MSW13

Hi there, Yes, this is the emotional rollercoaster that is graduate admissions! Applying to 4 schools is a great idea. As long as you have a good average (B is usually the minimum but I think B+ or A- is more common for admissions) and paid experience, you stand a good chance. Just make sure you have plenty of people read your written work to make sure it is top notch. Good luck!

It really depends on so many factors. In the Toronto area, Laurier has a great reputation as does York and U of T. But each stresses a different aspect of Social Work. For instance, U of T is heavy on research. Ryerson is all about anti-oppressive practice. Basically, pick your school based on your academic interests and the type of work you want to do upon graduation and of course, what city/province you want to do your schooling. Good luck!

Hello! Yes, I agree that you need to enjoy what you are doing no matter what the pay. Personally, I dont think there is much difference between frontline work whether you have a BSW or an MSW. The difference comes in when you are looking to climb the employment ladder or are looking to increase your pay. For instance, it is rare to find a job in the hospital or government sectors that willl accept a BSW, an MSW requirement is pretty much standard. When you say that there is always a chance to increase your salary--that is true but again, with a BSW you will hit a ceiling. In a nutshell, what I'm trying to say is that (in my opinion) frontline work is the same for BSW or MSW. The difference comes in if your career aspirations are in a managerial/government/hospital areas. For those, you will need an MSW. With a BSW, your movement will mostly be lateral and this may be a problem for you down the road when you are looking to advance your skills and experience. I've been doing community work (mostly in the health and social services sector) for a long time and really enjoy it. Where I ended up in this field is very different than from where I started. Basically, I wanted to work with kids but ended up working with older adults! It is a very rewarding field and you are always learning. Really, it is nothing like what I thought it would be, but in retrospect I dont think I really *knew* what I wanted from Social Work, basically, I just wanted to 'help people' and learned what I needed to know along the way. What draws you to social work? Do you know what area you'd like to work in?

Hello! I need to start off by saying that I graduated years ago with my BSW so I cant really say what the job prospects are like right now. But I would like to share my observations. I have seen a lot of MSW's without PAID work experience having difficulty landing the high end positions. For those, employers always like experience--and to tell you the truth, many MSW's just dont have the deep knowledge base that you can only acquire from being out in the field for a while. Believe me, for some jobs you would be better off working up to the position than getting it right off the bat. But in the organizations I've worked at, we've hired MSW's for BSW positions and they've gotten the chance to get their feet wet before moving on to higher paying positions. We've also hired placement students for contract work once they have completed their placement. There is definitely a benefit to having an MSW. With a BSW, you can only go so far before the only movement you can make is lateral. RIght now 35k might sound good but after a while in the field you will come to realize that it is not enough for the job you do. But having said that, I think it would be easier for you to find a position with a BSW than an MSW. Social work is one of those areas that jobs are always available--the more flexible you are (for part time work, overnight, shift work, etc), the easier it will be for you to land a position.

Hi, I have re-asked two of my 3 references from last year. I was basically upfront in my email (which I always find easier than in person). What I said was that I was unsuccessful for (insert reason here) last year but I have spent the past year working on areas for improvement. I then said that I would appreciate if they would be kind enough to provide a reference again this year. Each person said 'yes'. I think it was 'easy' for them since they had saved their reference from last year anyway so it isn't like they have to re-write the letter. I would suggest that you dont stress about asking them. If they did it last year, they are probably okay to do it again---but only re-ask if you think they gave you a good letter. If you felt that they were a bit indifferent about it, then find another prof. Believe me, I know it is hard, just try your best to take the emotion out of it and focus on the task. If they cant do it then move on and go down your list of profs who might. But having said that, I dont think it will be a problem for your prof! Good luck!!

I've already started the application process and having been through this last year, I'm a little more calm about it this time around. Based on experience, these message boards really start to pick up around Nov/Dec. Good luck to everyone and looking forward to having great moral support from all of you during the stressful days ahead! I'd love to fast forward to Spring already!! haha Cheers!

I think I'm just echoing what has already been said but most often your references know that they will get multiple requests. Chances are that you aren't the only student applying to those schools so they will get the same request from different students multiple times. It actually isn't too big a deal for them since most reference forms are pretty standard--a checklist and an area to expand on specific questions. They can basically cut/paste the same letter for you in several reference forms. If they know you well, it is pretty easy to write too---it's only hard when they dont know you too well or they have concerns about your ability to handle graduate studies.

I'm not entirely sure about American schools but here in Canada, you MUST have a gpa that meets the minimum in order to be considered. Most programs are highly competitive (in the big cities anyway) and a below minimum gpa usually means that your application will never make it to the admissions committee for review. The uni I'm applying to has about a 30% acceptance rate and although the minimum to apply is a mid B, they rarely admit anyone below a B+. This is just because they receive a ton of applications and many of them are well qualified. Regarding your transcript, if right now you are at or just below the minimum, I'd wait until you get your fall grades in so that you will definitely be above the qualifying line. I've learned that the best thing to do is to call up (or email) the school now (before they get super busy with applications) and ask these questions. Each school has a slightly different procedure that isn't necessarily reflected on their website. Some schools will only consider one transcript and others will accept an additional transcript to reflect fall grades. My advice: dont be afraid to call the schools directly. it will save you lots of worry and $$ if you end up applying to schools that wouldn't consider your application. However, ask the right questions and you can really increase your chances of getting in by closing in on those programs that reflect your skills/abilities/interests the best. Good luck!

This was an interesting paper to read! You've had some pretty fantastic experiences that are great examples to tap into. You mentioned some good things, I think. For instance, you spoke about your privilege as a white, non disabled person and that this privilege is ever present. You also mentioned that dont always feel this privilege because you also experience the other end of the spectrum as far as social class and your stutter and being female--all points that can bring both oppression and exclusion. I'm sorry, I am not a masters student so I dont think I would be the best person to critique your paper. I would only suggest that you go through it one more time because I did notice some spelling errors. As well, you start off saying that you are not really aware of your identity but as you continue, you actually do talk about how you see yourself.. Perhaps you could rephrase that a bit to indicate that this course has prompted you to investigate what your social location really is?? Good luck!

Although there may be a difference between Canadian (where I plan to apply) and American schools, I believe that gpa does matter. If you are over the gpa cut-off then that means that your application will be reviewed but you also have to consider the informal cut-off. I would do some research and see what the average gpa is of people admitted to your chosen program. For me, I need a B to have my application reviewed, BUT the vast majority of students admitted had at least a B+/A-. If you have a barely-above-cut-off average then you really need to have strong experience (paid or volunteer) and a killer written statement. I would suggest that you take some courses to bring up your average if you think that it will hinder your chances. As well, you seem to be on the right track as far as building experience. Your statement will really help you stand out so make sure you have a lot of knowledgeable people read it and critique it.

This is a great question! I'm sorry, I dont have any idea of how graduate student life is since I'm still trying to gain admission but I do want to say that dating opportunities dont necessarily dwindle after you leave school. I've been in the field for over 15yrs and never had more than a half dozen men working in the office at any given time. Truth be told, they weren't people I would have dated anyway. The key is to stay social. As much as work can consume all of your time and energy, it is so important to keep non-work related friends. Also, it is important to keep single friends! I remember at one point all of my closest friends were getting married or were in serious relationships. I eventually found other friends who were similarly single and we had a blast. I eventually met my husband through one of these single friends. I agree that school is a great way to meet guys but it is not the only way. Dont be discouraged if you dont meet 'mister right' there. I dated a few guys in my undergrad and although they were great boyfriends, they weren't husband material and I'm glad I didn't marry them (I got a few proposals at the time). Try not to put too much pressure on yourself to find a life partner. It WILL happen! Stay positive and stay focused on your studies. You can always find a guy after graduation but it is much harder to undo a bad transcript. Good luck!

FYI For those on the waitlist for UofT, Angela (the admin person) is away on vacation and will not be back until Aug 22nd. She stated that the waitlist will NOT move while she is off. Hopefully some of you can relax a bit for the next few weeks!

I was actually rejected from York U very early (I was missing one of the criteria and was rejected by Graduate Admissions--didn't even make it to the adcomm). I've been working hard on getting up to par but after reading many of the York U comments, I have absolutely no desire to go there anymore. What a horrible process to put people through! I chose not to go there for my undergrad for unrelated reasons but my sister did go. Although she was an 'A' student, she totally hated the experience. In a nutshell, this isn't 'new' for York. Clearly all the $$ they raise through parking fees etc do not go to staffing for administration. I hope all of you who have been waiting in this horrible limbo get some answers soon! As a practicing Social Worker, this is a very rewarding field and I welcome you all to the club of do-gooders!

I guess if your aim is to be a researcher or professor, then there really is no other way around it, you need your PhD. But if you feel like you can do well in the employment world with a masters, you may not feel so compelled to break the bank for the next level. The great thing is, if you decide a year in that you dont fell like going for your PhD afterall, you can always change your mind a few years down the road. A PhD is always a possibility as long as you have the dream. For me, I'll be applying for the MSW program again in the fall. A PhD is so far in the distance, I cant see it through all of the glare!

Congrats on making a decision!! Is it a two year masters program? If so, will you be applying for a PhD program in the next application cycle and shift over should you receive a good offer?

Oseirus, I haven't been active on gradcafe lately, but for a while there, I was 'following' your journey like you were the star of 'The Truman Show'! LOL (I'm probably dating myself with that movie reference fromm '98 ) Have you heard back from your schools about funding? Are you all sorted and know where you'll be headed???

Congratulations!!!! That is amazing!!! I have to ask you, does Laurier look at the CGPA or just the last two years? If it is the last two years, was your gpa also 2.7 or did you improve? Did they factor in your *new* gpa with your forensic practice program? These distinctions are helpful for those of us who will be applying again next year. It is my understanding that highly competitive programs like the one at Laurier wouldn't even look at an application with a 2.7, so this development is quite interesting! Again, congrats...persistence truly does pay off!

Thank you for such a kind compiment. Much appreciated I hope you hear good news tomorrow!! Good luck!

disclaimer: please take what I say with a healthy grain of salt. Ultimately, you need to do what feels right for you. Personally, I would probably take a different route. I would first find out why I got rejected and base my next move on that. That is, are they looking for more experience from you or stronger grades? There are some really fantastic BSW courses (you can take them through Continuing Ed-- not all of them require prerequisites in Social Work courses) that will really focus on the skills and knowledge you will need out there in the field. If it is due to experience, then I would look for challenging volunteer work. There is a great site where you can search for entry level jobs and also volunteer work in your area: www.charityvillage.com The reason why I shy away from the SSW program is because they are preparing you for a different kind of work. Although there are similarities and you will get exposure, I'm concerned that you may not get that challenging placement (if it offers a placement) that you may expect or want.

Just my two cents: Regarding Canadian schools, for the most part, you cant go wrong. We have amazing programs with highly skilled and seasoned professors. I think the biggest thing is to choose the 'right' school. If the program focus is not right for your career direction, you wont like it no matter how 'ivy league' the school is. Also, your student debt would not be as crazy as it would be if you choose to go to an American school. Regarding pay, I have my BSW and have not worked for under 50K for at least the past 6yrs or so. In my experience, an MSW in Canada will earn you around 60K to start. Clearly which area of social work you work in can make all of the difference. Also, I need to be clear about job postings. If the job requires an MSW, that is when you make the big bucks. You wont necessarily earn more than a BSW if the job doesn't require that designation. You can make a lot of money doing social work--usually in private practice.

I just wanted to add a brief comment. I've been doing Social Work for many years and have been working in social services for even longer. I've had the opportunity to work with different populations and can understand your concerns. If you go into Social Work for the wrong reasons, you wont like it no matter how much they pay you (which isn't bad actually, especially if you have your MSW). If you are just doing your MSW because you dont know what else to do with your undergrad degree, then I would be concerned. If you feel passionate about helping your fellow human being, you are probably on the right track. Just make sure you know how to separate your own values from that of your client. --think about how you deal with your friends--when they do something that you think is *stupid*, are you able to support them anyway or are you more likely to end the friendship because they wont listen to your good advice? Once you get out there, you will find that you will get a lot of support from your team mates (rarely do you work in isolation). Although I'm sure there are exceptions, you will always have an opportunity to discuss challenging cases during weekly team meetings and at personal meetings with your manager. Caseloads are generally balanced--that is, you will have a good mix of challenging and 'easy' clients. You may go through times when the heavy caseloads are abundant but it usually doesn't last too long. I've never worked with a team that didn't understand when your caseload was starting to feel overwhelming. If your client dies tragically, your team will be the first to step up and help you deal with it. Having said that, there are people who think they want to do social work but then find they dont have the stomach for it. I knew quite a few people when I did my BSW who dropped out because they found it was too much for them. That is okay too. Just remember that there is SO MUCH you can do with your MSW. It doesn't have to be front line. You can easily do 'desk' work too. Also, if you get into an MSW program in this country, that means that there is an entire committee of Social Workers (with PhD's) who think you'd be a good fit for this profession. That means a lot too.

I just wanted to say that going back to school at age 46 is a great accomplishment in itself! Congratulations on taking on such a challenging task. I've been working as a registered Social Worker for well over a decade and have worked along side many new and seasoned professionals. The passion you and your fellow applicants are expressing about Social Work is fantastic! I hope you all get a chance to practice in this field. Good luck and positive vibes!

Oh, the drama! Has anyone heard anything yet today?? What a horribly long wait.

You are right, grade inflation is not such a big issue in Canada like it is in the States. I also know quite a few people who made the trek across the border to get their MSW (and other advanced degrees--many folks go there for medicine because it is so incredibly competitive over here). I dont live too far from the border (about 90min from the Niagara Falls border) but it wouldn't be worth it to commute. Honestly, I couldn't imagine accumulating that kind of tuition debt. If I stay at home for the 1yr MSW program, I can expect to pay no more than 10K for everything (tuition, books etc). What you guys pay over there is just outrageous! I was very surprised that my application wasn't even looked at. I had wrongly assumed that years of experience as a Registered Social Worker in challenging positions would be enough for them to overlook the mere 2% between a B- and B that I was missing. But it doesn't work that way! I think that in the States, you have so many schools that it can sometimes be hard to fill the seats, so you are more likely to take chances on students who may not have the Gpa but show promise. Here, you routinely have 600 + students competing for 30-150 spots (depending on the school). They have many qualified applicants so they dont have that same pressure to fill the seats. ...this is just my opinion anyway! No research to back it up! As I register for courses one of the first things I noticed is that they offer 'participation' marks! Back in the day, your mark was made up of exams/essays....maybe this is where the grade inflation comes from?? I can barely believe that you can get 15% just for talking in class!

I just got an email from one of the schools that rejected me saying that they sent me a letter that I'd been waitlisted ....but it was a mistake so I should ignore it. Funny, I received no such letter but thanks for the double rejection anyways