allyba

Huh, wonder why CSULB seems to be popular with mental health folks. It wasn't a school I really looked into. Maybe they are able to get a lot of spots for the mental health stipend. That's another thing to check out if you are looking at CA schools. There are some stipend programs available. Maybe ask the schools about how many ppl get & apply for the stipends each year if that is something you are interested in and can commit to the work period after graduation.

That being said I hear CSULB is one of the more popular for mental health.

CSUN also has a fantastic program. That's where I am going but they do not have specific concentrations. The whole program is based on social work in an urban setting like LA. Your field placements would probably be what put you more into a mental health concentration. The office is really friendly and I am sure if you contact them in the fall they will give you a lot of info. They do require an interview as part of their application process. Do apply early. The CA schools are getting a lot of MSW apps! With all the great CSUs, I just don't think it is necessary to pay more for a UC or that crazy pricetag for USC unless you have a really specific and good reason for going there. In the LA area people from all the nearby schools can end up competing for the same placements anyway. A lot depends on you. Even though I am at CSUN I could try to go for the same 2nd year placement someone at UCLA also wants.

I would check the school websites directly. I was thinking of applying to a few schools out of state and a lot of them had it like ASU-http://ssw.asu.edu/students/certificates-and-minors/out-of-state-graduate-financing.

Yes, it is called the Western Regional Graduate Program and here's the website- http://wiche.edu/wrgp. I think it does depend on the school and I think there are only so many spots at each participating school so if you are trying to get it you want to apply early.

Expensive meaning that you'll have to work hard in an area you might not like to pay it back (pay back of time working in a particular area) and if it isn't for you that's an expense in a lot of ways. Also you may even need to move if necessary to fulfill the requirement. The money isn't exactly free in that sense. It is a big commitment and if you decide not to or can't get a job that meets the requirements you do pay it back anyways just like you would a loan. It is a great opportunity if it is the right situation for you though.

My understanding has always been yes. You can use them for tuition and any other expenses you would be able to use loans for. There was some good advice at my orientation about these. I think the presenter said, ¨they are a real expensive way to finance your grad school so make sure this is the area you want to go into.¨ If you are certain about mental health they can surely help you a lot during school. Also keep in mind that the grant amount impacts your financial aid. So if the max fed unsub loans to take out a year is around 20,000 and you get an 18,500 grant, the school will only offer you 1,500 in federal unsub loans.

I think a little bit of freaking out before a big change is pretty common but, some of the things you mentioned are big like not being able to drive if you need to. Most schools I applied to mentioned it was a requirement to have a car because they can´t promise a placement close to the school. Would you be able to purchase a cheaper used car? Also, freaking out about whether or not you really want to be in social work is something to take some time to consider. It is a lot of money to spend for a career that you might not want down the road. Your emotions could just be all over the place because of the struggles of moving and getting going in this direction or they could mean more. Take time before school starts to really think about it. About the fieldwork placement. All placements have to meet certain requirements so it is hard to imagine that they wouldn´t be good placements. Some are of course better than others. Maybe what they are telling you is that to get a good placement you may have to commute to it.

Sorry to hear you didn't get in. It does sound like the CSUs were slammed with applicants this year. Goodluck on your next move. You can always work on your stats this year and apply again.

Great advice.

That's great that you feel positive about the job possibilities in the field. I hope that is what I encounter. You seem more positive about job prospects than those that I have spoken to in the field. It could be that I am in a highly competitive geographic area. I was told by several people that there are some incredible positions in areas that are less densly populated and a great need for social workers in rural areas. If you have the ability to be more flexible about where the position you take is, I bet it is much easier.

You hit on a good point. I asked this question too when I did an informational interview before applying. Getting a good job with your MSW is becoming more difficult everyday it sounds like. There are more people going into this field making it more competitive and a lot of jobs are dependent on funding that can be cut. I was told though that it is a field with a lot of movement because many people burn out and quit. The lady I spoke with said they have the hardest time hiring people in their mental health clinic that can handle the stress despite their excellent resumes from MSW programs and many quit before they have even been at the job very long. That's another thing to really think about. This is a direction that can really wear you down and I don't think everyone that gets a MSW really realizes this and is prepared for it. The pay is not high for the amount of work. The MSW programs are expensive. Clients can be very difficult and you will be responsibile for making decisions about their care that are life changing for better or worse. You have to document everything because you could get called into court and you also want to protect yourself and your agency. Also think about what happens to your personal life if you bring a lot of stress home or have to be on call at your position. You could get a call in the middle of the night and have to handle the situation. Someone I know took a medical related position and had on call hours for several years. She always seemed to get called at Thanksgiving and Christmas to handle major crises. I don't think she spent much time with family during the holidays for years.

@annzie-SFSU is an excellent school. I've never heard a complaint about the quality of the program. Congrats on getting in. I didn't apply there because I lived in SF for a bit and didn't feel I wanted to do it again (needed somewhere new- I love SF tho) but, I would really lean towards going to this program if everything else fits for you. The campus itself is also very nice which helps if you are going to spend a lot of time there. They also have the healthiest food options of all the state schools I have seen (also important if you are on campus a lot.). I've had great carrot juice, burritos, bagel sandwiches with sprouts and veggies there etc. SF rents are higher and it is much easier to just find a decent bedroom to rent than to find your own place that you can afford. If you live near one of the muni lines or the 28 bus though, you may not need to drive to school and if your placement is near public trans, you may not have to drive at all. That would save some money. CSUEB is also a great program from what I have heard. Good placements and a high percentage of ppl get a job in the field after graduation. Another thing to think about is the difference between semester and quarters. CSUEB has the quarter system. Some people like it and others feel that you don't get sufficient time with the material for each class.

I am heading to CSUN. I really liked that they required interviews and they are so thorough and organized with the whole program. I've already received orientation info and info about interviews for first year field placements from them. They are on it! The program also fits me better because they don't have concentrations per se. The whole program is based on social work in an urban setting like the LA area but, they do want you to narrow your focus later. Regarding CSU East Bay-I received two letters (one from the department and one from the school) and my status changed online.

BTW if you haven't heard by now, you could check with Lyn. I think that was mentioned a little earlier. She is nice and seems to respond quickly.