ms_teacher

Hey. My experience is that you cannot do 2 programs at once. I am having a ridiculous time with a similar situation right now and it only involves an overlap in programs of less than 2 weeks. Check with the school though. They are likely all different in how they allow these things.

Awesome. See you there!

Hi! I didn't apply to Laurier however I did get in to 2 of the 3 programs I applied to this year. I have been a teacher for 13 years or so and I haven't had a ton of volunteer time in there other than school things or small one-day stuff. I put all of my teaching jobs on my application and linked up exactly how each experience related directly to social work. I think that's the key. It's not about just the experience you have in human services, it's about how you make the connections between your experience and that of a social worker.

Anyone else going to Calgary in the fall? I think these are the only 2 people I've seen on here. Can we connect? I have some questions about the process that I'd love to discuss with you guys. Private message me? Thanks!!

Well....it means I accepted Calgary in the interim because I still haven't really decided but didn't want to let the opportunity go, just in case.

Hey! I don't have a lot to say because (like a lot of other people) I have NO CLUE how schools actually make their decisions. So many people seem to have wicked awesome qualifications and don't get it. So I have no advice from that perspective. I can tell you about my own experience with the process though... I did 2 undergrads, one in Fine Arts and the other in Education. I also went on to finish some post grad education courses and specialties in special education, guidance and counselling, etc. I taught for 10 years in behavioural education, all grade levels, worked overseas for 4 years, and did three years as an education awareness worker for a women's shelter working in high schools working with the police and delivery a program about healthy relationships and domestic abuse. I then did a graduate certificate in concurrent disorders where I graduate at the top of my class. Over the years I gained TONS of human services volunteer and work experience also. I applied for 3 MSW programs at that stage and was rejected by all three. Well waitlisted at 2 of them but never got in. After those rejections, I went back to teaching for 2 more years and decided to do a Masters in Conflict Resolution (which I haven't finished yet). I applied to 2 more MSW programs and the Lakehead HBSW this year and got accepted to 2 out of the 3. I attribute that mostly to my Masters and the difference in my entrance statements. I just look at academic writing completely differently now and I can see a huge difference in the quality of what I said and how I said it. I don't think you'll have trouble with the curriculum even though you're from a Communications background however, from experience taking all kinds of different courses over my life, if you don't have much real life experience, you'll find it much more difficult to do assignments, follow lectures and participate fully in discussions. It's never impossible but I know that I look back now and wish that I'd had the experience I have now before I took a lot of my courses because I would have gotten much more out of them. Anyways, that's just my two cents

Should we take the lead and get that started? Or maybe there's something on another platform? Just not sure where else to look.

University of Calgary 2-year MSW friends, how can we connect prior to starting school in August? Anyone start a Facebook or other type of group? I'd love to chat with future classmates!!

Has anyone heard anything from the UNBC waitlist at all?

Hi, I was pretty confused about what counted as social work experience also. Calgary has this listed on their MSW page though... Social Services Experience The Faculty of Social Work defines social services experience, either paid employment or volunteer work, as organized activities, interventions, or other actions that reflect policies and programs responding to recognized social problems/needs or to improve the well-being of those at risk (Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Social Work). Examples include paid and/or volunteer experience in a recognized government, non-profit, or social service agency. It is expected that MSW applicants will have had experience at a higher level of responsibility. Examples of relevant social service experience: Group home/residential worker Crisis line volunteer Camp counsellor with children and youth Teacher's assistant Hospital volunteer Research assistant in human services research Overseas social development experience Child welfare worker (protection, guardianship, policy analyst) Counsellor in a non-profit agency Case manager in hospital and/or health and/or mental health setting Social planning in a municipal setting Teacher Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. Applicants can make a case for special considerations of particular life, volunteer, or work experience if they can indicate connections to social work.

Clinical

University of Manitoba has a distance BSW program. There are also really good graduate certificates from colleges. I did Concurrent Disorders from Confederation College a couple years ago. It's one year and fully distance (or on campus if you want). I loved it! There are a bunch of options though. Do a google search for Online or Distance Social Work Programs Canada.

I move ALLLLL the time. Haha. I'm totally cool with new places so it's not about that at all. I just had a major life change in the last 3 weeks though and it's affecting every single decision I make. I haven't received an email or anything by my Lakehead status looks like this....

Congrats! I also got in!! Which campus?? I was also accepted to Calgary's 2-year MSW but I'm seriously considering Lakehead because it's one year and not such a major life upheaval at the moment.

I got an email from UNBC with an attached letter this morning. I just checked my online status and it says waitlist and March 14 beside where the admission decision is. It used to be just blank.