dem13

Has anyone here applied for Athabasca's Master of Counselling programming? Still waiting to hear back and orientation starts next month. ?

I applied to this program at Athabasca with a bachelor of arts in Anthropology, and an LPN diploma. I should find out within the next week or so if I got in. I know of people who got in with a music background. If you want to talk to other students who've been in the program or have recently applied, join the facebook group "Athabasca University Psychology". Lots of good info on there. Don't let your background discourage you. There are lots who apply and get in without a psychology degree and do just fine. :)

Are there any online BSW programs for students who already have a bachelors degree I wonder? Something that could be done in a couple years? I’m going to be honest, one of my biggest issues is that I don’t have much volunteer experience. I truly do not have time for it. I have kids, a job, and doing online university courses. I barely have a minute for myself let alone time to volunteer. Makes my applications look bad I guess. Here in Grande Prairie, our college has a 2 year learning circles BSW program for people who already have a degree. There are classes every second weekend (fri and sat). Doesn’t sound too bad but I’d prefer to do something completely online. I’m a nurse so work a lot of weekends, it would be hard to manage.

Good luck going forward! I didn’t get any reasoning either besides the high amount of applicants. Who do you contact to ask about improvements to application? I think I’m going to apply for Athabasca’s master of counselling psychology. See how that goes. I’m not trying Laurier anymore.

I just got my email from Laurier, I didn’t get in. good luck to everyone!

Apparently with the September cohort they sent out denials and waitlist letters first, then the acceptance ones. Hopefully thats the case this time as well.

Congrats!!! I wonder if they send them all out the same day or not? I’ll be on edge all day! Lol!

Keeps getting pushed up. Next thing they'll be saying early November.

I did a bit of research on Yorkville’s program a few days ago and the reviews are terrible. A lot of people dropped out after a few weeks, felt the content did not prepare them well for a job as a counsellor. It’s also like $40,000+. I think it would be a last resort for me.

Yes that’s my major concern about Athabasca as well. I actually live in Alberta (Grande Prairie) so the summer institute in Calgary wouldn’t be too far out of reach for me. But I have a job and kids and it would still be hard for me to just take off. Ideally I’d like to do something fully online. How did your friend like the Yorkville program? Glad to hear it’s not too hard to get employment afterwards. I always worry about online programs and employability afterwards.

Hello from another Anthropology major! Lol! I graduated from Memorial University of NL back in 2003. I specialized in archaeology and I did not fare well in regards to employment. Went back to school and did the LPN program because it was quick with high employment rate, and have been working in that field for 11 years. Time for a change though! I wouldn’t worry about everyone else’s GPA and experience hours. They look at your personal statement and references too. Everything is not about grades. My GPA isn’t spectacular either...I started out as a computer science major which really ruined my overall GPA. My last couple years were decent though so I’m hoping that helps. Good luck!

I'm just doing the prerequisites for the Masters of Counselling at Athabasca. Trying to get them done before February so I can apply. If I don't get accepted there, I'm going to try Yorkville I think. Which one were you accepted to?

I don't have a BSW, but my main reason for wanting to do a MSW is so I can work as a mental health therapist. I am applying for Masters of Counselling Psychology programs as well, and whatever I end up getting accepted into, is what I will do. I live in Alberta and most of the job postings I see for mental health therapists need either a MSW or MC. I don't think a BSW can work as a clinical social worker, I could be wrong though.

Yeah, first when I applied, they told me it would be late August/early September. I have a feeling it'll be October sometime...hopefully I'm wrong. The waiting is painful. lol

Nope, still impatiently waiting. I was hoping to have known by now.

I’m waiting to hear back from Laurier for Jan 2019. I figured they wouldn’t be on time. I’m stressed to the max waiting because I want to take a prerequisite course for another program. Don’t want to waste the money if I don’t need to. I’d also like to know as soon as possible so I can figure out how I’m going to fund schooling if I get accepted.

I applied for the Jan 2019 start date and haven't heard anything yet either. They told me late Aug/early Sept. Based on previous cohorts, I'm expecting that will end up being pushed even later. I'd like to find out sooner than later so I can have lots of time to figure out funding.

Has anyone heard anything from Laurier yet re: the online MSW program? I'm starting to get antsy!

37 here with 2 kids, trying to save for a mortgage! Lmao.

I hear ya on the obsessive email checking. Lol. Nonstop. I need to figure out how I’m going to pay for it so I’d like to know as soon as possible. Hopefully soon!!

I applied for that program too! I was told we'd hear back late August/early September. If it is anything like previous cohorts, it's highly likely it will be even later than that before we hear anything. Hoping to find out sooner than later though. Good luck!

Thank you for starting this group! We can have stress together! lol! I've applied for Laurier's online, part-time MSW for non-social work students...Jan 2019 start date. It's the only university I've applied to, and if I don't get accepted this year, my plan is to apply to Athabasca's Masters of Counselling Psychology. I have to do an online program; I'm 37, 2 kids, job. No way I can go to an actual school. Good luck to everyone!

Thanks for the positive outlook! wishing you lots of luck as well. Did they give you a time line for getting off the wait list? That’s just more waiting for you now. How stressful!!

I applied to the January 2019 intake for the online part-time program. Starting to worry now I won’t get in, especially if it’s based on experience. I’ve been an LPN for 11 years and have over 12,000 hours in the field, but it’s not necessarily social work stuff I’m doing. Looks like I’m going to have to start looking at a backup plan.

I have no idea who this Dilyara person is. lol! I had a phone conversation with a Monica, who is an enrolment advisor. The first time I was on Laurier's website, a chat window popped up and I started asking questions there. Within minutes she was phoning me; I couldn't answer because I was at work so she emailed me as well. The end of the email said "I would love to talk to you further about the program. Could you let me know what time you are available so that I can set up an interview with you?" She asked me a bunch of questions about my grades and why I was interested in being a social worker. After we spoke, she sent me an email with all the application information. I applied for the January 2019 intake, and all my info has been in since last week. I expected they wouldn't start contacting people until after the application cut-off, which is June 28. Our phone conversation was very casual and I didn't really think of it as an interview, but just an informative discussion.