smtedesco

Hey I was accepted into Rutgers last week, and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the program? I am leaning towards going because tuition is much lower than the NYC schools I applied to and I'd be able to live with my boyfriend who will be doing a fellowship in NJ (cheap rent!). I was also accepted into Columbia and Teachers College (for counseling psychology), and even with scholarships, I want to be in as little debt as possible when I graduate. I just don't want to give up an ivy league school if it will truly make a difference in getting me a job after.. Does anyone have any advice/know about the MSW at Rutgers? Thank you!

Hey, congrats on Columbia everyone! I was accepted to Columbia as well and I got about $9,000/yr in scholarships. I currently work for AmeriCorps and have absolutely nothing in savings, so I contacted the Dean of Admissions to explain my situation and ask about other funding options. I told her I could not go with so little funding. She agreed to give me another $1,500/yr, however she said funds are beginning to run out so I was lucky to have contacted her early on. I also didn't want to seem greedy, but the reality is, I need to make the most financially smart decision I can about grad school. And for some reason I don't think I was eligible for work study, or at least I didn't see it in the email... I know in my case, Columbia is the most expensive school I applied to, and even with their great reputation and program, I cannot justify paying $60,000-$70,000/yr in mostly loans. It depends on what you plan on doing with your degree, but we all know social workers don't get paid much, so paying back these loans would take forever, even if you're eligible for loan forgiveness programs. Sorry I don't mean to sound cynical, and you all might be in a totally different financial situations than me, so I wish everyone luck in their decisions and I hope you are able to secure more funding!