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BackNSchool83

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Everything posted by BackNSchool83

  1. @LeoMSW @sgt Hello ! I suggest you join our facebook group for applicants who are waiting on CSUs and UCs. Just search for the group, it's called "UC and CSU MSW applicant resource and support" and there are about 100 people hanging out on there waiting to hear back, some have, and dates of admission notices are posted in the group description and updated regularly. UCLA has started notifying, they send notifications out once a week, usually you hear in an email from the department of social work first, then a few days later or so from the grad division.
  2. CSUF sent me an invitation to do an interview today.
  3. I was sent an interview invitation by CSUF today!
  4. Well you can research their respective rankings, US News says they tie for 12th place nationally. These are vastly different in terms of size and cost. UCLA has a cohort of around 120 whereas I read USC has the biggest MSW program in the country, though many of those students may be online, an option not available at UCLA. Cost, USC about 55k per year, UCLA about 23k per year. Do you care about location? I mean there are lots of factors to consider. Personally I'm all for UCLA obviously, I think it's a good program, the school has a lot of credibility and is tough to get into so it's respectable on a resume and you can't buy your way in, and it's affiliated with the larger UC system of which I'm already a part.
  5. UCB I think is number 1 in the state for MSW, would be a tough call. For me I like the vibe of UCLA, it's a well respected institution academically, yet rather than an elite feel it seems more cool, just a different energy to it... that's just how I see it though, I hope you get into both so you can pick what feels like the best fit for your future. congrats !!!
  6. @Angiebangie344 It's still very early on, acceptances are only just now being sent out, so hang on tight
  7. Congratulations @CHVH !!! Do you plan to attend? If so we have a facebook group for this cohort called UCLA MSW 2020 please join, and also consider joining the facebook group for applicants of all CSU and UC MSW programs called UC and CSU MSW Applicant Resource and Support Group. Congrats again, Go Bruins !!!
  8. @Angiebangie344 I received an email from Tiffany at 11:30 am on 2/22, and the UCLA graduate division sent the decision letter to my portal the next day. I originally applied on Oct 2nd, but because my data was lost as the school switched over to a different application software, I had to resubmit my information. This was a whole huge nightmare where I was told that I was not impacted by the graduate division switching to a new application platform, and was told over the phone that all my stuff was in order and I was good to go, but that wasn't true. I just happened to check out my application on December 11th and noticed that it was asking me to send letters of recommendation requests and as far as I knew my recommenders submitted everything on like October 10th, so yeah everything had been lost, all my data, all the documents I uploaded, and I had to get my recommenders to resubmit their LORs and stuff. I also brought this up with Tiffany and the social welfare department. So technically I re-applied on Dec 12th and my recommenders had everything in by the next day I believe. The cut off for the fellowship was Dec 15th so I just barely made it in time for that. I think I may have been one of the very first applicants since I applied and submitted everything the day after applications opened, and I think they did me a favor and notified me earlier because of that, and because I had called asking when we might hear back. I was told that people would start hearing back this week so, tomorrow would be the day I expect to start hearing more acceptances. Last year they notified those who were pre fellowship deadline first.
  9. I was emailed by the department today and have been accepted into the MSW program at UCLA !
  10. I received an email from the Dept of Social Welfare at UCLA today offering me admission to the program !!! I am thrilled, this has been a goal for the past 2 years that just became a reality, I'm so excited! For those waiting to hear, I did not receive any notification on my portal for UCLA's graduate studies division, and in the admission letter I was told that the decision letter from the grad division may not be sent for a few weeks. So I say keep an eye on your email that you have attached to your application, odds are at least at this point that any decision will be received there first from the SW department, specifically from Tiffany. Go Bruins !!!
  11. MSW UCLA, CSULB, CSUF got in LB, really hoping for UCLA though and am checking my status and grad cafe and Facebook and every possible source of information way way too frequently.
  12. That's odd, I was admitted back in December but I was not assigned an academic advisor. LB is on rolling admissions and as a friend of mine noted when she went down there, they literally had bins full of applications to sort through so it may take a while to hear back.
  13. @TheAnxiousGuy Hey what's up man, I'm anxious as well lol. I applied to CSUF, CSULB, and UCLA. So far I've heard back from LB. I made a facebook group called UC and CSU MSW applicant resource and support group where others waiting on the California schools are chatting, small group, more are welcome! Not sure when CSUF will start to send out notifications but I'm expecting them later on like around mid March ish. Let us know if you hear anything sooner!
  14. Anyone out there also waiting, I think I'm going insane!
  15. I really hate the waiting game lol! I'm waiting on UCLA, last year there was a big group of applicants on here and this year I've found like 2 others total, so no one to get any insight from on if anyone is hearing back yet or anything. I'm hopeful but good lord I'm struggling to think of much else these days.
  16. I started a facebook page for anyone interested in the UC or CSU MSW programs. The purpose of the page is to provide another outlet for those of us anxiously awaiting news about admission to talk, and support each other. In addition, this page is for anyone who is interested in these MSW programs at any stage of the process from just being curious about the process or wanting to learn more, to those who have graduated and beyond. The group is open to all, so please join and say hi! The group is called : UC and CSU MSW Applicant Resource and Support Group
  17. I started a facebook page for anyone interested in the UC or CSU MSW programs. The purpose of the page is to provide another outlet for those of us anxiously awaiting news about admission to talk, and support each other. In addition, this page is for anyone who is interested in these MSW programs at any stage of the process from just being curious about the process or wanting to learn more, to those who have graduated and beyond. The group is open to all, so please join and say hi! The group is called : UC and CSU MSW Applicant Resource and Support Group
  18. I started a facebook page for anyone interested in the UC or CSU MSW programs. The purpose of the page is to provide another outlet for those of us anxiously awaiting news about admission to talk, and support each other. In addition, this page is for anyone who is interested in these MSW programs at any stage of the process from just being curious about the process or wanting to learn more, to those who have graduated and beyond. The group is open to all, so please join and say hi! The group is called : UC and CSU MSW Applicant Resource and Support Group
  19. I started a facebook page for anyone interested in the UC or CSU MSW programs. The purpose of the page is to provide another outlet for those of us anxiously awaiting news about admission to talk, and support each other. In addition, this page is for anyone who is interested in these MSW programs at any stage of the process from just being curious about the process or wanting to learn more, to those who have graduated and beyond. The group is open to all, so please join and say hi! The group is called : UC and CSU MSW Applicant Resource and Support Group
  20. @ChicanaMSW2018 You are so so SO awesome for sharing that information. this is exactly the kind of stuff people need and are looking for, you rock!
  21. Like others said, the GPA isn't going to hold you back necessarily, some schools may consider it more important than others. The GRE isn't always required, but it depends where you apply, I'm in California and it's not required for most UC and CSU programs. About the GPA and your story, and your continued journey coping with and overcoming depression, this is all going to come together in your personal statements. Now I personally started working on my stuff WAY early like you are, and was excited about it and I'm glad I did. You have some time to try and visit some of the campuses, go to the information sessions, and I say join facebook pages for those MSW programs or their cohorts if you can, reach out and see if anyone is open to talking. So I am a recovering alcoholic, that was my deal that I wanted to talk about because it was so central to my purpose and direction going into social work (mental health) but I had to be cautious about how I presented that information in my SOPs statements of purpose. I think the key in these is to tell a story, a "redemption story" of sorts, which is the truth. Share, within the confines of the SOP prompts a story that shows growth, overcoming challenges, learning, and applying of skills. Your GPA: You say that it isn't ideal, so I'm wondering why you have the 3.0. Was it because you didn't try your hardest, or was it because you did try your hardest and despite all the additional challenges you had to overcome in life at that time you still managed to pull through with a 3.0? I just suggest framing it in a way that clarifies it's not a result of not caring, or being lazy, or not being sure of what you wanted to do, be clear that this was the best you could do at the time and try to show, if possible, improving grades over time. Being in those honor societies means you had at least some semesters with high grades so I'm sure you have a story to tell here. Again though, many people get in with GPAs in the 3.0 range. Your involvement in other programs, volunteering, clubs etc is all great and will help you. Your experience with depression: This is very important I believe to carefully share in the SOP. So I think a good rule is to make sure you do it in a way that you DO NOT raise any red flags about your ability to complete the program, handle working with individuals, or that you could become incapable of providing the kind of care people need. Now look, I don't think depression will take that away from you or most people with it, probably just provide insight and empathy, but it's still important not to get too gnarly with stories about how bad it got. When I talked about my addiction I didn't get into the nitty gritty, I spoke about it in less specific ways. I quickly transitioned into talking about how I found hope and a means to recover, and then how I practice self care today to sustain my recovery. Just show them you are stable as a table... Show you have lived experience, but that you have overcome it, and today it serves as a source of hope as you support others in their journey into a bright future. Something like that would be revealing, but not toooo revealing. Here is an excerpt from one of my SOPs where I talk about my addiction "My journey overcoming addiction has inspired me to pursue an MSW degree to become like those professionals who helped me see that recovery was possible. Alcoholism manifested in my late teens and was severe for over a decade till the bitter end unexpectedly revealed a new beginning. I am grateful beyond words to have found a recovery program, and the tools to live a healthy, full, and exciting life. I honor this repurposed life by photographing contrasting sights that symbolize this change in trajectory as part of my self care. I desire the holistic lens of social welfare to frame my understanding of individuals in the context of their environment, and I am drawn to the MSW degree for its strengths based focus. My hope is to learn how I can help foster self efficacy and empowerment in individuals as they walk freely, forging a new way forward." Remember that acceptance or rejection to schools doesn't define you, nor does it foreshadow your future in the field. I suggest applying to multiple schools because MOST IF NOT ALL of us are rejected by some and accepted by at least one, and sometimes it takes applying again during the next cycle. Based on what you have shared though, and your tenacity to engage in this process early on, to overcome so much and soon be walking with your degree and moving on, no matter what, to accomplish your goals in grad school... that says a ton more about you than any number, or some arbitrary grade from the past. Show them you are determined, eager, healthy, prepared, and mature and you will nail this thing. Best wishes to you!!!
  22. Ellie I'm rooting for you... and me too lol, fingers crossed! If I get in ill start a FB page if no one else does so we can all stay in touch.
  23. A bump just means I'm commenting to bump this thread to the top of the heap so people see it what I'd USC say?
  24. Yeah it's going to suck if I do it, but I'm got to try and minimize it by driving out at like 4 am staying all day till the evening and coming home at like 8pm to avoid traffic, and I can use the extra time to work on school stuff. That said, this may not work out as I envision it.
  25. I'm not going to work, it's the full time program, most of it is 2 days a week in LA all day for classes and then interning closer to home.
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