elicit feedback from the schools I get rejected from to purposefully direct my efforts over the next few months, do you have any tips? Thanks!!

Thank you to both of you for the good tips!! That definitely is uplifting for me to hear. I got rejected from Laurier and am still waiting on U of T and York, however I have started looking for jobs in the non-profit field that I could actually do with my business background (e.g. communications and marketing). Hopefully by working in a human service organization, I can gain more experience and exposure to the social issues I care about even if I am not a front-line worker. I still plan on getting front-line experience though, on the side, in a volunteer position- still deciding between trying to volunteer at a newcomer/ refugee centre, a crisis counselling hotline, or some sort of research experience. They all are valuable in different ways I guess and have appeal at different schools which is why I'm having trouble picking between what to pursue (I'd do all but I'm pretty sure it would kill me haha). Good luck to you both

Thanks guys for the quick reply!! No I have not seen any changes on the page, so I guess it's back to waiting!

Does anyone else see this on their LORIS page? A bit confused about why my registration status is showing "full time" when I haven't heard anything back yet.. I'm sure it's just what it says for everyone, but I just want to make sure.

Hi rockerelmo, thanks for the guidance and encouragement!! While my experience has been mostly in gerontology, I think the broader theme in my interests has been mental health issues that systemically exist in some vulnerable groups of the population (I guess I have been most exposed to these issues among the elderly, and university students as well through my advocacy experience in my undergrad). However, something that is probably of the most interest to me is working with newcomers, immigrants, and refugees. I immigrated to Canada a few years ago, and my parents have followed this year, and I am very aware of the barriers that immigrants face in assimilating to society here (especially in terms of their desirability as job candidates), despite Canada being such a welcoming country. I also think immigrants are a vulnerable group more susceptible to mental health issues, and I am currently doing a research paper that explores why for my online social stats course (which I chose to do to better my chances of getting into the MSW program). It is the topic that I naturally gravitated towards and I am keen on complementing my personal experiences with some solid volunteer/ work experience in this field. I am currently working full time in business, having studied commerce in my undergrad (I graduated last year). I am contemplating leaving my job if I don't get into the MSW, and racking up relevant volunteer and paid experience (not to mention just gain valuable insights into social issues in Canada), so that I can re-apply next year. The thing that worries me though is that I definitely want my application to have a strong theme, but if I pursue the immigrant/ newcomer field (either through paid or volunteer), will that be too narrow of a field? And sorry for my lack of knowledge, but are social workers really in demand in that line of work? I'm not sure what kind of work a social worker would do with refugees/ newcomers, and I don't see a specialist that would tie to it in either Laurier or U of T's degrees. Alternatively I could continue to focus on gerontology, which I guess is a safer choice and not something that completely evades my interest by any means, in order to have my experience be more consistent? Would love any thoughts anyone has

Congrats to all who got in today Unfortunately I am still waiting to hear back from any school. It is inspiring to see that you gathered experience and it paid off. What kind of experience did you accumulate? I want to make sure I am directing my efforts properly over the next year if I do not get in this year. So far, I have done mental health advocacy at my university, some other mentorship roles at uni, and have been volunteering at a long-term care home for just over a year.

CONGRATS! Still nothing for me from any of the 3- U of T, York, or Laurier. Will keep on waiting I guess-- good luck to everyone!

Thanks for the encouragement I'm sure you have incredible experience too and a great shot of getting in. Yes, I had to email them for something else so I threw this in too haha. She said "within a week". I can't wait!!! Although I just discovered a silly formatting error in my application and it's driving me a little nuts lol.

I'm sorry to hear that Things will work out eventually for sure. Good luck!! And to you, @CalendarGirl, and everyone else waiting, Laurier just let me know that they are hoping to have all the decisions out within A WEEK! An email will be sent out and online viewing will update.

I have far less than that! I come from a business background and have a strong interest in mental health policy and advocacy, and also have experience as a volunteer in long-term care. I can't imagine they would mind at all if you were 100 hours short of the average last year- I wouldn't worry about it if I were you!

Hi CalendarGirl, that's awesome! It's all leading up to your goal eventually, even if it is a different route from what you imagined.I'm also waiting to hear back from Laurier 2-yr (actually haven't heard back from any schools yet)... so fingers crossed for both of us!

So true... thanks for the reminder I needed it!

Thanks, this was super helpful!

Thanks so much! That's very helpful. And sounds like you have a solid plan, good luck to you!