michigan girl

When should a master's or doctoral student ever audit a class? I found a course that is very related to my academic interests, but it is taught at the undergraduate level (400s). In my program, only courses at the 500 level and higher can receive credit. Since my graduate program doesn't offer coursework related to the undergraduate topic, Is this a good reason to audit the class? Has anyone ever successfuly created a graduate-level independent study out of an undergraduate course in order to receive credit for their work?

Could you defer your admission a year? Then, it wouldn't look so bad for you to leave once you have over a year of service at your current job.

The social work profession has poor visibility to the general public. It doesn't help that social workers in critical areas are underpaid, overworked, and under-appreciated. I blame the social work leaders for not conveying clearly the mission and values of social work in the media. Television hosts will ask journalists, social scientists, politicians, and businessmen (which sounds disturbing) for their opinion(s) on social issues, but social workers are usually left out of the discussion. The voices and experiences of social workers, who are trained to work in clinical, community, and policy practice, are never fairly represented at the table.

As others have previously stated, take advantage of your local community's recreational and educational programs. This is usually sponsored by the city's recreation department. Community colleges also offer non-credit lifelong learning courses. If you are a book lover, obtain library membership at your local library. Some libraries (depending on the state) have a statewide inter-library loan program where you can request a book from another public library at no cost. I have been able to save money because I simply borrow books (fiction and non-fiction) from the library rather than pay market price for the books from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

OP, is there a reason why you haven't considered the University of Michigan? They have a tech-heavy curriculum, and their human-computer interaction program is considered one of the best in the nation. Many library major students specialize in HCI to take advantage of the technology opportunities.

It is very important to attend an ALA-accredited program. If you graduate from an unaccredited program, the degree will be considered worthless in the eyes of employers (especially librarians and archivists). If the school is unable to appeal its accreditation, you are better off attending another school (if you applied to other programs, contact their admissions offices ASAP to explain your situation and to see if they still have space to admit you for this upcoming fall). This is an action that was clearly out of your control (and thus not your fault). Otherwise, you will have to postpone your enrollment another year.

You can become a member during the school year or post-graduation. The student membership is reasonably affordable. If you maintain the membership for two consecutive years, you can keep the student rate in your third year after graduation. Keep in mind though that NASW (in its current structure) primarily provides resources for clinical social workers. Macro-practice social work students will be better off registering with the Association for Community Organization and Social Administration (ACOSA) or the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE -- I highly recommend CSWE to students who specialize in social justice education). I used to have student membership with NASW, but dropped it two years later when I was less than satisfied with their sparse offerings for macro practice.

I agree with emmm. You will have to submit transcripts from all colleges in which you enrolled in for-credit courses.

If you are serious about studying issues affecting higher education, you may want to pursue a master's degree in higher education first. Most Higher Education PhD students have master's degree + relevant higher education experience (average: 5 years).

As ADLNYC stated, it is highly recommended to have already earned a master's degree in higher education before applying for a PhD/EdD in Higher Education. In most professional fields (social work, counseling, nursing, etc.), it is to your advantage to have obtained a master's degree and post-master's experience.

The Crow, not enough male social workers are entering the field to replace those who are or near retirement age. Social work isn't attracting men like it used to prior to 1980 when the profession focused more on community organization and social administration. In addition, social workers are underpaid and under-appreciated due to its increasing struggle with professional identity (case vs. cause conundrum).

briefinterviews is correct. I completed my MSW at Michigan, and only had to take one clinical course (introduction to direct practice). The rest of my coursework was all macro electives and cognates.

Give yourself at least three days (with no other commitments) to work on the paper. That is how I have been able to write consecutive 10-page papers per week (!). I make sure I have the readings/sources finished by Friday, start writing the paper on Saturday, and finish the awful thing by Monday evening (if it's due by Tuesday). This leaves time for me to take breaks and do other required errands throughout the day. It's cruel, but that's the only way I can keep my sanity and receive good grades. I write 3 pages per day. All nighters simply do not work. You will feel crashed and burned the next day.

bukowski, which schools did you apply? I think the MSW macro practice track can work -- it's how you choose your courses and field placements that matter.

I think up to 85% of the social work workforce is women. Men are a dying breed in this field, and social work needs to do a better job in recruiting men to the profession.

Ashmoze, Once you are declared "out-of-state" by the residency classification office at Michigan, it is extremely unlikely that you'll be offered in-state tuition. Your residency status stays the same throughout the duration of the program

If your goal is to obtain an MSW in the future, the BS in behavioral sciences will not allow you to pursue a one-year Advanced Standing MSW program. Only students who pursued a BSW from an CSWE-accredited institution are eligible for Advanced Standing programs. If you decide to go the BS in behavioral sciences route anyways, then you will only be eligible for the two-year MSW programs.

I agree with ZeChocMoose that the specialty rankings in education are more important than the overall rankings. In higher education administration, there are public universities (Michigan, UCLA, Indiana, etc.) with stronger higher education graduate programs than Harvard and Vanderbilt. At the doctoral level, it would make sense to apply to programs that are ranked high in certain subfields and have prominent professors who teach in those subfields.

I am a firmer believer that no one should go into unnecessary excessive debt for a MSW degree. The starting salaries ($30,000-$50,000, on average) are not high enough to justify it. Financial aid is extremely important as well as the cost of living of the surrounding area. Ann Arbor is more affordable on a graduate student's budget than New York City. However, you should also consider what are your career plans post-graduation. Both institutions have equally strong macro social work programs, so you will receive an excellent education regardless.

You can also supplement a roommate agreement to the lease. Make sure both parties add their signature stating that they agreed to X amount of rent and conditions. The bottom line is have EVERYTHING in writing so that if an altercation occurs you have supporting evidence in small claims court.

Born and raised in Michigan here. Fall/winter is my favorite season for fashion. Invest in quality winter gear (coat, fleece jacket, winter boots, scarfs, gloves, and hats). For instance, I paid $150 (on sale) for my long winter coat (down to my knees) but it has protected me very well from the blizzard-like conditions this winter. If you are planning to walk a lot outside or use public transportation, a sturdy coat is a MUST so you don't freeze outside. When the weather is warmer (above 40'F), you can wear a fleece jacket. I also paid $70 for my thick winter boots (not rain boots!) for walking in deep snow. I have an assortment of colorful scarfs for decoration. Also buy corduroy pants and sweaters and thick socks to wear underneath. Expect to use a lot of lotion to keep your skin from getting too dry.

Wow, I had no idea there will be a film series. I will have to check it out! I won't spoil the details, but Diana finally discovers what kind of witch she is in the second book.

I am reading "A Shadow of Night" by Deborah Harkness. The amazing part is this popular supernatural novel series is written by a history professor at USC.

When you create your decision list, make sure that finances (did you receive any grants or scholarships? can you afford the cost of living in the school's region? does the school provide decent campus or off-campus housing?) and geographic fit (do you prefer a cooler or warmer climate? do you need to live close to spouse and/or family? can you see yourself working in the school's metropolitan area post-graduation?) are included in your decisions. I cannot stress this enough. Since entry- ($20,000-$40,000) and mid-level ($40,000-$60,000) positions are not high-paying in the education sector, avoid going into too much debt for an education master's degree.

Full-time doctoral students, regardless of whether they are teaching assistants and/or research assistants, should not qualify for the Public Service Forgiveness Program. Going to graduate school, as someone stated earlier, is a lifestyle choice that is already subsidized by the university (livable stipend, health and dental/vision insurance, and grants/fellowships). Doctoral students enroll in school to become future researchers. There is nothing "public service" about this choice. Congress should reverse its decision to remove subsidized loans for graduate/professional students and make private AND federal loans eligible for bankruptcy.