briefinterviews

I left a job after about 7-8 months before heading to my MSW program, as I'd been laid off from my job of 2 years--just as I was finishing applications. You can leave a job after a short period without burning any bridges, especially to pursue your education. Due to the particulars of my agency at the time, I gave about a month's notice though two weeks is standard. Don't ever delay your personal or professional growth because you would feel guilty; that dynamic certainly would not ever occur the other way around. There's a fine line there between being professional and being sacrificial. If you're working with clients, I would have the conversation with your supervisor about 3-4 weeks prior to your exit to allow for an adequate closure and transition to take place. Your supervisor will more likely be supportive of your continued growth and success, and less likely resentful of your departure. For better or worse, nonprofits are used to turnover and any org worth its salt should be encouraging of its staff's development--even if that means leaving its nest.

I didn't watch the video, but as far as networking goes--remember, there can be really valuable opportunities in your field placement to engage in networking, especially for macro students. My first-year placement was at a large agency working on policy implementation of extended foster care legislation and the creation of transitional housing, and provided opportunities to work alongside county leadership. I just got through the second-year field placement process, where I think it is important to be especially strategic in what kind of experience you will obtain, what kind of connections you will make, and how supportive your field instructor/supervisor will be in your job search. Also take classes outside of your department, and look for opportunities on campus that focus on interdisciplinary work. I landed a research job doing a state-wide assessment on a topic perfectly in alignment with my population of interest because I was on a listserv for an interdisciplinary group based out of the public policy school. Needless to say, this job has afforded me incredible experience, and expanded my network in important ways. At my program, it's possible for macro students to bypass doing any clinical work as part of the MSW. I'm not sure how this works in programs that don't necessarily have a dedicated macro track. You can prepare yourself to do policy, research, and administrative work with the MSW, but you will need to use your 2 years in the program strategically to get the kind of training and practical experience to support you in that pursuit. Also: Don't worry about "missing out" on networking with classmates during the first semester. The transition back to school can be pretty jarring in a lot of ways. I know a lot of us were struggling, just trying to keep our head above water and figure our own stuff out that first semester.

In our macro cohort, we have a better gender balance than the direct practice concentrations. But we're also a smaller group to begin with than most of the others.

Gero is very, very small--less than 10 in the cohort, but I have no idea what application numbers look like for them.

I would have to go digging, but I recall that aid from Penn and USC seemed to make just dents in their astronomical tuitions, though I think Penn's offer was more generous than USC's. At least, their offer didn't solicit a chuckle.

Last year there were over 100 MAP applicants for about 15-16 seats, and this includes a handful of dual-degree students who spend most of their first year in their other program, and one MSW/PhD candidate in our cohort. We also had one student who unfortunately had to leave the program early on, but nobody new filled that seat.

Good luck! I remember when some of us found out last year, we got an email after 8:00 PM--totally unexpected. So, keep your eyes peeled!

Just an initial thought--you might want to check out Idealist.org if you haven't already, and also visit the websites of local nonprofit agencies in your area where they often post openings as opposed to trying to find a job in a public agency. You might also want to look specifically for case management or program coordinator type positions, which can often be entry-level and sound like they might be up your alley in terms of wanting to do direct practice. However, it probably won't be clinical (i.e. therapeutic) in nature, at least not officially. At least in working with homeless populations (I worked for a time as a CM for homeless youth), I noticed there's a lot of turnover for jobs like case management because of the stress and demands of the job, so you might find better luck there. But again, I don't know the job market in New Jersey or how predominant social service agencies are in your area, but it's something to look into. I also don't know what the deadlines are for it, but there's also AmeriCorps. That initial job search out of college, to put it frankly, usually blows. It took me about 6 months from graduation to land my first "real" job, though to be honest I didn't really start searching until I graduated because I was struggling with changing career trajectories at the tail-end of my schooling. Up until that job, I interned at a nonprofit and worked as an in-home tutor under NCLB, which was rough and unglamorous and I definitely wasn't treated well as an employee, but it was an income, it was a start, and it was some insight into a poorly administered social policy. You could also become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for foster youth, which is volunteer, but people love seeing that and I hear it's a powerful experience. If there aren't that many agencies in your area, "breaking in" will likely heavily involve going the volunteer/networking route. I also totally get the familial pressure to continue on to school, but remember you should do what's best for you and trust that things will work out just fine--they usually do

I don't know much about the New York programs, so perhaps someone else here is in a better position to address those particular schools. However, FWIW, I do have an opinion about going straight from undergrad to an MSW program without any significant experience with underserved populations. When I was applying to programs, across the board I noticed they all stressed 1-year of full-time volunteer/work experience in the field at the time of application. My program at Berkeley rarely concedes to this point; I can think of one or two that I know of, but none from my concentration (Management and Planning, i.e. macro). Not only does this experience demonstrate your commitment to the field and to underserved populations, but it provides you with a perspective that truly enhances what you learn in the program. By the time I entered my MSW program, I had 3 years of full-time work experience post-undergrad, and during undergrad I had 4 years of volunteer experience running programs for underserved youth. I value that time I took off so much, and I think I'm in a better position to maximize my experience here as a result. While I don't doubt that the students in my program who came straight from undergrad will make passionate, effective practitioners, I do notice that there is a discrepancy in their levels of maturity and understanding--and I don't mean this in a disparaging way at all. They just haven't yet acquired the same framework, and are at different stages in their development. That is also not to discredit their experience in the program, or to say they don't have a perspective and energy to contribute, but it's just a different path that comes with its own shortcomings. Honestly, there's no rush. Especially to inherit all that debt. I would take at least a year to work/volunteer at a nonprofit agency, and apply the following cycle. Working in nonprofit can be--and I would even argue, flat out just is--an eye-opening experience that is often disillusioning. It really forces you to evaluate and challenge your own values, preconceptions, and beliefs about what this work is really about, and where you see yourself in fighting for social change. You either walk away disenchanted, or you acquire a more sophisticated and nuanced idealism. Whatever you decide, and whatever your outcome, best of luck to you! It is always great to hear of someone eager to join the mix

I'm currently a first year MSW student at UC Berkeley on the macro track (Management and Planning), and am happy to answer any questions I would definitely encourage you to still apply, regardless of GRE scores. Very little weight is placed on them in admissions unless you are seeking the MSW/PhD route. There are students here from straight out of undergrad, but it is less frequent as the school strongly encourages at least 1 year of full-time work experience in the field. In fact, no one in my MAP cohort is straight out of undergrad; I seem to notice more of that happening with the Title IV-E students. FWIW, last year I also applied and was admitted to UCLA, USC, University of Washington, University of Michigan, PENN, and Boston University.

I was also admitted to UCLA, USC, Washington, Michigan, Boston University, and UPenn. After I was admitted to Cal, though, I soon realized I wasn't as compelled by the other programs and that the Berks was the place for me

I'm a noob to the MSW (haven't even started class yet!), but I understand where you're coming from. It took me a while to stumble upon the MSW as an option, as I previously had a narrow-minded view of what the degree entailed. Lo! I discovered macro, and then discovered that not every program had a macro track. It was important to me to be in (or near) a big city to continue working in an urban environment, at a school with a good reputation lest I ever want to pursue that elusive doctorate (never say never), amongst other factors. You'll hear it again and again--the MSW is a generalist degree, and prepares you for a variety of jobs, which is great. Us macro folk, we can move in many different circles and mingle with MPHs, JDs, MPPs, MPAs, MBAs, and a plethora of other credentials, but we need to be strategic and deliberate in how we market ourselves. You will be pressed to find any structured trainings and conferences and networking opportunities explicitly geared toward macro-practice as for clinical. When possible, I would heavily advise interfacing with programs you're interested in--information sessions (some juggernauts like Michigan send reps out across the country to take prospective applicants out to dinner! for free! and give application fee waivers! <3), Idealist.org Grad Fairs, talking to current students, etc. I actually really liked the way Michigan organized their concentrations, as most schools are just plain ol' "macro." It is one thing to read a bunch of information online and try to parse through a school's website, and another to hear it straight from the horse's mouth and also see how a program chooses to represent itself. As far as your concerns about macro students ending up in direct practice jobs... I can't say I've heard much to this phenomenon, but I don't doubt that it may happen for myriad reasons. The longer people tend to work in this sector, the more likely they start to move into management and administration. That's true of most career paths to some extent, and has to do with the level of knowledge and expertise you gain being down in the trenches; everyone climbs the ladder, some just climb it faster than others. But it doesn't mean that you have to spend 2 years working toward working in macro social work but then resign yourself to working in a clinical capacity. Be deliberate in your field work, which brings me to my next point... Programs structure their field work differently, though the consensus appears to be 2 days per week your first year, and 3 days per week your second year. Most first year field work placements are out of your control, and some programs I vetted almost seemed to throw students willy nilly into a random placement so as to expose them to a different population and different type of work than they're used to. I... didn't care for that approach. I've been working in direct practice for a while, and I have a very clear picture of where I want to be and the type of experience I want to gain from my MSW program to start moving into policy, etc, so I wanted at least *some* input, and feel like my program would want to be as purposeful in my placement as I wanted to be. That being said, I have had a great experience working with my Field Education Consultant at Berkeley. It really felt like us working together as a team for her to determine an appropriate placement, and I even interviewed with my site before finalizing anything to make sure it was a good fit for us both. Essentially, I told her: "No direct practice, no grassroots orgs, I want to be working with a larger agency on a larger scale. I'm interested in policy, in relationships amongst a variety of service providers and entities, and in pursuing my burgeoning interest in homelessness and transitional age youth." I'll now be working with one of the oldest and largest agencies in the East Bay as they launch their new transitional housing program for youth aging out of the foster care system under AB12. It is a massive project, and I will have opportunities to work in policy implementation, to collaborate with major players in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, to help design their strategic plan, and to wear a variety of other hats. For my second year, we have our eye on a placement that would be more akin to policy analysis/design, and I love that arc. My long-term goals aren't set in stone, but I have notions of eventually working for DHHS or HUD. Long story short, I'm 25, and I have worked as a Program Manager (designed, implemented, managed a county-wide mentoring children of prisoners program for 2 years at a grassroots agency) and a Case Manager (working with transitional age homeless youth, but due to my prior experience I ended up also working in development, building community partnerships, outreach, reporting, and ultimately creating more structure for a program that was really struggling through its own transitionary period). I don't know how much that had to do with my placement, but regardless, I see the fieldwork as the opportunity to personalize your learning experience and begin bridging any gaps in your work experience to help get you where you want to be professionally. I haven't gotten to know my cohort yet, but it is typical for a range of experience to be represented in MSW program--from students coming directly from undergrad to those who have spent years, if not decades, in the field. Most programs, however, do seem to stress 1-year of full-time work experience in order to demonstrate commitment to the field. I will say that I value my work and direct practice experience tremendously, and believe it will inform my studies better than if I had just leapt right in from undergrad, but everyone has their own backgrounds and perspective to bring to the table. So that I don't go on forever.. things you might want to consider in your search: location (this can often govern what type of fieldwork opportunities are available to you); structure of field placements; research opportunities; size of cohort; certificates or other specialities available; cost; opportunities to take classes outside of social work (e.g. at Berkeley's School of Public Policy, there is an interdisciplinary seminar on youth policy); extracurriculars.

This is just a guess, but this assignment sounds like it wants you to discuss the relationship between theory you're covering in your readings and practice that is unique to your field work experience. Basically, what you think should happen (theory) versus what might actually be happening; e.g. social work saves lives and eradicates social ills because XYZ! but my client still engages in destructive behaviors despite X approach, though he appears more responsive to Y technique--why? To be terribly simplistic about it, anyway. Hopefully that is useful. I would begin by revisiting your readings and seeing what correlates with your practice experience.

You might find this document somewhat useful (though of course, not representative of all admitted students this cycle): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aozu1_eDIatfdDJNeWlOX0duSU1JeGF3dkJCejVySHc#gid=0

While I concede to this advice in job applications, pretty much all the schools I applied to asked for all relevant experience since high school, or within the last several years.. Admissions reps said not to be afraid to push 2 pages. Still, I would hone in and focus on significant volunteer experiences; no reason to list everything under the sun.

You are going to be hard-pressed to find a program that operates exclusively under such a specific framework, but look at the faculty and see what their interests are and where their focus lies for potential mentors. I would look through course offerings within the School of Social Work as well as electives you can take to supplement. Location is also going to be a big factor--you're going to want to look in places that are addressing the needs and challenges of the LGBT community, and that will provide plenty of field work options. Ask to speak with current students in your prospective concentration. I was a macro applicant, and what governed my applications (outside, uh, having a decent macro focus in the first place) were program scope and reputation. I knew I wanted to work with youth, but I wasn't honed-in on a specific population or issue at the time, so I wanted to keep my options open and be in places that would have a nice variety of placements, particularly in working with larger nonprofits and governmental agencies. I spent a lot of time in grassroots nonprofit and direct services, and I wanted to be strategic in getting exposure to different settings and having the opportunity to engage in large-scale policy work and program evaluation. In choosing my eventual program, when it got to the nitty gritty of it, I was lucky and ended up someplace that had a strong reputation, a small cohort, and the most affordability. I also really love and appreciate the way Berkeley coordinates field placements, which is something you also want to dig around and ask about. I ended up getting the impression from some programs that their first-year placements weren't very deliberate and didn't involve much input from the student, particularly in regards to the specific population. Though I completely understand the reasons why they assign you to work with a different population, I would rather it be purposeful rather than haphazard. For example--right now, although I am interested in homelessness, one of my prospective first-year placements is implementing and evaluating a new program evaluation method, and training 20 reps from different branches of a large-scale nonprofit to use it. The agency doesn't focus on homelessness, and works with low-income families with children 0-5. Alternatively, one of my prospective second-year placements is doing statewide policy work in addressing the homelessness (amongst other challenges) of former foster youth aging out of the system. Sometimes it is less about the specific population and more about the practical tools you will acquire in your field placement, so definitely think about what type of macro work you are looking to do.

If working with the homeless population is something you want to continue, location should govern where you apply because of the field work opportunities available to you. New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are all great places to start looking. Talk to program reps, talk to current students, and see what kinds of field placements they offer. See if there's an Idealist Grad Fair in your area around Fall; a great alternative to when you can't visit or attend an info session in person. As far as UCLA goes... The GRE is nothing to break a sweat over; they tout it as a mere formality for the MSW. And just because I'd like to rep L.A. a little bit.. I think Los Angeles is an incredible place to be to work in addressing the needs and challenges of our homeless population. I currently work with transitional age youth in an ILP in Hollywood, and it has been fascinating to see the recent efforts to combat the issue, and see some of the political bravado this city is notorious for disarmed a bit in order to pave the way for change. There are many agencies doing incredible work, and it's a good place to see the tension between policy and practice.

Oh, I just had to reply to this--I managed a mentorship program for children of prisoners I echo the above sentiments that experience is huge, and your personal statement is key. I did not apply to the Cal States, but the UCs really emphasized that 1-year of full-time experience in social services. As a Peace Corps volunteer (which I know one candidate in my cohort at Cal is), you've got that covered. Every program's essay requirements are different and nuanced in their own ways--do not procrastinate. I spent about 4-5 months working on my statements. I would venture to say that the time of application is much more critical for the Cal States than the UCs, though UCLA does have a priority deadline in December to qualify for their few scholarships. That is what I gathered from the conversations taking place here last application cycle, anyhow. For what it's worth, both admissions reps at UCLA and UC Berkeley informed applicants during my cycle that unless you were a PhD applicant, the GREs were a mere formality and not worth stressing over. Best of luck!

I didn't submit a separate application for the campus scholarship--it was just part of my financial aid package from the school. I'm not sure if they are awarding any more funds; your best bet is to probably contact the school directly to see if you can negotiate more aid. As for my own matriculation decision--I've decided not to attend USC, so maybe those funds will go back into the pool?

I should have been more specific, more accommodating. I totally agree with what's been said; clearly, I was drunk on my own words. I agree that keeping it as terse is possible is wise, but I am no Hemingway and I gladly took my six pages for USC and Penn (I wasn't a jerk with my margins, though ). Just putting it out there in the universe for my fellow logophiles Lo siento!

Great idea! My $0.02: I echo trying to time your applications just so, as the short time to respond for most programs was a bit of a surprise to me as well. Also, be prepared to have to make an admissions decision WITHOUT full financial aid information. Logistically, I understand why some programs do this, but at the same time... It kind of blows. Be consistent in following up to ensure all your materials have arrived (call directly--don't trust the online application) and, if the program schedules interviews, to follow up within a reasonable amount of time after all your materials have been received. I ran into both of those issues; the former with Boston University, and the latter with PENN. If we lived in a perfect world, admissions offices would be tight, hyperorganized ships, but the fact is that admissions offices get clogged up, and you can help expedite the process by being more proactive. Spend a lot of time on your essay. A lot. Be prepared to do a lot of writing, and to adapt your core admissions essay every which way for each school's requirements. I spent at least 3-4 months on my admissions essay(s), and had multiple people read through it and give feedback. I felt like the admissions essay was a great opportunity for self-reflection and realization on the decision you're making to pursue the MSW; bank on that. Free write, then hone in. Be genuine and passionate, not maudlin. Show, don't tell. Socialworkphd gives excellent advice in the link above. Go nuts on a multiple-page resume. Some programs will lay out their requirements for the resume on their websites, giving you no choice but to push 2-3 pages; those that don't, still want to see all that relevant experience. If you find a typo after submitting, even after proofreading a million times, don't jump out the window just yet. At one point, I found one in my essay ('my' instead of 'by') and one in my resume (a category heading was completely missing a letter!), and things turned out just dandy on my end. But please, oh please, don't address a different university in your SOP than the one you send it to. Also: Don't be afraid to tinker with your margins, just be reasonable (except I was totally not reasonable with Michigan, who only allots an insane 3 pages; an admissions rep encouraged applicants to be stingy with our margins, and stingy I was). Might also I recommend a nice space-efficient font like Garamond? If you don't have an academic reference, don't stress unless you're just out of undergrad. I graduated in 2009, and my LORs came from the Program Director at my agency where I managed a community-based mentorship program; the Associate Dean of Students from my alma mater; and the advisor for the community service project I led during my undergrad. While I'm hovering around the academic subject: Do your research of course requirements well ahead of time so that if you need to pop into a community college for a statistics or biology-content course, you have sufficient time to do so. UCLA was the thorn in my side, as they required a 'B' or better for stats, and I had taken it P/NP in college. Through a series of unfortunate events, I was actually unable to enroll in a stats class locally.. but then ended up being admitted at UCLA anyway? Though I'm sure it would have been conditional had I pursued enrollment. Look for Idealist.org Graduate Fairs in your area, go to information sessions if you can... They're super useful, can help demystify the application process (this was especially true of Berkeley, who told you straight-up what they wanted out of their ridiculous prompts), and sometimes you can even walk away with an admissions fee waiver! Ask questions about average student aid awarded and student debt, so you know what you're (potentially) getting yourself into. I was dumb and failed to really do my homework on this front, and thus when the admissions decisions started rolling in, reality hit and I had to make some tough, but practical decisions. Also: don't agonize over this forum too much

Berkeley

Email.

Accepted to UCLA this morning, and received all direct and grad PLUS loans in a financial aid email shortly thereafter. Oof! Also, I finally got around to calling Penn to follow up on my application from wayyy back in January. They seemed in a bit of disarray, and scheduled my interview for next week. So, for future applicants: make sure you're constantly following up with admissions on your status, especially once you hit 6-8 weeks. I suspect if I hadn't called, my application would have disappeared into a black hole.

Word! And what was with that additional scholarship application they sent out? I am so over applications! Especially when a crushing amount of debt is still a crushing amount of debt. Berkeley, you come here to me now.