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I wrote a couple posts on this, here's the link to them in case it's helpful! Also, I have the impression that some Advanced Standing MSWs are easier to get into than the 2 year programs, especially if you keep your marks high in your BSW. https://forum.thegradcafe.com/topic/124545-canadian-msw-applicants-2021/?do=findComment&comment=1058841062 https://forum.thegradcafe.com/topic/124545-canadian-msw-applicants-2021/?do=findComment&comment=1058843014

It's April 21 and still no change in my admission status on UBC's advanced standing program! I am getting so impatient... I just want to know!

Thanks so much for posting this... I am of course not happy to hear that you have experienced frustrating issues from UVic as well, but it is validating to hear that I'm not the only one.

Uuugh this is so brutal! I wish they would just tell us. I didn't apply to UBCO but did apply to UBC Vancouver and my impression is they have a similar system, where they don't really tell applicants what's going on if you didn't get in on the first round. I know the first round of offers for UBC Vancouver went out ages ago, and the suspense of waiting for them to update my application status is killing me!

This list may be helpful to figure that out: https://caswe-acfts.ca/commission-on-accreditation/list-of-accredited-programs/ Maybe Ucalgary?

Question... has anyone received a rejection from UBC Vancouver? I know some folks have received offers already and I'm curious if any rejections have gone out yet.

Congrats on your acceptance!!! I'm just wrapping up my BSW at UVic right now so I can speak to that, I believe the foundational MSW year is basically a condensed equivalent of the BSW program. Overall the program's focus is on anti-oppressive practice with a strong Indigenous focus. It is not very clinical at all. Here are some pros and cons I can think of: Pros: -As someone who is on the more radical/ left leaning side of the political spectrum, I LOVED the course content and focus on anti-oppressive practice! I genuinely learned so much as a result of participating in this program. Cons: -The practicum department can be super disorganized. You are not allowed to secure your own practicum, but some of the practicum coordinators do a VERY poor job of finding students placements. Sometimes (even pre-covid) students would book time off work to do their practicum and the coordinators would fail to find them ANY placement... let alone a placement they liked. -Many students with disabilities find that the school is not understanding or accommodating. I have heard of numerous students with disabilities (myself included) being told by faculty members that if you have a disability, you are not fit to practice social work. (The fact that the profs telling us this are also the ones preaching about anti-oppressive practice is especially troubling to me). -The asynchronous online format means you almost never get to interact with your profs or classmates other than in discussion posts and when receiving written feedback. For me it was quite lonely... although I guess you will be in person for half of the MSW so that may not be as much of an issue for you. -The course content became repetitive by the end of the program. If I were to boil it down to a number rating, I would say my experience with the UVic SSW was a 6/10. I expect if it were in person it would have been more like a 7 or 7.5, and higher if I had not been treated poorly due to my disability.

Not sure if this is any comfort but I received an offer for Waterloo's advanced standing MSW a few weeks ago and I am currently in my last semester of my BSW. I would guess that it's fine to still be in your undergrad now, unless it's explicitly stated otherwise on their admissions page.

Thanks so much for the info! Wishing you the best in whatever path you choose as well

May I ask how long they gave you to accept/ decline your UBC offer? I still haven't heard back and the admissions coordinator told me that "first round" decisions went out in the past two weeks... Which makes me think that the second round may go out after the accept/ decline deadline has passed for those in the first round. And I am super eager to get an idea of when that might be! TIA

Yes, that's great that you're open to both routes! One more thing I thought of on this... one thing I appreciate about having taken the BSW then advanced MSW route myself is that I will have the opportunity to learn at two different schools, and therefore under two different styles of social work pedagogy. For example, I was at UVic for my BSW which is very anti-oppressive/ critical social work focused, and I will probably be going to an MSW program which is more clinically focused and kind of at the other end of the spectrum. I don't think it would have been possible to get that kind of variety in what I'm learning in a 2 year MSW program. Best of luck with whatever route you take!

Anyone else heard back from UBC Vancouver yet for the advanced standing MSW program??? The suspense is killing me, especially after someone posted over a week ago on here saying they were admitted!

Hey, I thought I'd share some quick thoughts on this. I am just completing my BSW degree now and will be entering an advanced standing MSW program this year, so that's the perspective I'm coming from. The nice thing about going to a 2 year MSW program is that you only have to apply once, rather than applying again after completing a BSW. You'll probably want to keep your marks high in your BSW program in order maintain a competitive edge to get into an MSW program after, whereas once you were in a 2 year MSW program you would not have to worry about marks as much (unless of course you plan to do more schooling after). Also, if you don't get into an MSW program right off the bat after completing a BSW (which is not unlikely, especially as many MSW program admissions have a strong focus on post-BSW experience) would you be okay with that? For some people, the break in between might be a good opportunity to take time away from being in school, whereas for others it might feel like just killing time. A break in between a BSW and MSW or doing a part time MSW after a BSW would also allow you to get some work experience in the field prior to finishing an MSW program, and the BSW may open some doors for getting work in the field as well. Also, if you went to a 2 year MSW program with a clinical focus, it may be the case that you'd get to start focusing on getting clinically oriented coursework and practicums completed earlier in your social work education. For example, many clinical practicum placements are only open to MSW students rather than BSW students, and also I do not know of any BSW programs that have a clinical focus, most of them have a more general focus. Best of luck on the path you choose! There are no wrong choices.

I just made an MSW students page for those of us who will be attending Waterloo this upcoming year! It would be great to connect with some other members of the cohort Here is the page in case you or anyone else is interested: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1443715959304084 It's open to members of both the part time and full time programs.

You could also contact admissions and ask if you could get an extension on that deadline... I have heard of some people being granted extensions by some schools.