michigan girl

You do not need a BSW to enter a MSW program. MSW programs accept students from a wide variety of majors (e.g., humanities, behavioral and social sciences, biological sciences, etc.) If you truly want to enter social work, I recommend applying to MSW programs. In your personal statement, state how you have overcome your weaknesses. The first year is required foundation courses that will introduce you to the profession of social work.

Imposter syndrome is very common in graduate school. The first semester/quarter is always the hardest; it is a transitional period for new students (new location, new culture, new university with its own policies and procedures, etc.). I am also positive that you are not the only person in your cohort who feels the same way. By the end of the first year, I believe you will have a better idea on whether you should continue in (or drop out of) the program. Don't give up yet!

The personal statement is, in essence, a brief autobiographical narrative that explains how your experiences have shaped your life and influence you to apply to the specific degree program. The academic statement of purpose is where you explain why you are applying to the specific degree program and what aspects of the specific degree program fits your personal and professional goals.

Advanced standing programs are for students who have acquired a Bachelor of Science (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited university. Advanced generalist practice (to my knowledge) prepares social workers for leadership roles in direct and indirect settings. It supports interventions across micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Advanced generalist practitioners bring culturally-competent, evidenced-based practice skills across different social systems (case management, organizational development, community practice, and policy and evaluation).

Before I can give you advice, what are your post-master's career plans? Student affairs? Higher education policy? Admissions/advising?

Resumes should include at least an education section (degree, major, study abroad, scholarships, awards, etc.) and employment section (paid and unpaid work, extracurricular activities). If you have limited work experience, limit your resume to one page. It should not exceed two pages if you have under five years of professional post-BA experience.

If you do not want to pursue student affairs-type work, you are probably best served with a MPP. Then, you can tailor your electives around higher education policy. Look for programs that also have education graduate programs so that you don't enroll in a MPP program that only offers K-12 education electives.

I think you have not received many replies because your program goals are all over the place. First, I see higher educational policy then I see international education. Are you interested in international higher education policy?? If you could write your interests in a more succinct manner, then we can probably give you better ideas.

From my experience, long-distance relationships work if both partners are committed and feel connected to one another. If there is no chemistry and/or one of the partners has selfish reasons, the relationship is doomed to fail.

I know the ASWB provides national-level statistics. I think you may need to contact individual state licensing boards for rates by school. How many people pass the exam? National pass rates for first-time takers in 2010 were: Bachelors- 78.0% ; Masters - 74.3%; Advanced Generalist - 57.9%; Clinical - 74.6%. http://www.aswb.org/SWLE/faqs.asp#PassRate

I agree with Dal PhDer and CageFree. This comment is very insensitive to the needs of underrepresented and disadvantaged families. Although I was fortunate enough to be raised in a middle-class household, I grew up in the inner city where neighborhoods could quickly transition from stable to dangerous in a couple of blocks. This is what I have observed from my personal experiences: The achievement gap is not about poor decision-making; the 'personal responsibility' argument is outdated and elitist. The Republicans supported that approach with the 1990s welfare reform ("let's force single poor mothers to work their way out of poverty") but many problems emerged: low-paying service jobs, lack of access to child care, and poor transportation options. How can disadvantaged people improve their lives when those in power refuse to improve the broken system?? Many forms of oppression (i.e., racism, classism, sexism, etc.) and a conservative agenda to deregulate (e.g., vouchers, charter schools, corporate brainwashing curriculum) and restrict access to quality education is the real culprit. After the landmark ruling of Brown v. Board of Education (1954), people of color and the poor still continue to attend socioeconomically- and racially-segregated schools that are unsafe, under-resourced, and under-staffed. Teacher retention is declining as more school districts continue to replace veteran teachers with younger, cheaper, and under-prepared teachers. Inner-city students and their families face so many obstacles that they have a higher probability of working in low-wage, dead-end employment or becoming part of the penal system. In either situation, private companies profit from this type of cheap labor. Poverty is both stressful and expensive. Privileged people don't have to worry about how to pay for food, bills, and transportation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 37 million people in this country live below the poverty line. The income inequality gap has grown to its highest point since the Great Depression. The middle-class is also rapidly falling into poverty due to stagnant wages, anti-labor initiatives, and foreclosures. It's easy to blame people's circumstances as poor decision-making, but this view is dangerous because it ignores the reality of structural oppression and racism in this country. Xanthan, there are many underprivileged students who have college aspirations. They want to help their families and succeed in life. Why should these students have to struggle to gain access to the same resources bestowed upon their privileged peers? For instance, while the parents of privileged students can hire tutors and/or pay $1000+ per ACT/SAT test-preparation course, many parents of under-privileged (and even middle-class) youth cannot afford these services. Should these students change their career goals because they lack money? Please reconsider your narrow-minded views, Xanthan.

Although I'm not enrolled in a PhD program, I love to collaborate on projects that can minimize the amount of time spent on tedious work (i.e., article summaries) or reduce the workload on a major project. It's all about maximizing your options without overburdening yourself. The nice thing about collaboration on assignments is that you can focus your attention on matters more important to you (e.g., part-time job, publication, presentation, etc.). .

^ Sometimes, attending the local program is the better decision if the person plans to remain in the state/region after graduation.

Not in my graduate programs. Education and social work aren't exactly money-generating professions, and the content emphasis on social justice, counseling, and empowerment would appeal to more working- and middle-class students. I think you are more likely to encounter students from wealthy and privileged backgrounds in the following disciplines: law, business, medicine, dentistry, theater/performance, and the humanities (PhD level).

Voting for Obama here.

I maintain an academic blog that focuses on careers, school (higher education + macro social work), and social justice topics. It acts more like a news feed with occasional reflections. http://michgirlcafe.blogspot.com

I think the 'relevant coursework' section is optional. I never included one when I applied to my master's programs.

If you are applying to master's and professional programs, the resume should not surpass two pages. This is especially important for recent college graduates and those with under ten years of professional experience.

Eigen raises a good point about the difference between PhD Student and PhD Candidate in the signature. However, I think it's totally fine for master's students to use the "candidate" in his or her signature since program lengths are generally much shorter (less than three years).

It's pretty standard to include a signature that states the following: Your Full Name Master's or PhD Candidate, Program of Study, Expected Graduation Year (Optional) Name of University and Graduate Program Email Address Other Contact Information (Phone, Web Address, etc.)

Here is my advice for relieving stress in graduate school: 1. Go outside and get some sunshine. Do not stay inside the entire day. The sun can give you a much needed energy boost. 2. Drink tea and other herbal supplements. The antioxidants inside tea can ease tension headaches and stress all over your body. 3. If you can afford it, try to get a massage every other month. Stress can build up inside your body muscles, making you feel inflexible and irritable. 4. Exercise, exercise, exercise. It's good for your heart, body and soul. 5. Get a planner, organize your life, and try to stick to that schedule. Set aside one day that is strictly non-school-related so that you can just relax. 6. Don't sleep on a mattress that hurts your spine or body. It's worth spending top dollar for a mattress that is comfortable for your body frame. 7. Get at least seven hours of sleep. Coffee and other caffeinated drinks have their limits. Give your body a break! 8. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Wearing the wrong size or heel can make you accident-prone with joint and muscle problems. 9. Take advantage of school breaks where you engage in a non-school-related activity. This will help you avoid nervous breakdowns. 10. Seek a support network (via friends, counselor, or family) so that you can bounce ideas from each other and realize you're not the only one suffering.

Yes, what matters most is the CSWE accreditation. Stay away from unaccredited programs. Check the school's employment requirements to see if they require that you work in an approved social work setting.

Agreed with the previous posts: Social Work (under THE MENU > PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS) is a very active forum.

If you are eligible, apply for food stamps! There is no shame in using government assistance to get through your studies if your income qualifies.

I would definitely like to obtain a PhD in the future. Both my fields (education and social work) highly value practice experience. Most likely, I hope to work a minimum of three years in administration and policy. This experience would fortunately help me become a stronger applicant for PhD programs.