Paisley123

finally heard from Fordham this morning. I was accepted for January. So July 17 completed application to Oct 5 acceptance. Needless to say its a big school. It was a blessing - I'm at a smaller program where I have visibility with the Dean and the faculty. I have a great internship and all is going well.

HI @Coop2508 I finished my application in mid July. I think it was July 17 or 23. This was after much prodding from the application person I was assigned to. When I first reached out she tried to set a deadline for me to get all my documents in a week from our conversation. When I made it clear that I was applying for January she said applications had already been coming in and it would be good get them in by then. In follow up conversations with her she let slip that they are getting the Sept start students ready and that they aren't reviewing applications until after the semester starts. At that point it was already Sept 1 and I had had enough. I panicked and called Monmouth to see if they were accepting applications for Fall (they don't do January starts) and they said yes! I sent in application because they have a strong macro program. They took me right away and I'm in classes full time now. Its Sept 19 and still no word from Fordham.... I thought they'd have given some guidance by now especially given how the applicant guide pushed. I have a strong application and had my "guide" at Fordham been straight with me I might be in their Sept start program right now. Maybe it was the best. Monmouth is a small school and I already know the faculty in my concentration. The dean reviewed my application! With Covid its all online anyway and they have permanently moved the macro portion of the program to an online format to get more global participation. I think it was a blessing in disguise for me. I hope you hear what you want to hear soon!

Hi! @Alinic Would you mind telling me how long between your application and when you were accepted? I applied for the online January 2021 start and the wait is killing me.

hey @LML2021 thanks for the support. I hope so. when i've talked to others its seems this is normal. I submitted all my materials but they have to mark it as complete and that took 2 weeks. So when I talk to them they say its only been three weeks and that they typically take 6 to review. plus, I did it early for Jan 2021 admission. That put me a little at ease. Keep all this in mind when you apply!

Hey, The waiting is killing me. UGH! I reached out to Fordham yesterday and my admissions counselor said applications usually take at least 6 weeks to be reviewed and that I'm in line for review. I felt like she was putting me off. She did say my application went in early for a January admission so that I shouldn't be worried. Still.... I spoke to my friend who graduated from there 8 years ago and she thinks my overall application is very strong compared to what hers was like and what her classmates submissions looked like. Recently, I ended up talking to the Asst Dean of Social work at Monmouth and they are still accepting people for Fall 2020 in the Global and Community Practice concentration so I applied. Its the smaller of their two programs in a small school. They are about the same price as Fordham and do work with the U.N. as well and are really active in Central NJ which is where I plan to work. Admissions said they might accept me part time because of how late it is to get the right field placement. I figured at my age it may be better to start part time than put off the whole thing for a year. I hope I get in to one of these. just thought I'd give you an update.

thanks. I'm hoping to hear soon. If I don't make it I'll keep trying other schools but this is my first choice and the only one for a January start. I think I'm taking Rutgers off the list.

@mydogismyoverlordBy the way, I talked to another person I hadn't even known had gone to Columbia. He had the best time there 12 years ago and has a fantastic career now that he credits to his connections. He's still paying crazy loans and will be for quite a while, despite the good income he is making. He says it was worth it (he works in penalization reform) but the bills bug him. His wife went to a much cheaper school and he envies the fact that her choices in life aren't based on the money so much. did you decide on a school? did you hear back from all your choices?

hi. So I got a call and email Monday that the application has gone into review and that it will take up to 6 weeks to get an answer. I was kind of told my advisor at Fordham to hurry up because applications were coming in. I think she forgot I'm applying for a January start and was trying to get as many applicants in for Fall as possible. I'll be patient. Incidentally, Rutgers furloughed or let go of 900 employees this summer. They are mainly dining hall, dormitory and adjunct staff. The professors union is suing the school because they say the previous school president (they just got a new one in July) poured tens of millions of dollars into the sports programs despite no signs of returns on the investment. Good money after bad and that hurt the schools teaching staff. I wonder how this will effect the school.

Hey Texas_Msw_2020! did you decide? Where will you attend this fall?

I've applied to Fordham for January admission. Its the first application I've completed and I will hold off until next Fall if I don't make the cut. I do think schools are extending the application deadline because they have lower interest or deferments. I know that is what is happening at Rutgers.

So I completed my application to Fordham this morning. The essay was submitted. My second recommender submitted her letter. She showed it to me and I was floored. She's an excellent writer and really nailed what needed to be conveyed. All to do there now is wait......tick....tock. You sound like your fully aware of your needs and will make an informed, emotionally competent decision. Its so good to talk to someone who is a recent CUNY student to gauge my observations against. Rutgers is the state school here - big as SUNY (in terms of all that they do for majors and they do churn out the research). Tons of high profile alumni in and out of state. Fantastic school. New Brunswick is cute. My husband works at St. Peter's hospital in town; he went to Rutgers years ago and is always happy to return. No one can really go wrong there. My friend who graduated from Columbia about 12 years ago has an excellent career. He runs the Florida program of a nonprofit that leverages victim testimony and advocacy in favor of giving juvenile defenders a second chance. These kids are looking at life in prison, or worse, and he works with the victims' families to get them services to get them leniency. Amazing work. He made excellent connections with his professors that got him where he is now. It wasn't a straight line, he has had a couple jobs. But he was always this magnanimous person who was going to do great things. He runs a podcast and organized marches, etc and so on and what have you. His wife (one of my best and oldest friends) went to Hunter at the same time. She has no loans and he is still paying off his. His regret is that he didn't go to law school as he is constantly schooling lawyers on what is happening and yet they get more "respect" if that is the right word. He gets plenty of respect from judges, the press, etc because as soon as he says Columbia people listen. So to answer your question he is of two minds. For the money he spent he should have gone all the way or done a dual degree. Yes Columbia is worth the $ especially for forensic and policy work. You seem like you have a good portfolio and that you may get plenty of financial aid. And being advanced standing certainly helps. I have a neighbor ( a parent I know casually) who works for the Columbia Youth Justice Lab. She has an MPP. That is where I started but ended up coming back to MSW after talking to my two MSW married friends. For what I want to do - community organizing and government engagement- MSW will offer the management experience, client experience and connections via fieldwork I need. Have you looked into Master's in Public Policy? Not sure what your goals are but I'm just throwing it out there. Its less credits and since you will already have the BSW it may work for you. Let me know how your journey goes!

oh, to answer your last question I would go full time in January.

hi, For Fordham in state and out of state don't matter- its private. So you are all good there. I did a Rutgers info session. Here residency will count. And they have a complicated formula for tuition if you end up doing their blended program (online and in seat). Rutgers was my first choice before exploring Fordham. I had planned on a Fall 2021 start date and if I get rejected from Fordham for Spring 2021 I will apply to Rutgers for next Fall. I have already applied to take one of their non-matriculated courses which are all online by default this Fall. For me it would be cheaper to aim for Rutgers as the total cost for two years would be less than $40k. I'm just not that impressed with their student relations vibe. They have bigger classes at 25-30 and the director let it slip that they will probably max out on that with people afraid to attend (so they'll offer fewer sections to save $). Don't get me wrong - they are a great school and as good as gold here in NJ. I just want the special attention a private institution offers. I have spoken to a graduate of the macro program who now works in the admissions office. He was pushing for me to stay local as my long term goal is to work in NJ government and field placement may be arranged with the legislature in the advanced year. At my age I kind of don't want to wait any longer so the idea of starting in spring is enticing but objectively Rutgers may be my best move.

I thought you would appreciate this.

also, there are no info sessions for online scheduled now.