MSW hopeful

I suggest emailing Katherine Gemmell, the graduate assistant... I hear you, I graduated 3 years ago, and felt like that was a while for anyone to remember me aside from 1 prof. I kept in contact with. I was surprised how willing the professors were to write the letters, they needed a resume and one of them wrote the nicest letter about me (she gave me a copy) and you would think we were good friends by how she wrote the letter! Just try contacting them. I am not trying to freak you out, believe me, I was pissed when I had to scramble at the last minute the 2nd year and try and find another willing professor.

It may say that on the site, but I got this info from the information session, the graduate advisor, the admissions assistant- they all said all academic references are STRONGLY preferred. I used two academics and one professional the first year, all academic references the 2nd time and got in. Oh and also -get the form filled out AND a personal letter too. Anyone can take 3 minutes to check boxes n the form...having a letter written as well will help.

Hey Tracy, I got into the MSW 3-year Direct Practice, Children, Youth & Families specialization program at SDSU with the following stats: 3.2 overall GPA, 3.4 last 60 units, 5 on the AW. part of the GRE, related undergrad degree from another CSU, significant/relevant volunteer experience (about 3 years - 2 years as a volunteer victim advocate/crisis counselor at a rape crisis center/battered woman's shelter). SDSU requires a minimum of 500 verifiable volunteer hours. Nothing over the top impressive by any means. I had a really well written personal statement., and I had 2 former professors review it and make suggestions. ALL of your letters of rec need to come from former professors; the school wants to know how you are as a student. Try to get actual letters in addition to the reference form the school has on the site. Also, I suggest mentioning the NASW code of ethics in your personal statement. Good luck, I hope you get in!

I just finished my first semester of the MSW program at SDSU. SDSU only looks at the analytical writing score, it says so on the website. You list the score on the departmental app and then the SW dept. verifies the score with admissions. The other scores will not be considered, I literally did not try on the other sections and guessed on most. I promise you will be fine!

I just finished my first semester of the MSW program at SDSU. I thought that I was a shoe in too, but I was wait-listed at EVERY program I applied to two years ago. I was never given a reason either., other than, "hundreds of students apply and we only accept x amount." However, I reapplied a year later and got into every school....so, perhaps another year of volunteer experience helped? SDSU reviews applications as they come in (rolling admissions), and I applied at the end of the admissions cycle the first year when I never made it off a wait list. I applied much earlier this last application period and found out I got into SDSU in early April. I found out that for part of the admissions process, faculty members are assigned to review applications. I think 600 people applied last year and they took about 90 students, so I got lucky. Everyone wants to live in San Diego, so they get tons of applicants. I should also mention I have lived in San Diego my whole life. Good luck!

I will be attending the Master of Social Work 3-year direct practice program at San Diego State University

Let me know what you hear about SDSU......I was accepted two weeks ago and I have yet to find anyone on here that is accepted and attending SDSU. I did, however, meet someone in person who is....a girl I am training at work, and my current job has nothing to do with social work. SO random, we both whispered today while I was "training" her and talked about about our plans to quit in the Fall. Good luck to you!!

In my opinion, and from what I have gathered from speaking to professors/PhD's who work in the field, state school MSW programs are well respected and the way to go! One of my professors from CSUSM says CSULB has the best MSW program in his opinion. I was accepted into the San Diego State MSW program for Fall 2011 and I am ECSTATIC! I was also accepted into a counseling program at USD but it is nothing compared to SDSU....it was just my back up. I am loving the price tag at SDSU. I also live in San Diego, and it just couldn't be a better fit for me.

Just curious, but why wouldn't you take the GRE? If it's listed as a requirement, then you must have it to get in. Your application will not even be reviewed if you don't meet all requirements....you will see a little red X in the portal until your GRE scores are received. Why would they choose a candidate who does not even meet the bare minimum to begin with? What's interesting is that last year CSU Fullerton did not require it. San Diego State University also requires the GRE. I got into SDSU's MSW program this year. SDSU only looked at the analytical writing portion, so I made sure I did well (I scored a 5) and believe me, the other parts did not matter because I bombed half of it.

Judging from your signature, we both got into SDSU!!

I am in complete shock......I actually got into the MSW program this year! I am so happy I actually cried.... Last years waitlist and then rejection was horrible. This really is my dream come true!

I received by BA from CSUSM What program did you get into? I was rejected from CSUF, CSULB, and SDSU last year. It was pretty damn epic... Well, I was waitlisted for SDSU's Master of Social Work program and then never let in. This year I have been accepted to the University of San Diego, but I am really hoping I hear from SDSU. I didn't even bother to reapply yo CSUF or CSULB after they immediately rejected me last year.

This made my night......this really had my dying, laughing over here. Thanks for that!

Have you heard anything else yet? Congrats on the NYU acceptance! I e-mailed someone from SDSU and was told I should get an update on Thursday, 3/17...

Has anyone heard anything from SDSU's MSW program? I was rejected last year, so I am trying again this year with another years experience of volunteer work. I was on the wait list until the very start of the semester last year. I applied to the 3 year direct practice program. I haven't heard anything and it has been over a month.

Hi there, I don't have any helpful information, but I just wanted to say I am also waiting to find out if I got into an MSW program, but at San Diego State University. It is also driving me crazy and I feel your pain. I never even received any kind of letter or notification of where I am ranked (apparently there isn't a ranking at SDSU), I have just been told through informal e-mail that I am on the waitlist. I have so much anxiety from all of this, and EVERY day I have so many people asking if I got in. I shouldn't have even told anyone I was applying to any graduate schools....blah. Good luck to you my fellow MSW applicant.

For those of you who have been accepted off wait lists- did you do anything while waiting, like contact admissions or program coordinators to increase your chances of getting in? And, for those of you still on wait lists- what have you been doing other than just waiting, if anything? I sent a letter of continued interest to the admissions coordinator for the MSW program a couple weeks ago and I haven't heard anything back. I checked with a graduate advisor and all she would tell me was that i was still on the list, and others had been cut from the list. Sigh...I'm starting to experience pain in my neck and back from all of the anxiety and stress.

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My top choice university is really jerking me around. I applied to the San Diego State University Master of Social Work program for Fall 2010. I more than exceed the minimum requirements needed- 3.4 undergrad GPA, a “5” on the analytical writing section of the GRE, and a good amount of social services experience/volunteer hours. I would love more than anything to get my MSW and become a school social worker. I was wait listed a week ago, and beyond devastated about this, but still had some hope. Two days ago, the status in the portal changed to admissions denied. I called the graduate advisor and she said if the portal says that then yes, I was denied. She said that I could apply again next year and try to get more experience. She said she will request that the director review my file and let me know if it's just more experience I should concentrate on. THEN....Yesterday, I spoke to the MSW program admissions coordinator and she assured me that I am still on the wait list and have not been cut. She pulled my file up while we were on the phone and told me not to give up yet. She said that the university updated the status in the student portal to say admissions denied for the time being for anyone who had not been accepted to a program by May 1st. She said I will remain on the wait list and could still be selected up until the program starts. If I am accepted to the program, the portal would then be changed. I cannot believe this...I am happy to hear this but very confused. I'm annoyed that the graduate advisor would misinform me like that and just crush my dreams without knowing what was really going on. I had spent most of the day crying and feeling depressed. Cross your fingers for me guys..