JBrwn

Did you end up doing it? What were your results? Not in Library Sciences, but I am in the same position, and I was thinking of doing the same. I read that you can ask for more funding at any point in the process even when you're already in school, though it's better to ask when you have leverage before you accept an offer.

45k for a degree from a private university means that you received more than a 50% scholarship. So, it's considered a good price for a master's degree. I've heard it doesn't make a difference for clinical social work, but I think it would make a difference for macro/mezzo level social work because you'll be competing with mph, mpa, mpp degrees, and the university reputation does matter in those cases. It's not just about future job prospects though. The public colleges/universities in my area (which are ranked well) have poor admin, more adjunct professors, and are just lower quality in terms of service and resources. For ex, no one will pick up when you call, you have to visit to talk about things like aid or if you have other questions. I've taken classes there, and it's just a huge headache. Some public school systems have great funding, and others don't. So, it really depends on the state.

So far, I'm thinking of going to a private university and taking about 45k in loans for tuition and considering taking an extra 40k in loans for living expenses. My public university would be around 20k less in student loans for tuition, but they don't have the same financial resources to provide institutional scholarships or assistantships which I believe I could get after my first year in school. So, I believe after that, the private university may be less. I also compiled a list of external scholarships that amount to over 150k in aid for MSW students (and still finding more aid). Once I can apply to the external scholarships, I'm hoping to be fully funded for tuition and maybe even living expenses.

I wanted to create a thread for anyone considering this university, and for social workers who have attended WUSTL, what are your thoughts on the university?

Yeah, definitely doesn't seem fair. Another strategy would be to join an info session and ask about extensions there usu. the presenter will let you email them after the session and may be more helpful (I got some fee waivers that way when they admissions offices wouldn't respond to my emails lol). Good luck!

I got into Washington University in St Louis recently! Anyone else? Has anyone heard anything about the university?

I would try again since these are special circumstances. Never hurts to give them a call, speak to a supervisor (if there is one), and tell them of the circumstances or even go in person, if you're in the area.

I heard it takes 8-9 weeks for them to process applications. So, anyone who applied in Feb 15, should hear in the next 2 weeks. Why don't you ask the other program for an extension?

That makes sense. Well, don't rule anything out then! Every student has a different experience at these schools. I'd think of which state I'd most want to live in and which MSW fits in the most w/ the type of experience/education you want to have. No school will be perfect; it's more about the experience that you want to cultivate for yourself. Columbia is in the heart of Harlem. So, if you decide to go, you'll definitely have a very different experience from how you grew up, and that would be an education in itself. It's also ranked in the top 5. So, it probably has a good curriculum/faculty in comparison to the other schools. Also, every institution of higher education will have anti-Blackness. So, if that's your reason for second guessing Columbia, then you wouldn't be able to go to any grad school.

I've also heard negative things about Columbia and that it's better to just choose the least expensive program (i.e. a state/city school if you get into one). Columbia's program looks amazing though for a macro specialization

Did you do a scholarship interview for WUSTL? If so, what questions were asked?

Did anyone already have it? Can you let us know what it's like and what questions are asked? Thank you!

If any of you are former fellows, how competitive is the Kline fellowship? Do they give the fellowship to only people who have a certain gpa or specific attributes?

Congrats on getting in! But, I hear you, that's disheartening since they def have the means to provide better scholarships. The tuition in general is too much for an SW degree. I wouldn't want to pay more than 20k per year if possible

Oops read that incorrectly. It's the opposite of what I thought. Interesting, okay, thanks for the update.

That's what I assumed. I had a similar experience in college (most expensive school was the cheapest after financial aid). Thanks!

How was Columbia's financial aid package? I've heard some negative things about Columbia's program but so far (for my track) it's one of my top choices. What are the resources to see what each school is like aside from the info sessions?