sososocialwork

Anyone else applying to Renison's 1 yr BSW? I'm applying there as well as U of T's 2 yr MSW (I was wait-listed last year at U of T). All supporting docs for Renison are due this Friday. Still working on the final touches of my personal statement! I realized that 1500 words is not enough space to cover everything I want to say :S Good luck to everyone finishing up their applications! <3

You're making a horrible assumption that individuals choosing to apply to schools with more of a clinical approach do not understand the foundational principles of social work, or that they are not thinking critically about them. You have a very inflexible way of looking at social work; clinical = bad, anti-oppressive = good. One of the basic tenets of social work is to not make quick judgements or assumptions about our clients, or to be inflexible or closed-minded. Obviously, anti-oppressive social work is something you strongly identify with, and that is good that you find value in it and choose to practice it. But to be honest, your comments throughout this thread come across as very condescending and judgemental, and as I mentioned, they are creating a toxic discussion. I actually was afraid to talk about my U of T application because of posts like yours. Finally, I was always taught that different approaches (anti-oppressive, critical social work, structural, clinical...etc) have value in particular contexts, one is not better compared to the other. It is a matter of personal preference and selecting the approach that you identify with, or that best suits the setting in which you are working. You have stated your preference so I do not see the point of criticizing individuals who are choosing to go into clinical social work. I want to address your last sentence about how those of us who do not like when "our gender/social/racial privileges are challenged," better attend a clinical program that celebrates our whiteness. Again, you are making SO many assumptions about us. You do not know our cultural/socio-economic/gender backgrounds. You do not know our lived-histories. Thanks.

Longtime lurker here who signed up just to write this. I feel as though this thread is being derailed by discussions about the validity of various social work approaches, particularly one school and their program. I feel as though there are individuals inferring that those of us who are applying to U of T ( or"McMSW" as one other poster has called it) are uninformed or ignorant consumers of the neoliberal academy. Honestly, and I'm speaking for myself here, I'm just an individual trying to move into the career of my choice. Yes I find it important to reflect on my values and the values of the program, but I'm not here to debate these things. I hope we can all be respectful of everyone's choices. Although I appreciate your passion towards your approach to social work, and your concern that some of us are making the wrong choice, I invite those of you who would like to continue this debate about social work and higher education to please move to another thread. This thread is for applicants to help each other, inform one another, and to receive updates. Personally, these discussions are becoming rather toxic and I would like to continue to see this thread being used as intended. I just want to connect with other people who are applying to similar programs. We're here to help each other out, not criticize people who choose particular programs. Thanks.