KMSW

Depends on your FAFSA. I made "too much money" so I don't qualify for any financial aid. But I know for a fact that CSULA has scholarships for grad school students. One of my friends got that scholarship every single time. UCLA offers fellowships but only if you applied for it with your application to the school of social welfare. I didn't apply for fellowships because I didn't know i had to do another essay and frankly i just wanted to submit my app ASAP because it was driving me crazy. There might be other scholarships but I have not done any research yet. I'm pretty sure CSULB has scholarships for grad students. (at least I hope) Also, if you get accepted to any UC, you will be able to get work study. I don't think its offered at CSU's but you will need to speak to the financial aid office of each school. But the stipends are one of the best aid out there. If you end up going to a CSU the stipend (which ever one you get awarded) will pay for your ENTIRE grad school education. Not too bad.

I'm curious about your top choice. I just got accepted into LB but hoping to get accepted at UCLA and CSULA as well.

I got the same email today too!!! It means we got accepted but need to be cleared by enrollment services first. Verify your transcripts among other documents. Depending on what they are asking you to provide. Congrats!

I just got accepted via email to CSULB!!!! The only thing that I am waiting on is to be cleared by enrollment services but Im good as in!!!

I submitted my app early Dec and got an email by Dec 15 that they received my application and that it was complete. They had winter break soon after so they got to my application by Jan. (at least I hope). I have not heard a thing from the school and this waiting game is causing me so much stress. The school received approx 1,200 apps last year, and they take a long time to make decisions. Some of my friends, who applied last year, got a decision by July and even early Aug. Ugh! tbird1239-I had the same issue. But I called the math department at the community college I attended and got a current syllabus and the school accepted it. Also, CSULB had a list of Statistic courses that are pre-approved and technically I didnt have to submit my syllabus. I understand your frustrations. I hope the school is able to work something out with you.

I think you have great experience. Personally, experience is much more important in this field. The programs look for a well rounded student. I hope things go well for you. Good luck!

Congrats on the scholarships! Personally, I only applied to state schools because they were more affordable. I have a limit on the amount of debt I am willing to be on. I have a family to support and if all goes well, the next two years of grad school will be hard financially. I only applied to local schools for the in-state tuition and because CA has those stipends they offer to MSW students. Cost was a big factor in my applications. But I also feel that I applied to some awesome state schools. I hear many great things about each one. My dream school was Berkeley but I wouldn't be able to afford living in SF. But honestly, if I could have figured out a way to pay for the school and live in SF, I probably would have done it!

Hello. CSULB received 1,200 applications last year. Its a very competitive program. Some of my friends who applied last year got a response by July or early Aug! YIKES! They have a wait list and a lot of students get in after they are wait listed. If I could remember correctly they admit approx 170 students? Not sure on this one. Sorry I don't have an exact number but its approx around this amount. CSULB received my application Dec 15 but they went on winter break soon after. So I'm assuming they got to my application by Jan or Feb. The waiting game is killing me but I am trying my best to be patient. I am waiting to hear from some other schools as well. Good luck!

Depends on what school you end up attending. The UCLA brochure states that Bilingual applicants are a plus for candidates. (Mental health stipend) So I'm glad i know how to read, write and speak Spanish. But that doesn't necessarily mean i will get it. It depends on experience and how well the applicant does on the interview. I think they might give you vignettes. The most popular stipend is the two year DCFS stipend. CSULA accepts 25 in the CYF concentration, and they offer 17 stipends. So the chances of getting it are pretty damn good. But getting accepted into that concentration is pretty competitive. Regarding the GRE, its some lame school requirement. Many schools want to get rid of it because it doesn't reflect how well a MSW student will do in the program. I really wanted to apply to the Berkeley program, but I wouldn't be able to afford it. If I got accepted. I doubt it.

Very cool. I don't think you should worry to much about your GPA. It is at least a 3.0, and you have some good experience. I did pretty bad on the GRE. BUT! I heard many times, from many many students, that if your GPA is not to worry about the GRE so much. Im hoping everything else balances me out with the committee. But I will find out if this is true in a few weeks by either getting rejected or accepted! lol I really want the mental health stipend! That's one of my goals at which ever school I end up attending.

3.87 GPA Social Work major Currently work in a mental health agency working with SED children and youth. Currently Volunteer as an Advocate for a rape/DV agency. I have a lot of experience working with parenting and pregnant teens (2yrs) I have also worked with children involved in prostitution and pornography. I completed an internship working with foster youth. Worked with the attorneys and investigators. I have various other volunteer experiences including leadership roles. My letters of recommendation came from my professor, the director of the school (supervisor/adviser), and my supervisor. I plan to concentrate in Mental Health, specifically children, youth and families. My main goal is to work with individuals who are current victims and survivors of Rape and Domestic Violence. I want to build my clinical foundation first then branch into doing some advocacy. What about you?

Future MSW 2012-Hopefully you get in! But why did you only apply to 1 school? Its good to have options. Although many of my friends kept telling me to apply to the USC program. But even if i got accepted I wouldn't consider it one bit. I only applied to schools that I would seriously consider. But if UCLA is the only school you want to attend, I'm cheering for you!! Also, when did you submit your app? rjose-As long as you complete your FAFSA by March 2nd. I completed my FAFSA on Sunday and got an email Monday telling me the schools already have access to my FAFSA. I was like WOW! So soon! Which caused more stress cause of this waiting game Im right on track with everything and hoping i get my decision letters, or emails, or calls soon.

Im scared to say that it is. If I get accepted it will be my first choice. LOL I went to the diversity fair and i was impressed with the school. Small cohort and I feel that I would be able to do a little of everything. Im interested in clinical work and also advocacy. But I hope I get accepted to all the schools. This waiting game is killing me!!!! Did you complete your FAFSA??

I hear great things about the CSULB program. I hope I get in to all programs and hope that you get in to your first choice! Good luck!

Hey, You are not alone. I feel the same way. But after earning my BSW and getting a lot of awesome exp in the mental health field, plus my volunteer work, I feel more than ready for this challenge. I have several friends in MSW programs and they all say it’s a very intense program. They go to USC. My friends are doing really well because they are organized and balance their responsibilities. If you are this type of person, I am sure you will do well. I know several people who have said that the most challenging aspect of the program is their internship. Its emotionally and mentally draining. I did and internship working with foster youth during my last year at undergrad. While my internship was emotionally draining, I felt that I had truly made a difference in the lives of some of the youth that I worked with. That feeling will never leave me. But my professors and supervisors taught me the importance of self care, and believe me, I took time for myself, even if it was for just 15 minutes. I also vented to my supervisors. My friends have noticed that the people who struggle more in internship are the ones that lack an open mind. In an MSW program it is very important to keep and open mind and not only listen to your client but be able to see their point of view. I don’t know what schools you have applied to, but a lot of the schools give you the option to speak or email with a current student so you could learn about their point of view. I think this would be very helpful to you. Maybe after speaking to a student you could get a better picture of the program and might answer a lot of your questions. I went to an info session at UCLA and it was a great experience. I hope this helps.

I applied to CSULA and CSULB as well and submitted early Dec 2011. If you applied to CSULA and submitted by the priority deadline (Dec 15) you should get a response by late march early april. If you applied after the priority deadline you should get a response by April or May. CSULB gets over 1000 applications each year. They do take a very long time to respond. A friend of mine found out he was placed on the wait list until July last year!

Hey! For those of you who applied to UCLA I got an email yesterday letting me know they received all my documents and that Admission decisions will be made no later than March 30, 2012. It's getting closer!! Did anyone get a similar email?

Westwood is horrible! I hate the 405 as well! But I don't feel so confident about UCLA. I did horribly in the GRE but the school said they don't care as long as you have a good GPA, good letters and good experience. Which I have, but I guess I will find out around March whether this is true. I also went to the info session and I never heard anything about a ranking system. Maybe you spoke to different people than me. Oh well. Im just playing the waiting game. Congrats on getting into CSUDH's program!

Thanks for the info Inspired10! I hope this is true. I submitted my UCLA app early Dec, hoping for an early response.

Long beach is known for taking a very long time to make a decision. They got 1,200 applications last year alone! Hopefully i hear something soon. As far as checking my status online I have not heard of an option for either LA or LB, Anyone else apply for UCLA?? I'm really interested in this program.

Hello, I'm playing the waiting game for CSULA, CSULB and UCLA. I submitted my apps early Dec. Did anyone get accepted to any of these schools yet? I think its too early. I was told I should hear a decision by end of march early April.