IvySWCu

@Nai23 I applied 11/7 and was told I’d hear back Mid - Dec. I also heard from a different admissions contact, they are releasing decisions mid Feb for the applicants that applied Dec 1. So they may have already made my decision or will, but aren’t notifying anyone until Feb. I’ve read on past forums they do this so that students don’t advertise it on social media beforehand etc. I imagine they then get a tons of questions from other prospective students and creates more anxiety.

Also - I received my acceptance letter from UMD today but I did not see any mentions of awards. Is this something that typically happens in your offer letter or after you accept admission? Thanks!

@simonsays Awesome! All great programs - good luck with your applications! Is your background in SW as well?

@mswanxiety I completely sympathize with your anxiety! From the mentions of your volunteer experience, academic record and LOR's etc, you should be set. I come from a completely different professional background and virtually no direct SW experience and have already been accepted into 3 programs. ( which truly feels like so unreal )... I think any app submitted by the Dec 1 deadline is still solid. There are only a few schools that review first come first serve. Most only send out decisions in one, two and three waves etc. I applied for UT - austin a month ago and they will not review and release decisions until Mid Jan. Most schools review in batches, so as long as you get in the Dec 1 deadline, you should be good. I wanted to give myself lots of time because I wanted to know sooner, to financially plan etc. Haha, I applied for Columbia, but it's not just the cost of living, it's the cost of tuition that makes me regret even applying. I imagine NY would be a very fun place to live at least once in a lifetime though! UC is my dream school for a MSW program, I just applied.. I am freaking out. Mostly because of how competitive it is and I am unsure of how every program views career changers. Good Luck with you applications, let me know if you need any advice in the process. I applied to 10 schools and felt that was the most energy I have ever used in a 1-2 month period. I am exhausted haha.

@LisaOh Good luck with the MSW/PHD programs, those are all great schools on your list! For Illinois - Chicago, get your App in asap if you're actually interested in their MSW program. The spots fill up sooooo fast. The dean told me spots fill up within 2 months of the application opening. They review first come first serve for their applications. Do you like Maryland? I just heard back from UMD and was accepted into their MSW program! And super excited about it, but have no idea what Baltimore is like. I currently live in Chicago - so I am stay here since I was also accepted into UIC.

@DRMF I searched some of the past forums, it also seemed some thought gift giving could be inappropiate? I love the idea of a hand written card and the bookmark from your culture! I think I will for sure copy this idea. You made this pretty easy, thanks!

@HannahRae Do you mind if PM you? You seem to have alot of insight and I have been scavanging these forums for information, but things are very disbursed. You make such great points and I agree with making the most of your experience. How is your GF like UIC?? It currently is a strong contender in my gradaute decision. Overall - the financials will most likely drive my decision. How ar you enjoying your program? Did you already come from a SW background? I've also applied to UMD a month ago and they have not even started reviewing fall applications! The waiting is the hardest part. How long before your heard back from UMD?

I believe a MSW will be your best bet, especailly because of how versatile the degree is, if you ever change your mind on career paths. I think you can narrow your down search by first pick what area you would like to explore/specialize and practice in. Certain programs will be more attractive and tailored to your needs based on that. Are you looking to become a therapist for a certain population? What kind of therapy do you want to do?

I applied to UC (98k) - 3rd in the country for SW, and UIC (31k for the program) - 25th in the country for SW. I definitely think COST is a huge factor to be considered before accepting admission into graduate school, however should not stop you from at least applying. I applied to 9 schools and spent about $690 in application fees, but for me it was a small fee to pay in order to weigh out my options. Especially because Grad School is a one time decision for me. I think that everything you are looking for in grad school should be considered when making a decision and that finances alone should not be the only driver, but a prime one. I think it's important to apply to state schools and "safe schools" to weigh out options and cost. There are a lot of state schools that have amazing programs and agencies they work with, for instance UIC is partnered with over 400 agencies in the Chicago area and has one of the best connections with the Chicago hospitals, for those interested in medical sw. Rutgers University is a state school and is ranked number 17 in the country and has many certification programs in addition to the program to allow specialization in an area you may be super interested in (for me global social work). I think personal factors need to be taken into consideration - how much debt can you afford to take on for grad school, how much of your savings can you use, how much in scholarships could you potentially receive? A MSW will not provide an a great internal rate of return on your investment (financially), so you have to consider how you will pay that debt off. Also - I’ve researched this for months because I applied to UC and UIC , and from what I gathered in the Chicago area, graduates from both areas have been able to secure comparable jobs & salaries. An MSW is not equivalent to a MBA. Agencies are look more toward your experience than education, there is a reason MSW programs are a lot easier to get into than other Graduate programs. It is about the professional experience you bring with you. Anywho, just my humble opinion. Good Luck, hope it works out!

Hey Guys, I am looking to thank my professors and supervisors who have written my great LOR's, what is an appropiate way to thank them or show them gratitude, aside from an email? Thanks!

Any others applying for the Fall 2020 MSW cycle?

Hey All, I applied to Columbia and was curious if anyone can share the stats?

Here is a great post - check this out.

@mountaingirl135 Hello, you can totally bounce ideas off me! For a personal statement, try to focus on making the statement a little bit subjective to highlight why you are interested in this field, what your goals are, why ignites you to pursue grad school. Share a moving experience, but keep details brief and then finish the statement off in a more formal manner by highlighting the grad school's pros. You want the statement to reflect who you are as a person, but at the same time you want to move the premise back on how your goals, or graduate school can contribute to the gap you're looking to fill in.

@SMLDC I found this post and think it will answer some of your questions!!

Do you have any advice for scholarship search on ther MSW programs outside of UMich?

HI! I applied to the regular track - do you know if the questions were the same? I did find the personal statement part to be very long since they required 3 different essays. I just submitted my application a few days ago!

Sounds super competitive to me. Because you applied early, you will most likely hear by Early Jan. I applied to different programs early Oct, and have heard back from 2 schools. I also think the references and personal statement are HUGE drivers..

I applied to both as well and would love to hear others input on this! I think for the most part they both are solid programs - from what I have read on reddit. BC is more inlcusive and everyone truly gets to know one another because of how small the school is and is in the suburbs. BU - I hear you are "another number", but still a great school. I believe BU is more diverse because of the larger population. I personally am leaning towards Boston College and applied for the same concentration, since they have a certification available for social work with immigrants and refugees.

I think it should be fine as long as they can strongly comment on your professional and/or academic aptitude. I will say just meeting with your recommenders and conveying why the program is right for you will ignite your passion and allow them to help you better. For example, I asked a previous boss (im in finance), he was initially shocked. However, when he had a chance to read my personal statement and why I wanted to make the career change, he wrote the most amazing letter for me.

UMich is solid. I actually just moved from MI to IL last year. I have a couple friends who graduated from there, I’ll see if I can get more Info on the MSW program if you have specific questions. Yeah I do have a couple questions, maybe you can help. Im worried about being a career changer with almsot no SW experience, although I’ve been accepted into two programs, do you think there’s a slim shot for some of the top 10 programs?

Right? I tried to find one for weeks and didn't see anything recent. And philly sounds exciting! My husband and I were considering that area as well. Where are you moving from? We are looking to move from the midwest to East Coast, but we shall see! What kind of recommendations are you looking for on your personal statements? Like topics? I am not sure what the requirements for Clinical Pysch PhD programs are but I imagine the writing has to be more evidence based? Where I have found all my MSW statements to be more subjective but still formal. I actually have not considered MFT programs and very unfamiliar with it. I personally like that with a MSW, you can shift your job to a wide scope of direct practice. This is still a newer area, so I constantly am learning all the things you could do with a MSW and it's so exciting! What schools are you considering in Philly? Are you familiar with Rutgers University? I am really hoping to get an acceptance there and it's one of my top picks for the East Coast, if I were to move to the East Coast.

Thanks! This was actually my first time applying for Graduate programs, I have been researching and preparing since June! I feel that because I am a career changer, I had to do alot more research to make sure this was right for me! I also wanted to get applications out of the way so I can go back to focusing on my job and saving up for tuition from now. I just submitted an application to Columbia as well today. ( I also wanted to find out sooner than later if I could get into a program. ) What schools are you applying to LisaOh?

Hello All! I am currently in the application process for MSW programs for Fall 2020. I applied to 7 schools and have heard back from 2 so far! I created this post to discuss the application process, decision, stats and any insight anyone can share. How is everyone else's applications going? Schools I'm applying to: George Mason University - Applied 10/01/2019 - Accepted University of Maryland - Applied 10/04/19 Rutgers University - Applied 11/3/19 Boston College - Applied 10/29/2019 Boston University University of Illinois - Chicago - Applied 10/01/19 - Accepted University of Chicago University of Texas - Austin - Applied 10/23/2019

Hi There! I also applied to MSW programs for Fall 2020. I applied to 6 schools and have 2 more I am consindering finishing my applications for. Although, I feel mentally drained from rewriting my personal statement so many times. I heared UC gives atleast $5k a year toalot of students, and some range to $20k a year. I also read somewhere they almost never give complete full rides. UMich has an amazing program, the living costs in Ann Arbor are very expensive though. I also heard they offer a decent amount of merit scholarships, but again I haven't found anywhere where they would pay the entire program. Also I've read BU has covered up to 50% tuition for some students on past forums. That was also the Max I seen. Not sure if any of this has been helpful, but I am also still trying to figure out alot of factors for Grad school.