BackNSchool83

I'd go UCSD for sure, not only prestige but a great program. Riverside is not anywhere near as enjoyable a place to live and work as San Diego, totally different party scene too if you are into that. USC costs a fortune, and honestly, to me, maybe cause I go to UC Irvine, I have more respect for the UC system than private institutions. That said, I know little about the program so I'd listen most to those who have attended these programs or know more about them specifically.

So I'm planning to work down the road as a therapist, I'm therefore going to have my degree on the wall in my office, and when people look me up on places like psychology today it's going to say where I went to school, front and center. Here are my options... Cal State University Long Beach aka Long Beach State OR other CSUs like CSU Fullerton which all rank similarly Cost: Very doable $10k per year and about 35 miles away commuting 2-3 days per week with practicum in the LB area Ranking: 78th for MSW, 39th for regional universities Western US, and 9th for regional public universities all by US News Semester system, full time 2 years. University of California Los Angeles aka UCLA Cost: $20k per year and about 65 miles away commuting 2-3 days per week, with practicum closer to home Ranking: 12th for MSW, 21st for national universities, 1st for top public schools nationally all by US News Quarter system, full time 2 years. What would you do if you were admitted to both? I was offered admission to CSULB, but not yet to UCLA and I'm thinking to myself, if I got admitted, would it be worth the extra cost and drive time for 2 hard core years of work at UCLA? What say you?

Congrats RK1!!! Go Beach !!!

Bump!!! Who else out there applied to UCLA, we should start hearing back mid to late February through March!!!

Kat hello and welcome to our anxious group... I applied to UCLA so I'll be active on here with info as I hear it on and I hope to hear what happens with your other Cali schools. Is Cal your top choice or what's your first pick given you got in all of them? The thread for UCLA last year had the first person hearing back mid February. Also any stats you care to share? I'm graduating with my BA in psych from a local UC, 4.0 when I applied for my upper division units (not cumulative), internships and work experience in addiction treatment. Anyway that's my story, welcome to the group. OH also, did you have any problems with your UCLA application?! They lost all my stuff and I had to resubmit everything.

That's in the "waiting it out" forum right? I'm so bummed that no one is on the MSW forums on here for the CSUs and UCs like they were last year.

I'm 35 years old lol, finally going to school!!! I love the whole experience to be honest, been very positive and I don't regret it at all, grad school will start in Fall and I can't wait. I hear it's actually quite common for grad students to be older as well so that's nice.

I didn't see a thread for those of us waiting for UCLA acceptance info for the MSW program, if you are waiting too, please say hello and also visit the MSW page!

I applied in mid October and was one of the first applicants, I heard back early December. Beckie, I got that notification on 11/2/17, which is after they found a problem in my application that I had to correct, so if you got that email it probably means everything is in order and you are good to go, as it says. In my experience the way I found out was by checking the application status online on 12/9/17. Usually when you check it, it asks if you want an email to be sent updating you of the status, but the day I got in when I checked it, it simply said "Congratulations!" and said I was accepted into the MSW program. I thought it was a mistake so I called the SW department and they said it was legit, and then I got 2 emails the next day 12/11 with a formal acceptance letter from CSULB and from the SW department. They ask you to complete an applicant checklist within 10 days and part of that is saying you will attend CSULB, however there is no financial down payment that must be made to save your seat, which is nice. My best to everyone here who is waiting, I hope you get in!

CSUF and UCLA said earliest we might hear back is mid Feb.

Hi there, looks like you found the app status link. My emails from the SW department come from CSSW I think in the title, it's not CSULB. For me I didn't hear from them till I was accepted, I logged into the app status link above and instead of being asked if I wanted an email to be sent to update my status, I was greeted by a screen that said comgratulations and that I had been accepted. This screen said I could log onto mycsulb to check for details on financial aid but it didn't work. After calling they said they didn't know why the link didn't work but not to worry about it. They told me that they would email my acceptance letter likely the next day, and sure enough the grad division did, followed by the SW department who told me to sign off on the checklist within 10 days or lose my seat. No charge to hold your seat, you simply say you plan to attend, however, they can't hold you to that really. For me I'm waiting on UCLA, and if I get in there, then I'll weigh my options.

Yeah, I got it done, recommenders resubmitted etc Dec 12th. That's how close it was, they lost ALL my data and Oct 2nd was my original submission date. Highly uncool, but hopefully it works out for the both of us! I saw someone asking about stats, so first, to be clear they say most people over a 3.5 get into CSU programs, I mean the entry level gpa is often low like 2.75, many successful applicants have lower gpas. I know a UCLA guy who applied with a 2.8. i had a 4.0 at the time, degree in progress, we'll see how my final exams went. Mostly what makes a difference is experience, in my case about a year of working in addiction treatment with internships related to social work. i believe a 3.0 to 3.5 with a year of experience or some solid internships and good LORs plus good sops would work for most schools. im happy about long beach, I may go there in the end, tough call.

Thanks, yeah it was a bummer. The main thing that threw me off was they told me on the phone in November my app was ok and already submitted and safe. Then I fond out it wasn't. Today they approved my new application and I've got 1 recommender I'm still waiting on. I made the poor lady at the grad office hear every detail of why I was upset, but I think she was the one who originally told me I was good to go and totally wrong. According to UCLA, the company they used to operate the app software aka decision desk went out of business mis season. Anyways at least it's fixed and Tiffany at the SW department did eventually reply to me and was apologetic about the situation which was nice. At first they were trying to blame me till I showed them their emails and explained in more detail what was up. Just beware and maybe double check. As for LB State it's very tempting.

Jax is there any chance I wouldn't get my choice of program for 2nd year? I have no interest in any other form of social work than mental health, I want to be a therapist so, has anyone ever not been given their preferred area of focus? That's my only concern about CSULB. As for UCLA they lost all my data, all the docs, told me to start over! So I did but the deadline fast approaches and I'm really blown away they screwed up so bad.

Jax you are rad on a very high level, thank you so much for this helpful reply. Actually I checked my status for CSULB today and it said I was offered provisional admission, but I never got an email and efforts to log in and verify the admission all failed to work... So I have no idea if it's a glitch or real. another issue I'm having and I'm hoping another UCLA applicant can chime in is with their application. I applied on the 2nd of October and all my LORs had been sent by the like 10th of October, then in mid November UCLA grad admissions says they are switching to a new application system.... Yeah mid application season. I log on to the new application just to see if my files are there and it's giving me the opportunity to request LORs! I have no idea what is gong on but I doubt my recommenders kept the LORs they wrote, and if UCLA lost them it would really be awful. I hope to hear from them Monday I also emailed the department but I swear each time in the past I've called over some problem with the app, the grad division says call the department of SW, and the department of SW says to call the grad division. I just don't have room stress wise to deal with the idea my app could be missing stuff because of their incompetence... if that's what's up. Rant done.

Hello Jax, So I applied to CSULB for the 2 year MSW, how do you like the program? I'm looking for a clinical focus and would be doing the mental health or (integrated health) program if admitted. Have you taken any of the mental health or therapy focused classes and can you comment on how you like them, if they are well done? They don't let you choose your program, but did you have any challenges in getting the program you wanted once admitted? Lastly, I applied in mid October, do you know how long till they start to reveal admission decisions or how long it was for you? Anything else you would like to share is very helpful, thank you!

Hey congrats TETN ! Wow when did their apps open I don't think any of the schools I applied to will notify till like Feb earliest. Way to go

I hate waiting, I thought waiting for my transfer application was bad... Stats: GPA 4.0 last 90 units, 3.65 cumulative Psychology BA in progress Experience: several internships in SW field and volunteer work, currently working as a certified addiction counselor. Total is like 1.5 years worth of experience. LORs 2 supervisors from internships, one dept chair/prof from AOD program When is the earliest we might know anything?

Hey, if you don't mind add your stats to the UCLA thread below I applied to CSUF, CSULB, and UCLA.

Hello MKP, looks like we may be near in age, I am 34 and by the time I finish my BA and the MSW I'll be 37, after another probably 3 years if I can find supervision the whole time I can sit for the licensing exam at 40 years old, so I hear ya. I think it's very common, or at least more common than you might think. Schools value older students with lived experience, and you have that in spades. Thank you for your service to our country. My understanding is that you have nothing going against you in terms of your background, if anything you have strengths, and low SES areas with struggling teens are a great area of focus, no doubt plenty of work to be done. Where are you planning to work and go to school?

Bump apps are open!

Bump apps are open!

I'm applying to several MSW programs in the Cal State University system These schools have their own applications in addition to the big CSU application (CAL APPLY) that is to the school Need help with Cal Apply This is asking me for an SOP, to list achievements, experiences, and documents (a section on each) but I've already filled this kind of info out on the MSW application, do I have to do both? CSU APPLY is asking if I'm independent, which I am, but it wants 2016 Tax information which I do not have yet. I don't see why they need this other than for their stats, this isn't a FAFSA app I've been full time and not earning money this year so I'm guessing I'll put 0, but it's an estimate and this makes me uncomfortable... thanks

So I'm currently thinking if I should apply to more, I'm applying to 3 schools for sure, but all are pretty selective taking around 100/600 or so applicants.