michigan girl

The top-ranked schools (i.e., Columbia, Michigan, Chicago, WUSTL, etc.) will have strong macro/policy-oriented programs.

In graduate school, it is very important to break down assignments over several days. The readings are longer, the assignments are more complex, and professors demand higher standards. I am an afternoon/evening person myself, but I realized I was most productive if I divided assignments over several days. That way I can still get my 7-8 hours of sleep and feel fine (optimal) the next day. I can only stay up to 12:30am.

If I was in your situation, then I would buy some test preparation books with CDs. Take these next 2-3 months to study hardcore for the GRE. You want a minimum of 1000 (1200 recommended) on the GRE. Study what is on the test, and your test scores will improve.

If I was in your situation, then I would buy some test preparation books with CDs. Take these next 2-3 months to study hardcore for the GRE. You want a minimum of 1000 (1200 recommended) on the GRE. Study what is on the test, and your test scores will improve.

This combination is not common, although I know plenty of MSW students who enter school social work. What are your goals? Why do you need both degrees? Boston University has a dual-degree program in Social Work and Education. Check out their site to see if it meets your interests. http://www.bu.edu/ssw/academic/msw/dual/sw-ed/program/index.shtml

Some applicants apply to big-name schools (e.g. Michigan, Berkeley, Columbia, WashU etc.) because they are research powerhouses (great for PhD study) and have strong alumni networks. If you are interested in macro social work practice, this is very important because connections can really help in the nonprofit/NGO sector.

Everyone has given you great advice so far. I also recommend applying to MSW programs in the state/region you plan to work. If you are more interested in direct practice work rather than policy/community work, then go to the cheapest school because name recognition is more important for policy/international/research opportunities. The bottom line is don't go into a lot of unnecessary debt for the degree.

I have noticed that several library schools offer post-master's specialist certificates for people who already hold an MLS/MLIS. Has anyone participated in such programs? Are they worth it?

If I enter academia, I will add my husband's name and make my middle name my middle initial. My current name is so common that I need a different surname to differentiate myself from the crowd!

I personally wouldn't put too much emphasis on the overall rankings. The department rankings (education policy, higher education, etc.) are much more important. For example, Michigan is underranked at #14, yet at least six of its departments are ranked in the top ten (higher education being #1).

I am attending graduate school, and I do not include my GPA on my resume.

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My program does not operate like that. I will have a macro-focused field placement related to my concentration.

I also recommend University of Michigan. They have a Social Policy and Evaluation (MSW) program as well as dual-degree option with Ford School of Public Policy (emphasis on Domestic Social Policy, International Policy, Nonprofit and Public Management, etc.)

I agree that the private MSW schools are not always the best programs. If you are interested in clinical practice, the local accredited university is fine. I am attending a public MSW (Michigan), and the available resources here are phenomenal (OK, Michigan is more quasi-public than the average state university). The school was generous with my financial aid funding. If you want to seek a research (doctoral) career, the top-ranked public (Michigan, Berkeley, UCLA) and top-ranked private (WUSTL,Columbia, Chicago) social work schools have great research contacts and networks.

Yes, Michigan has a very strong macro program (community organizing, management, and social policy). Its MSW students have the option to take courses in other top-ranked departments across campus (Public Policy, Public Health, Business, Education, Urban Planning, Sociology, Psychology, etc..). U-M Students also have the option to do national and international field placements. The International Institute is a wonderful resource here. They are also more generous with financial aid for out-of-state students. As Terri said, the Columbia debt isn't worth it since social work in general is not a high-paying field. IMO, I would only recommend Columbia if you are seeking a (corporate) consulting career.

I know you are worried about financial aid, but I would highly consider applying to UIUC, Dominican, and Michigan. Those are the three schools with the strongest Community Informatics programs. Master's programs are usually not very generous with financial aid. If you improve your GRE scores and essays, it can increase your chances for a grant/scholarship. The Michigan degree will also help you in the policy/government arena (connections, money, national prestige).

UCLA is the most competitive program on your list. I'm not sure if you want to move out to California right now. The budget crisis is really affecting higher education.

University of Michigan has a very strong macro social work program. It offers three macro concentrations (Community Organization, Management of Human Services, AND Social Policy and Evaluation). I am concentrating in 2 of the 3 areas. There's the option to take courses and/or pursue a dual degree in Business, Public Policy, Public Health, Law, etc. which are all top-10 ranked programs. Lots of my peers are MSW/MPP dual degree students. Finally, University of Michigan is ranked #2 for Social Work in U.S. News rankings. To imply that Columbia is the only program with a strong policy focus is misleading and incorrect.

Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism has an international reputation.

Columbia University is a private university. Make sure they give you financial aid (scholarships/grants), otherwise it's not worth the debt (considering social workers generally don't have high starting salaries.) I am a current MSW student at the University of Michigan. As a resident, I am paying much less tuition than if I had gone to schools like Columbia University or Washington University in St. Louis.

I currently attend an ALA-accredited program that requires the GRE (Michigan). IMO, the most important part of the application is your essays and personal statement. Make sure you articulate clearly why you want the MLIS degree and why their particular program is a good fit. Schools will look for these clues. I wouldn't say they are very competitive, but students do get rejection letters simply because they didn't articulate their interests well.

Most Master of Liberal Arts programs are cash cows. I would not pursue one if you receive no funding. I heard that the UChicago master's program can provide some flexibility if you know what you want to do career-wise. I still say, proceed with caution.

I recommend Michigan if you want to combine two professional degrees.

Does anyone here have more than two master's degrees? Is it a waste of time to achieve another master's degree?