Sassafrass2

I was deciding to bite the bullet and create an unofficial page... and then I came across a brand new facebook group for the incoming cohort (literally created in the past few hours!). It's titled "VCU MSW class of 2013" - and you shouldn't have any problems finding it under the facebook search. See you there!

I've finally made my decision... <DRUMROLL>... and it's going to be VCU for me as well! I kept going back and forth between VCU and another program, but ultimately VCU won out for several reasons. First, the price was paramount in my decision. You can't beat attending a high ranked program that happens to be priced very reasonably. Although I'm not absolutely stoked about living in Richmond, the cost of living is MUCH cheaper than what I'm used to in the DC area. Also, my whole family live all throughout Virginia, so they are extremely happy I'm staying close. I've worked with a few of the professors in the past, and have always been impressed with their caliber and expertise. Also, the range of field placements and the oppertunity to possibly study abroad isn't too shabby either! The only drawback seems to be the lack of jobs for my significant other... but even if he makes way less, we can still swing it. There are tons of forclosures/short sales in the Richmond area - so it also looks like I'll be buying my first house while I'm there and we can come out actually saving money versus renting. Double-excitement!! Many of the other program I was accepted to have "Incoming MSW Students" groups on Facebook or hosted on the department's page. I know that there isn't one currently for VCU's group... so I wanted to see if anyone is intersted? Maybe I can sweettalk someone into starting one for us happy Rams! Haha. Congrats everyone on starting this exciting new adventure in your lives!

My sentiments exactly! I was really only gunning for DU's program b/c of the Animal-assisted therapy portion - which is pretty unique to Denver; however, I too am pretty sure I'll be accepting somewhere else (most likely VCU) just because of the cost issue. Denver offers a very similar certificate program in the Animal-assisted therapy online for less than $3,000. I'm thinking about going to a higher ranked but much cheaper program - and then doing their certificate program online afterwards. It doesn't appear to be TOO much differen than what they offer their students in the MSW program - except they obviosly aren't going to require a practicum site in animal therapy (or monitor any practicum actually). But $3,000 for similar instruction and getting the same contact with professors, sure beats coming out from their program broke. Well... if we both decide to decline their offer... it just means that maybe they'll offer up our merit scholarships to someone who's dieing to go there. And so it goes...

I've been living in the DC area for several years now... so honestly, the move to a smaller city (i.e. MUCH MUCH lower cost of living and less traffic) would be a godsend right now. And you're right, there is still plenty to do in the area! For me... its that bottom dollar. And you can't argue a very reasonable price from a highly ranked program! I applied right before the deadline - so the last week of January. I got my acceptance on April 1st.... I just hope it wasn't a cruel April Foos joke! Haha. Just stay optimistic odugrad2011. I'm lucky that one of my colleagues (and LOR writer) knows one of the professors there and I've pretty much bugged them crazy with questions. When I called early last week (March 29th) I was told that they were JUST getting around to sending out acceptances since the review of applications had just wrapped up, and that the process to hear an acceptance could take up to 3 more weeks (so with that estimate you could potentially still be hearing acceptances for another 2 weeks or more). When I questioned about seeing other people posting their acceptances on online forums and such, I was told that for the most part, it was only the advanced standing applicants that were notified earlier. Of course, don't take what I'm telling you as gosple truth - I've already found out that you can call the same program 3 times and typically get a different answer each time (but that has been my experience with other programs and not VCU.... so far). Good luck!

Between all the forums and sites (that I seem to obsessively check now)... I see VERY little to no information on the University of Denver's MSW program. This program was definitely my top pick - based on faculty expertise and my professional goals; however, the ginormous price tag is daunting to say the least! I've been accepted to higher ranked programs, but I just don't feel the same amount of excitement I do with Denver's (although they all work out to be about 1/2 the price). Can anyone provide any insight, advice, or recommendations for DU's program? I need to decide in the coming 2 weeks if the hefty amount of dept (even with being given one of the larger merit scholarships) is really .... REALLY worth it?! TIA.

I was accepted, but haven't decided if I'm going to attend yet. For me personally, it come down between Denver and VCU. Denver has more of the program I want and a MUCH more desirable city (as I'm born and raised in VA and RIchmond has a bad rep for many years - but is defintiely improving!) Overall, I'd much rather attend Denver's program; however, you are completely right when you said its public and therefore cheaper. Even with a very large merit scholarship (around 30K from Denver), VCU will be almost half the price, and thats assuming I don't get a cent from VCU in the form of scholarships or anything (of course I'm really gunning for some money!! haha). Perhaps you'd know... but most of the scholarships from VCU appear to be faculty nominated to already enrolled students. Do you think they give these out to first years AFTER enrolling? I guess I was just a little taken back by the vague acceptance email from VCU with not a single mention of finances; whereas, at every other school I applied, my acceptance letter included some sort of language on scholarships or other financial incentives.

I just received my acceptance from VCU's program via email this morning. The information (at least in comparison to other schools) was vague and not really all that exciting! Haha. This is a higher ranked program then my #1 pick - however, its about 1/2 the cost! I guess because I was given some financial incentives at my other applied schools either in my acceptance letter or very shortly after that I was even further underwhlemed. I actually wrote back to VCU's program to ask if any money was going to be given out (i.e. scholarships, stipends, etc) and was basically told, "Nope. You can qualify for scholarships once you are a fully enrolled student." I take this as "You have to choose us, pay to come here, and then MAYBE, just maybe, we'll give you some financial assistance." Sigh. Decisions, decisions...

Sorry. Wrong button. But since I misposted... Anyone have any information or thoughts on VCU's MSW program?!?!

I recently was accepted into my top-choice program with a merit scholarship of 28K (14K a year). My issue is that this program really isn't really highly ranked, is a private institution with a 36K a year tuition price tag, and is only offering me about 20K a year in loans. I really love one concentration that is unique to the school - but really it is only a certificate program (so there is a possibility I could get my MSW elsewhere and get a certificate from this school in the specific concentration that I was looking for - of course this is just longer in school and more money out overall). Basically, best case scenario is I'll be paying a few thousand out of pocket each year (not including all the fees, books, and living expenses), tacking on 40K in education loans to the 50K I already have from a previous degree, and STILL having to cough up all my living expenses (luckily my partner makes decent money as an engineer and will be coming with me). My question is... in your opinion, is it really worth it!?! I know that I want to be a LCSW... but I'm also realistic in knowing that I will not being making a ton of cash when I graduate. Also, I'm lucky to have a partner that is willing to help cover living costs; however, we’re not married and I want to do this as much on my own as possible. Is it worth it to sacrifice my school of choice to stay at a cheaper, higher ranked and more prestigious, in-state program – but doesn’t have any professors in that small niche concentration I’m looking for? As I’m coming down to the wire in decisions… any advice or information is greatly appreciated!

Just found this site after searching for ANYTHING for MSWs - forums or otherwise. The only other site I've used is StudentDoctor.net... which is very active for PhDs and clinical psych (experience from applying last year) but the MSW section definitely is less exciting. Anyways, I only applied to two schools U. of Denver (DU) Clinical MSW (Families) & Virginia Commonwealth's Clinical MSW (VCU). I actually applied to both programs scarily close to the deadlines of February 1st... you know, just to keep it interesting and all! ;o) So far I've been accepted into DU's program (via snail mail on 3/4/11 - even though I had received a telling email on 3/1/11 asking me to sign up for their admitted students group). DU also gave me a nice faculty merit scholarship (the only type of scholarships given with acceptance letters in increments of 10k, 14k, or 18k per year) - but I'm still holding out for the decisions on the other types of funding (program merit scholarships, tuition scholarships, and named/endowed scholarships) that will come out late March or very early April. I haven't heard a peep from VCU. I feel like I'm a piece of meat going to the highest bidder - as it's really going to come down who can give me a better financial incentive to attend (as I already have one MA and the dept to go with it! haha). To me VCU is more prestigious of a program, but Denver has amazing faculty in the human/animal connection and trauma. Also, Denver is typically much higher in costs (as VCU is in state for me) but in a MUCH more desirable location. I currently live near VCU and really don't like the campus or Richmond as a whole for that matter. Denver's campus is beautiful and Denver is an outstanding city. Sigh. Can you tell I'm torn? Anyways, I'll get back on my meat hook now and wait for the highest bidder! teehee.