briefinterviews

My status also recently changed on the USC application. I wasn't checking it daily, but it was probably some time late last week if not today. The sheer amount of loans I would need just to attend Michigan has me extremely doubtful that USC will offer a better alternative, but stranger things have happened. Best of luck, everybody!

I was checking Wolverine Access every morning; an acceptance email followed the afternoon it was posted online. I also received my financial award the very next day.

Thanks! I know with BU, if you don't accept the money it goes back into the pot.. Relieved to hear it isn't the same at Michigan.

Can we ask for an extension on the financial award, too? Financing this beast is starting to hit me, and I'd really like to weigh more options before committing. They want a response by 3/16, and I presume that needs to go hand and hand with an admissions decision as well? Any word on when we might hear about Special Programs?

So, here's the deal. I got laid off in mid-December of this past year. The program I managed lost its funding due to government budget cuts and just couldn't recover. Thankfully, I landed a job at another social service agency in no time, and I've been working there for 2 months. While my last employer knew about my intentions to return to grad school (and was extremely supportive), my new employer is unawares. My question is: How do I time this? I have a good relationship with my supervisor, but I'm still uncertain about how she might handle my resignation if I break the news too soon or too late. The program is in a big transitional phase, and my position is a big part of pulling the program out of its funk. I plan to work until early-to-mid August (and then hopefully claim my vacation time as I prepare for the move :x), but want to give my agency enough of a head's up that we have time to prepare and find an appropriate replacement... and I don't burn any bridges. I don't think they would be in a hurry to find someone else if I broke the news "too soon," but never say never--we're a small team. I was thinking May/June, when hypothetically my decision on where I'll be matriculating will be final and absolute, but any thoughts on that?

Can't say I'm leaning towards one more than the other just yet, particularly since the admit rates for Berkeley are so grim; I haven't given it much thought since a decision is still being rendered. I would love to get out of California (especially L.A.) for a while, but I do plan on returning if I go out of state. This makes me wonder if I would be more marketable if I went to Berkeley, though I get the impression Michigan loves its Californians and there have been plenty to return to the golden state. Also: moving sucks. I also have a significant other who will be in L.A., but I swore at this age I would never make a career or education decision based on a relationship, and the beau is super supportive. Will LDR it either way, though it's my guess we'll probably be pining less from Berkeley It may simply come down to who offers more aid. Listen to me, talking like Berkeley is already an option! Redonkulous. Patience, grasshoppers--things will pan out as they ought

Just received my acceptance this morning via Wolverine Access! I completed my application 12/1, but had a recommendation letter that lagged a few days. I'm relieved, but don't think it's quite hit me yet (it's 7:30 am here in the left coast!), hahah. Michigan was definitely one of my top choices; the school that will make this decision difficult is Berkeley :x

Things have seemed curiously quiet with BU! Due to financial and timing issues (I didn't want to have to relinquish my financial aid offer from them before I'd had the chance to play the field a bit..), I didn't submit until late, around 2/5. I haven't bothered to call just yet. Anyone else hear a peep?

Thanks for the additional info, ATohCe! @mswhopeful2012, I believe the stats for MAP and Health were lumped together and declared identical. So, for MAP it was 15-17 spots for 100 applicants. I wouldn't sweat the GRE scores; they flat out told us at the session I attended that as long as we weren't applying for the PhD program, to just take the test and forget about it. Sweet. Best of luck to you as well! I've been working in direct services in one capacity or another for 6+ years, and my eye has always been on the bigger picture. To be somewhat vague, I'm very much interested in policy and being able to engage in advocacy and program evaluation. The massive disconnect between individuals/communities and social institutions (from mom-and-pop NPOs to The Man) is bothersome, and I'd like to help facilitate a more productive and even-handed relationship. I'm primarily interested in working for youth; I don't have my heart set on a specific youth population, but my work with children and families of prisoners definitely inspired my leap into the macro.

Greetings, from a fellow MAP applicant I attended one of their information sessions back around November, and they said that last year they received 674 applicants and enrolled 102, but that about 25% of enrolled students came from the wait-list, which is not ranked. If my mental math is right (which it probably isn't... hey, I was an English major!), that sounds like an acceptance rate hovering around 18-20%. Somebody, by all means, correct me if I'm wrong. They also said that during the review process, it is not you vs. 673 applicants, but only you vs. the number of applicants in your concentration. After some cajoling from the crowd, the admissions rep told us that the most competitive concentrations were: 1. Child and Family Services 2. Community Mental Health 3. Management and Planning 4. Gerontology I know there's also the Health Services concentration, but it wasn't mentioned at the session in this particular conversation.

Yes, congratulations! What a way to have welcomed the weekend All had seemed so quiet on the Michigan front... Here we go!

This is terrifying! Lurking around these forums feels like masochism. Good luck, everybody

I don't mean to turn this into a Penn thread, but I have an inkling that the 100 is an admit number and not an acceptance number; especially with the program pushing $90k

A Michigan acceptance already? Oh, my. Also: Congratulations! I submitted 12/1 and received e-mail confirmation on 1/11, but there was a problem with the online system for one of my recommenders so his letter was a day or so late. Hoping I'll still know by 3/1, but not holding my breath. Michigan is one of my top choices, so I will be joining in on the appendage-gnawing as we anxiously await results. Is anyone here attending the Financial Aid Webinar on Thursday? I work full time in California, so unfortunately I won't make it. They're supposed to have an admissions update at the start of it--would love it if someone could pass the information along to those of us who won't be able to listen in that day

I'm applying to Michigan, PENN, Boston University, WUSTL, UCLA, USC, and Berkeley.. I oscillate between ridiculous optimism and crippling despair at my prospects. All right, so I'm being a little hyperbolic, but the waiting is starting to gnaw at me. Good luck to everyone!

I'm also applying to UW from out of state, but was honestly underwhelmed by the admissions representative they sent to the Idealist Graduate School fair in my city this past fall. One prospective applicant was asking her what the distinctions between micro/macro/mezzo social work were, and she stumbled through the answer, mixing up micro/macro... For whatever reason, she just didn't seem that well-informed about the program despite having an MSW herself. That was a bit of a red flag to me, but I decided to chalk it up to a rogue rep. Find comfort in numbers! http://socialwork.uw.edu/admissions/class-profile While there was a 41% acceptance rate for in-state applicants in 2010; it was 27% for out-of-state, which isn't so terrible. But that's across all MSW programs. For the Day Program, they only admit 80-90, and the overall acceptance rate was 24%. You never know! Best of luck

I called this afternoon; application was complete, but they said I wouldn't hear back for about another week since one of my recommenders lagged? Curious, as I know it was submitted by 1/16 as well, but okay! My thumb-twiddling shall commence.

How long after submission did you hear? I submitted 1/16, and was anticipating a 4-6 week wait--just trying to ballpark it I believe your question is answered in another thread from a worried Penn applicant.

This school has popped up on my radar incredibly last-minute, so I'm in a similar boat. I'd need to dig up a fourth LOR, but I'm beginning to consider throwing my hat in the ring next month to see what happens. Never pictured myself in Chicago, but then again never say never.. I'm a little wary that it is an MA and not an MSW even though they state it's an equivalent degree. Can anyone remark upon the perceived difference? Also: 60%? Srsly? That seems bizarrely high; I take it they don't have a very high yield. How big is the incoming class?