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FK@UofT

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Posts posted by FK@UofT

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    45 minutes ago, Roosterduck said:

    Hi, I am currently in the advanced standing student at the U of T program and will be finishing in April of this year. I have a few thoughts for those applying and feel free to DM me. Please understand that I come from a pretty "heavy academic background." Social work has been really, really easy and understanding that no one can really be completely unbiased ,these comments are my own, but there are others in this program that would agree with these thoughts.  

    These are just the "raw" details for the program -

    I was waitlisted, but I did get in. I told them blatantly that my end goal was social justice, but not social work. I had pretty decent marks A-/A when applying and several years of experience. My competition was against other BSW students. Most people that enter are pretty young. Profs said "we were the creme of the crop" - this is a not true. Our program is 150-160 2 year program and 84 advanced standing. Most programs are around 40-70 (2-year and advanced standing). How can the biggest program in Canada have all high quality students?? 

    Finances- 

    When you enter, you pay for three semesters automatically - yes, it is a money making scheme because this was only changed in the past 10 years (my supervisor finished her program in 2 semesters and was charged accordingly). So I paid $11,500 even though I will not take courses this summer. When you finish ALL your required credits, you are "auto graduated" meaning I cannot take courses this summer even though I paid for it (I would have to drop a course now or have enrolled in one less course this term). U of T states this in one of their acceptance packages they will not return your summer money. I would highly recommend taking courses in the summer (online courses if in another city) before the fall so that you can take less courses and find a part time job during the year.  OSAP provided me ... $10,000, that covers tuition pretty well, but I am also getting robbed by Toronto rent. Entrance scholarships are not huge and with many applicants, don't expect to get one or even a large one if you do (unless you are a social work god). Bursaries are offered, but they range from 4k-7k and again, they are highly competitive because there are so many students and getting As these days in undergrad is not hard...

    "School of thought" - 

    This program is clinical - more traditional. It honestly does not care about AOP, structural or the other more sociology leaning streams of social work. Do not expect your colleagues or profs to talk about gender, class, race in a deep manner. Not to shame, but the profs are mainly white and come from wealthy backgrounds and its evident in who it admits and the ethos of the school. It's all superficial (ie. tagged question at the end of a essay paper) if they do talk about it. This may be a downfall of the program, but coming from a structural background, I wanted a different perspective and was happy to learn some real clinical skills...and not have profs waste class time on a rant about how all white and rich people were evil. 

    Placements - 

    Placements in the hospitals are highly competitive and they are not all good. I've heard of some amazing positions (I have an amazing placement) and some horrendous (my colleagues have cried to me) - understand that many SWers are in the hospital setting, they are there for the salary and the good working environment (by good, I mean you're not in an underfunded shelter that can't afford pens) - most SW positions in hospital settings are discharge planning (you are there to "transition patients into the community"....kicking people out to keep the manager happy as to not waste "taxpayer dollars").  There are some positions that are counselling, these are legit and I would recommend them. The matching here is algorithm based and no one actually knows how it matches people. Supervisors often say "no" to students in interviews if they do not think you are competent enough - hospital SW is a lot of work. These are "real" interviews. Do not take them lightly - previously in my BSW, you were pretty much given the placement if you asked. Here, you are given a real caseload by supersivors. 

    Speaking to the classes -  

    U of T has a reputation because of the research of the profs, not their teaching quality. The profs give out many, many A- and A which devalues the work of students that put in real effort. A+ are rarely given out (depends on the prof) because they have to meet the distribution. The concentrations are kinda a marketing gimmick. You only get 2 real courses that are part of your concentration and 2 electives that you can take in any of the fields. You CAN take courses in other concentrations - you just need permission from the prof. The mental health and health is the biggest one - it is a joke. The policy course was boring and poorly managed. I took 2 mental health courses that were at best okay (i'll pay for a crash course in CBT and DBT after this degree). You can totally finish the courses with their timetable recommendations if you are only doing school. I took 3 courses the first term and 4 this term - doing work after placement is hard but its possible. Taking into consideration getting an A- is really easy...you will survive this program even if you academically struggle (assuming you get in).... 

    Final recommendations -

    do not get discouraged if you are not accepted here.  If you want social work, you as a person speak more than the degree on your resume. You can learn all the content by yourself and let's be real - sitting in class won't make you more passionate about social justice, empathetic or give you better conversational skills (experience will). This program is the best - "okay" for 2 year program applicants. BSW students entering will learn almost nothing from the classes considering you're paying almost $12 000. pls DM me if you have questions :) I am here because I wanted to work in Toronto after graduation (and I do have an edge over York and Ryerson - reputation and U of T has a monopoly on placements here) and I was not expecting to come to this school - I only applied for the fun of it. DM me if you have questions! 

     

    ...ouff.

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted · Edited by FK@UofT

    2 hours ago, nicoleMSW said:

    Hi there! So sorry for the late reply - we are just past the midterm point and placement/assignments are taking up most of my time!

    U of T didn't send me an email. They should update ACORN to "invited" when you are accepted, although I have heard of a couple of cases where they missed this step. They updated mine though!

    After that, a letter will follow in the mail. Annoying, I know.... I was so anxious that my "invited" was an accident until I got the final letter! 

    I got accepted to the advanced standing program this year at UofT .. and they sent out an email to check SGS for an update on their decision. However, this was a day after my ACORN changed to invited and a week later, I received mail.

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    Hey All ..

    I remember some folks stated they were currently at UofT (Advanced Standing) have a question regarding intensives during the summer - wondering if I can pick some brains? If anyones willing to share wisdom, shoot me a DM please. 

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    6 hours ago, N_D said:

    Thank you so much for this response and the necessary reminder of the dialectical experience of all of this (outcomes not being reflective of us, and also affecting us the same). Sitting with all of those sentiments. Thank you! ❤️ 

    Sending warmth & I am with you in solidarity. ❤️ 

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted · Edited by FK@UofT

    1 hour ago, N_D said:

    Bleh, I have to say I'm holding a bit of a heavy heart after not hearing anything from UofT and there being no change on Acorn. Witnessing how gruelling this process can be for all of us, and definitely interested to hear how folks are managing self-care strategies through this time? I'm trying to distract myself and take breaks from this Forum/compulsively checking online portals - anybody else have any suggestions or things that y'all have been doing to move through this time? Also trying to remind myself that Masters programs and academia offer so much upward class mobility and how much of a privilege that is itself, and that this isn't the end of the world if it things don't come to fruition. 

    Congrats to folks who have heard, and will continue to receive offers of admission! And also naming how it can be complicated to witness others getting in when some of us haven't (it's so gross that academia/capitalism pin us against one another when we're all just trying to do some good work). For folks still waiting to hear back or haven't gained admission, feel free to slide into my DMs if you want some witnessing or an anonymous human to debrief with! ?

    Yes. To everything that you have to say. And, that it is also okay to manage through self-care strategies, while simultaneously  feeling a heavy heart and self-soothing through compulsively checking online portals / being active on this forum. Yes to it all, because all of it matters. The self-soothing and the processing and the feeling and the avoidance. It is true that the decisions that come out are not reflective of us as human beings and it is also true, that the decisions that come out affect us as human beings. All of this is so real, and prudent, and important - right now. I think the biggest breath we can give ourselves, is to be with ourselves in solidarity and acceptance while extending or hibernating away from the support that surrounds us. I hope you are open to your heavy heart, and that it can rest in you; until you find your way through it - for whatever direction it goes. 

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Bellis-Perennis said:

    So many exciting things! Thinking of all my peers who are still anxiously waiting, may you hear positive news soon!

    I've looked through the forum from last year and I think they go in the mail today but depending on where you live, you could get it next week. My waitlist letter last year was dated Feb 20 or 21 and I only got it March 1st (I'm in Ottawa), others received theirs on Feb 23rd and they lived in downtown Toronto

    Thank you so much. I'm not checking my ACORN and waiting for the physical mail .. so my anticipation lingers a bit longer. 

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    54 minutes ago, SwagMaster said:

    @Anniemsw Unfortunately I'm not sure Angela can confirm anything here. The Acorn Invited status is more of a hack that has worked over the years. Angela won't be able to confirm whether you get in or not until SGS sends out their *official* response through the mail. 

    Thanks for clarifying that! :)

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    25 minutes ago, Anniemsw said:

    I think u of T is playing a sick joke on me ! They put invited and when I refreshed the page the invited message was gone! Lol

    oh fuck. my heart dropped for you. Email Angela maybe? See if its a system error. I hope you're invite still stands.

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    46 minutes ago, KA2019 said:

    Hello everyone, 

    I applied for the advanced standing MSW program at U of T. I just looked at ACORN and it has changed to invited! 

    Hopefully you all get good news today! 

    YES!!!! Congratulations!!!! - What stream did you apply too?

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    8 minutes ago, Laurabeth79 said:

    From what I know some schools do require post-BSW experience (UVic is one of them), however, I asked Angela at U of T about this specifically and she replied as follows: 

    
To address your question:  we do not specifically require work experience post-BSW;
as part of the application process you will be required to submit a detailed Resume.
 Your Resume should include all work and volunteer experience, both related and
unrelated to social work.  Please see the detailed Resume instructions posted on our
website at:  
https://socialwork.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/MSW-RESUME-INSTRUCTIONS-2018.pdf

    Hope that helps :)

    Okay! - I'm confident my work experience should more than suffice. It was the post-BSW that made me anxious because I'm graduating this June. Thanks for taking the time to bring that information onto the forum :)

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    46 minutes ago, IGee said:

    From my experience applying in the past for both BSW and MSW programs and from my friends who got in after we just graduated from our BSW (I.e we finished in June and they started in September), you don’t have to have post-social work experience as in working as a “social worker”, counsellor, etc. They want you to have experience in social service/human service related work and have skills that can be applicable to social work (I.e analytical skills, program facilitation, case management, active listening skills, assessment experience, advocacy, etc.). 

    So if you can validate your work or volunteer experience being related to that field and the skills you have acquired related to social work, you should have a good shot.

    Hope this helps!

    Super helpful. Thank you. This whole thing is a beautiful rollercoaster ride. 

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    44 minutes ago, N_D said:

    STRESSINGGG! This thread has definitely helped to feel less alone in this entire process/hope y'all are able to negotiate boundaries and self-care and whatnot as the waiting game continues!

    I applied to UofT and York Advanced Standing. 

    GPA: 4.33

    I worked as an HIV case manager at a community health agency for 4+ years and did a couple years of F/T youth work prior to that. That being said, I'm just graduating with my BSW this spring, so I'm a bit worried about not having post-BSW experience, which seems to be something that a lot of schools are looking into. 

    Sending you all well wishes over the next few weeks as we keep hearing back from schools! Good luck, and hope to see some of you in September (fingers crossed!!)

    Is that a thing? Having post BSW experience .. because if thats a thing, I really hope it isn't...Maybe, stressing over that is pointless at this point - (but I'm stressing). May the wait be over, sooner rather than later.

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    7 hours ago, Giantoreo said:

    Just curious, what does everyone have for their experience and gpa? 

    Applied to UofT Advanced Standing - MH&H Stream

    BSW: 4.09 
    SSW: 3.90

    Approximately .. 
    16k paid employment in mental health
    1k volunteer experience 
    3k in paid/volunteer international experience
    1k in local/international research experience 

    References - Ph.D Prof in SW, MSW placement supervisor, (Not sure what degree) employer 

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    11 minutes ago, viclane96 said:

    Hey everyone - has anyone who applied to UofT received an acceptance through acorn yet? 

    From the past couple years .. advanced standing students can look forward to hearing back starting this week 

    Canada MSW 2019

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, MSWWWW said:

    Hi all, lurker here! I got accepted to Carleton last night - 2 year program for those without a BSW... woo! 

    They emailed me to notify me and acceptance details are avail through Carleton Central. Best of luck to all!

    CELEBRATIONS TO YOU!!!!!!! Rejoice, Rejoice!

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