jules162

From what I can tell, your first year field placement might be very different from the second year. Most field sites prefer or even require second year students because they have more experience. It's also very likely you might be placed somewhere that is not in line with your interests your first year. Schools try to get you to try something new and branch outside of your comfort zone. You might end up really loving your field placement after all, or if you don't, finding out what you're not interested in is just as important. Your second year you get much more choice in what you want to do. Although there are various types of field placements that differ greatly, social work/clinical skills are always transferable. Whether or not social work is right for you is definitely something you should think about and possibly reconsider. But keep in mind that there is such a broad range of things you can do with an msw, and I don't think that getting one could hold you back in anyway or prevent you from having an interesting career. With social work you can do therapy, you can advocate for the underserved, you can have an administrative or managerial role at a human services organization, you can write, you can research, you can go into politics... there are so many options. I hope this helps

I was lucky enough to get accepted to all the schools I applied to (Simmons, BC, Fordham, Columbia). I chose Simmons. It was a tough choice to make, because for a long time I was really set on getting out of Boston. The more I weighed my options, the more I began to believe that grad school is not the right time to move to new york. I'd rather move there when I have a salary versus being a student, when life will be high stress. I think (and hope) I will be happier in Boston. Simmons is a small program with a strong clinical focus and a lot of personalized attention, it has summer study abroad programs in spanish speaking countries, and it offered me a generous scholarship. I get to stay in my cheap apartment with my boyfriend and awesome roommates and have a field placement interview coming up at a school pretty close to where I live. Recently however, I talked to one of my parents who thought I was making a big mistake by not going to Columbia, and felt that I was going to regret this decision. It scared me... am I doing the right thing? I know there is no right or wrong choice... but I can't help but worry that I will make a choice and realize that I made a huge mistake.

I know that you can do international field placements at BC

or you could go for Brookline or Fenway, which are pricey but beautiful!

Just a little insider info about Boston. You're right that Brighton would be closest to BU, but the green line blows (especially the B line which is the one that BC and BU are on. The C, D, and E lines on the green line are fine.) The orange line (JP) and red line (Cambridge/Somerville) are way more efficient. And your field placement could be anywhere...

Youth workers do not needs MSWs depending on the nature of the job. Even residential counselors. If you feel the job you find is not relevant, you can always do some volunteer work to put on your resume.

Boston might be better because the fieldwork is just as important (if not more) than the coursework. Boston is more expensive but it looks like it might even out? Jamaica Plain is an affordable neighborhood and very gay friendly

I already live in Boston, and am happy, but wonder if I could be missing out by not going to nyc. On the other hand, being a broke and busy student, will I be able to enjoy what the city has to offer anyway? Should i move there after I get my masters and have a job? p.s. I think the people are nice, but maybe they are rude in comparison to other cities. And when they're nice, you know it's sincere. Plus I'm used to it

Where should I go to grad school??

I know that this is a personal decision, but I thought it might help to get some advice. I live in Boston (grew up north of the city, did undergrad in connecticut, and now live in the city and work at a shelter) and applied to 4 schools: Simmons, BC, Columbia, and Fordham. I want to do the clinical track. I was accepted to the two boston schools and had to give them an answer over a week ago. I chose Simmons because they offered me a $20,000 scholarship and because they have an extra day of field work, and because they are all clinical. I'm still waiting to hear from the NY schools. I have always kind of fantasized about moving to NYC (short term, not long term) and experiencing everything the city has to offer, putting myself outside of my comfort zone, etc. The two schools I applied to don't necessarily seem like a better fit than Simmons, and I doubt they will offer me as much money (although, money is not the top determining factor for me in choosing where to go). I also want to do well in grad school, and I'm an easily stressed person and wonder if moving to an intense city like new york while simultaneously starting grad school is a recipe for disaster. My boyfriend said if I chose to go to ny he would come with me, but that won't necessarily be easy, as he would need to find a job and make ends meet as he struggles to pay off his monstrous loans. Simmons feels like the best fit, but I can't help wondering if I would be giving something up by not going to New York. Of course, I can always move to a new city after I get my Masters. Saving money might be the smartest thing to do, if I have trouble being a social worker and paying my bills down the line or choose to go back to school for a ph.d. In the meantime, i'm not sure how to cure my restlessness. I'm young and should be taking risks because you only live once, but I still want to be reasonable. Any thoughts?

Let's say one day I decided to go into private practice. Would the school I went to matter then? Or would my ability to work independently really depend on the amount and quality of previous clinical experience? Thanks for all the insight so far.. these are hard decisions!

So it seems like all you guys responding are macro students. Does anyone have any insight on Columbia vs Simmons as far as clinical strength?

I'm applying for MSW programs and giving a lot of thought to which school would be the best fit for me. How important is prestige/rankings? ' In my friend's (a current MSW student at Hunter) words "Columbia is really only worth going to if you want to do social work policy, like if you want to write and research and change policy with social work theory so to speak." I always thought it would be insane to turn down admission to Columbia, since it's an ivy leage school and rated a top program, but since I am interested in doing clinical social work, in really developing those skills to counsel people, perhaps that's not the case. Maybe it would be better to go with one of the other programs I applied to (Simmons or Fordham), perhaps they would have stronger clinical programs? What do you guys think? Is Columbia worth it?

Yes, but Fordham has 21 hrs per week of fieldwork (hardly a difference). Hmm

Any thoughts? I was accepted to Simmons and already gave them my deposit as their deadline was yesterday. I will probably not hear from Fordham until mid to late April. I know that they are both very clinically focused. Does anyone else have thoughts on their differences/ pros and cons?