michigan girl

Historically, macro practice in social work is not new. The founders of social work in the settlement house movement.(such as Jane Addams and Edith Abbott) were among the first macro practice professionals. During the Progressive Era (1890s-1920s), they engaged in research, recreational, educational, and philanthropic activities with local residents (immigrants and minorities). In the early twentieth century, they saw themselves more as social reformers and applied sociologists effecting social change at the community and policy level.

In my humble opinion, I think the Harvard name is only worthwhile nationally in business, law, and medicine. Outside those fields, the Harvard name becomes regional (strongest in the Northeast). If you are planning to live in the Midwest or South (and even West Coast), there are better higher education programs with stronger alumni, research, and regional placement connections. You have to consider your post-master's options: where do you plan to live? what is your career interest? Are you planning to work locally or nationally? That will dictate more than anything if the Harvard master's degree is worth the money (and debt). For instance, a Harvard master's degree in higher education is not significantly better than a Michigan master's degree in higher education if I plan to live in the Midwest.

Many MSW programs don't accept GRE scores (including the highly ranked ones, except for West Coast schools). MSW admissions care more about what you can contribute to the field of social work. It is a professional degree, therefore admissions wants to see if you are dedicated to helping others from a social justice framework. That's hard to quantify, hence the no GRE requirement.

If you have a federal work study award, pursue campus employment (i.e., research, administrative, housing, mentoring/tutoring, or recreational) at your university. It is normal for many MSW students balance coursework, fieldwork, and part-time employment. It's recommended that graduate students do not exceed 20 hours of employment (including their fieldwork). If you do not have a federal work-study award, you can still obtain work experience through your university's student employment website.

As others have previously stated, the MSW program at Michigan has rolling admissions. Therefore, if you apply early before the priority deadline, you will likely hear back early too.

Apply to schools where you can see yourself actually living (and possibly post-graduation region-wise). Also consider what kind of courses they offer. If your academic interests are in diversity and equity, only apply to programs that offer courses and internships in that area.

OP, which state are you planning to live and work after graduation?

It is difficult to answer this question without knowing more about your academic interests. Are you clinical or macro?

Juni, have you considered George Mason Univ, Virginia Tech, and Old Dominion Univ for higher education master's programs?

Have you considered George Mason Univ, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Old Dominion Univ for higher education master's programs?

JBurns, have you considered Eastern Michigan University? I know that they have several tracks (counseling or educational leadership) that focus on college students.

I agree wholeheartedly with Chrislee. If you are a prospective MACRO student, consider very carefully where you apply. The flagship state universities and private schools with large endowments can afford to have viable macro specializations (Michigan, WUSTL, UC-Berkeley, UCLA, Columbia, Chicago, etc.). Check out the research centers and concentrations if they offer the type of courses and field placements that align with your academic interests. As you can surmise, I am a Michigan alum which has one of the best macro social work programs in the country. Still, direct practice is the largest cohort of MSW students at Michigan. But the ability to tailor your coursework courses with macro courses and cognates in other schools (public policy, education, law, public health, etc.) makes the experience so much more meaningful.

I second the Brother printers. Mine is four years old with scanner, printer, copier, and wireless amenities and still works like new. One way to save money on paper is to buy your printer paper from Target or Walgreens. I swear that is the cheapest way to buy a large stack of paper. Avoid Staples, Officemax, and Office Depot at all costs.

I recommend that you follow your heart. Are you more interested in research/policy or clinical/case management? If the former, you should apply to MSW programs with macro concentrations. Don't pick clinical practice just because that's the dominant concentration in the field (unless you are interested in both casework and statistics?). If you have a strong background in quantitative methods (calculus, economics, statistics), I also recommend MSW/MPP dual-degree programs. You will be able to pursue social policy electives in both degree programs.

MSW/PhD route is for students who want to study social problems and provide interventions that alleviate the conditions of those in need of help or welfare (individuals, families, and communities). Sociology is the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society. Go social work if you want to focus on practice and policy. Go sociology is you are more interested in theoretical pursuits.

OP, while it is understandable that you don't want to incur additional debt, it will be advantageous for you to pursue the master's degree in higher education. If your interests change over time, you can use the master's degree to explain your transition. This will make you into a stronger candidate for doctoral admissions. At my program, nearly all the doctoral students have a master's degree in higher education or related field OR a minimum of five years professional experience in student affairs, higher education policy, and institutional research. Typically, higher education doctoral programs are reluctant to accept anyone under the age of 26. Unlike traditional disciplines, higher education is a field based on theory and practice. Faculty want to see applicants who have a firm understanding of what the enterprise of higher education entails along with relevant professional experience in higher education.

AVOID TFA. If you know for certain that you want to pursue a career in K-12 education, then pursue the traditional education master's degree path. Teach for America is a resume-padding scam that only does a greater disservice to the disadvantaged students who need dedicated teachers.

If you want to focus on higher education as your primary research topic, consider doctoral programs in higher education. Stanford, UCLA, and USC are the top California schools that come to mind with ranked PhD programs in higher education.

You don't have to attend a DC school to obtain a job with the federal government. The only advantage about attending graduate school in DC is greater access to the internships (such as working part-time during the school year at federal agencies and nonprofits). Otherwise, you will see graduates with non-DC degrees (especially Harvard, Michigan, Princeton, etc.) working in the DC area.

I think the test scores question is more common in the financial sector, particularly corporate law and investment banking.

ADL, how many credits are you taking? Being a full-time student and working part-time is very normal. In professional master's programs, it is usually required that students work part-time to gain skills that enhance your coursework and make you into a more competitive candidate for full-time employment. Time management and being strategic with your schedule is essential. If you have never worked in college, try to take it slowly (start off with 8-10 hours per week). In future semesters, depending on the number of credits enrolled, increase those hours once you get adapted to your environment. I generally don't recommend a work schedule of 15+ hours per week for first-year master's students because these students are still adapting to a new environment and learning the foundation of their future profession. 15+ hours can also be overwhelming and negatively affect your grades. Below is (this is my opinion) an ideal work schedule (per week) based on number of credits enrolled in a term: 8-10 Credits..............................14-20 Hours 11-14 Credits..............................10-16 Hours 15+ Credits..............................6-12 hours

A resume is generally 1-3 pages in length, whereas a CV can be multiple pages (I only recommend the CV route if you are a doctoral student or applying to doctoral programs).

Try to find a field placement that allows you to travel abroad for the summer (or the year). Some social work programs (not sure where you attend) have global social work specializations. Try to fulfill your electives in the international studies department at your school. You will have to be entrepreneurial with your degree progress.

I would only contact professors if you are planning to apply to doctoral programs. Otherwise, it's a waste of time to contact a professor if your only goal is a master's degree. The admissions process for master's programs are done by student affairs professionals. At the doctoral level, a committee of professors select candidates for admission.

I recommend HESA if you want to work in a post-secondary setting. You can always request your internship in a study abroad, international center, or global/intercultural education department. International education programs are really geared towards students who want to work in the K-12 school setting or focus on K-12 education policy from an international perspective.