Inspired V

So I know there's a similar thread on the main forum, but I thought it might be nice to have a place to vent for us social work hopefuls! Personally, I'm getting really antsy about hearing from schools and really just want to know now! When I look back at the dates I submitted, I realize it hasn't been that long since I applied and I should cut them some slack... but that doesn't change the fact that I want to know if/where I got in and start making plans for the next big move in my life! Any good ideas for how to stay distracted and lessen the anxiety level this time of the cycle? Fingers crossed for good results for all of us

Hi Reyna! I'm not sure what everyone else did... but I was also interested in GA/RA and touched on my interests in research in my essays although I did not blatantly state my interest in an assistantship. From the admissions reps that I've spoken to, most of the time those decisions are merit based and I'm not sure how much it would matter if you've mentioned interest... at least at the schools I'm looking at, they seem to go to the top candidates. Good luck!

FINALLY DONE!!! It's such a relief to have everything completed and know that I did the best I could. I'm sure that in a week or so, the waiting will start to weigh on me and I'll be anxious to find out results, but for now I'm ok with not thinking about these schools for a while! Hope all of you are making your deadlines and finding time to relax too

I'm with you Paige Elizabeth! I've only completed 2 of my 5 applications, with just the essays left. I'll be really glad when everything is submitted... even though I'm sure it won't be long before the anxiety for results starts up! Happy application season to everyone! Hope everyone's gliding in under the deadlines and keeping their chins up

I think if you're passionate about your goals and you can articulate how well you will fit within a program, it's definitely worth applying! The whole admissions process seems quite holistic to me, and I don't think having one aspect of your application causing you stress is a reason not to apply to a school. It's impossible to know how an adcom will interpret your application, but if it's a school you're really interested in, it would be terrible to always wonder - it's better to apply and give it your best shot!

The other thing to consider is that the admissions decision and financial aid offerings are usually two separate processes. The admissions committee will review your application and determine whether or not to admit you, and probably will also consider you for merit based scholarships. But usually it's a different group of people who are responsible for need-based financial aid (which the FAFSA would highlight). Many schools send admissions decisions before financial aid packages are available. So I don't think it matters so much for you right now, but it is possible that you'll receive offers of admission and have to make decisions before all of the financial information is available.

It's mid-September! Due to some unexpected life changes I've fallen a bit behind my planned schedule of application preparations, but I'm making progress on narrowing my list of schools and getting my transcripts and LOR in order, so I don't feel too bad. How are you guys doing with your application preparations? It's exciting to get started on all of this, but I can already tell that March can't come fast enough! I'm anxious to know where I'll be headed next year!

That's a really good point -- I guess I wasn't clear about my intentions in contacting the professors. I definitely wasn't contacting them in hopes that it would help with admissions or to see about RAships or funding or anything, but rather to help me get more details about the extent to which the program fits the learning environment that I'm looking for. I may or may not be eventually pursuing a doctoral degree, and as such I know that I'm going to want opportunities to do research during my master's. While some of the schools have great websites, it can still be difficult to find out what's really going on around certain topics or issues. I have to say that I am incredibly glad that I contacted professors, because I've gotten detailed, enthusiastic responses from almost all of them -- but most importantly, I've gained insight that I never would have from the websites. Some of the schools seem like a MUCH better fit now, and I know not to waste my time with some of the others. I don't think it makes sense to contact professors just for the sake of it, but I know for me the contact I've had with professors will play a huge role in my decisions in terms of where to apply and where to attend if I'm accepted.

In preparation for the upcoming application season, I've started making a list of POIs at various universities, and this weekend I took the bold step of actually sending emails to some of them! As I've been trying to narrow my list of potential programs and attempting to learn as much about each program's fit with my interests, I knew this was something I needed to do. The truth is, though, that I was really nervous about it! It can be quite intimidating to draft an email to a complete stranger who may or may not have influence over admissions decisions and your future work within the program if you decide to attend. It was easy enough for me to select the people, but figuring out what to say and how to say it was a lot more difficult. BUT (and the reason I'm writing this post) I think reaching out to make contact with the professors will prove to be one of the best decisions I could have made. I've only heard back from one so far (it's been less than a day) but the information she was able to share was extremely interesting and provided a lot more depth than what I was able to glean from the website. Moreover, sitting down to draft and edit the emails was like a first step towards drafting my SOPs and focusing on what my interests and goals really are. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's a bit nervous about this step of the process, but I wanted to encourage everyone to give it a shot -- especially if you have very specific research/practice interests or are trying to narrow down from a larger list of schools. So what do you think, have you contacted any professors yet? Do you think you will? Any advice for others about what to include? It's too early for me to gauge whether I did a good job with mine, but I'll check back in with further results. Good luck!

From what I've seen, I would also say that U Maryland, Florida State University, and University of Texas seem to have strong Macro programs. Really the strength of a school is going to depend on how well it fits your interests. This will probably require you to think beyond just "macro" and look for a location that has the population you'd like to work with, and ideally faculty who are engaging in your topics of interest. Good luck!

Sounds like some good choices out there. It's great how much personal situations factor in to what are ideal schools. Sometimes I wish I had a reason to be in a certain part of the country, because it would make it easier to narrow down my choices! I am grateful, however, that I'm free to apply to all of the schools that meet my interests and desires. I'm still trying to narrow down potential schools so I don't have to apply to more than 5 -- applications mean a lot of money, time, and work for recommendors. One thing I've found somewhat insightful is to consider my options and focus on questions comparing my likelihood to choose a school if I was offered multiple acceptances. There's still more information I'm hoping to gather about them by communicating with professors and possibly current students, but I have a feeling that for me a lot of it's going to come down to "how likely am I to attend if offered admission".

Maybe it's a little early for this, but I've been lurking for ages and thought it might finally be time to have a place to discuss the upcoming application season. I know I've been busy doing research on schools, sifting through CVs of professors, comparing course listings and field work opportunities, and still having a hard time solidifying my list of schools to apply to. Because of my personal schedule (moving from Africa back to America at the end of September) I'm hoping to get on application stuff as soon as it "opens" in August or September. For any other early birds out there... let's talk! I'm currently considering applying to: University of Chicago Universify of North Carolina University of Texas Washington University in St. Louis Boston University University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee I've been narrowing my list (and hope to get it to 5 or less) based on the apparent "fit" of the programs to my research interests and professional goals. I'm interested in international and cross-cultural issues, most specifically with refugees/asylum seekers, as well as issues surrounding violence, trauma, emergency situations, and community development. I'd love to hear where other people are thinking of applying, and why!

There was a previous thread on here about Lexington. Most of the posts are outdated but you may be able to get some insight from that.

Thank you both for your input! I hope I'm not the only one taking this insight to heart - there's a lot of good food for thought in this post. I think to the extent that the concentration you choose impacts the field placement opportunities available to you, your selection matters. The more I compare schools though, I see that as socialworkphd pointed out, the curriculum really is very similar. And there is always the choice of how to spend electives if you want to learn more about a secondary concentration. Both of you mentioned something that I also think is essential -- getting good experience that highlights/develops skills outside of the classroom. I'm definitely going to pursue opportunities that will afford me more experience, research, leadership, etc. I think that knowing what I want to do is a strong advantage, because it allows me to select programs that will provide me with opportunities to better equip me for that work; it's a lot harder if you enter a program trying to narrow down your goals. (Although I think it was mentioned in another post that often times those people who haven't figured it out yet have a harder time getting in). Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!! I'm feeling much more prepared to select schools that are a good fit for me, and to ensure I have strong applications to those schools.

One thing to keep in mind is that your graduate GPA will probably count for more than your undergraduate, so your performance in your MS could strengthen your applications. When it comes to GRE I think it's hard to know where are personal limits are. You say you know you can do better, but what reasons do you have for thinking that and how much better do you think you can do? What will you be able to do differently in preparing for the test in the future, compared to what you did this last time when you actually studied? If you've got the time and money I guess it doesn't hurt to retake it (I'm guessing the quantitative scores for engineering PhD's is generally top notch -- but I'm in social sciences so that's just conjecture) but it might be worth trying to find out the stats of people who have received the types of fellowships you're considering to see if it's necessary first. Otherwise it just seems like a lot of energy wasted on a test that could be better put in to academics and research. Just my two cents...

Thanks TheCrow! That's great news for me! Will you be applying to UNC for 2013?

Socialworkphd - thank you so much for sharing your insight! It's very helpful and I'll definitely keep it in mind. Although at this point it seems to be expanding my list of potential schools rather than narrowing it! Luckily I have plenty of time to continue to research, get in contact with schools and students, etc. I'm glad to have a more informed search in mind. I wonder if you couldn't also weigh in on micro vs. macro. I know it's discussed in some other topics on this board, but I guess I'm wondering for other people like me who are interested in the nexus between micro and macro, which foundation would be better to start from? I entered into my search for MSW programs thinking that I would enter an administration/macro program (I had previously been considering IR/MPP/MPA programs) but realized that I want to be able to do interpersonal work as well. This comes from transitioning from grassroots activities to upstream work in my current international life, and while I think one informs the other, I don't quite know how to approach it academically. I'm presuming that it may make more sense to do a clinical concentration, because administrative skills/perspective are easier to pick up along the way? I'm not sure the same is true if I focus on administration and later want to do more direct practice... Any thoughts you have about the practicality of each concentration as it relates to more of a mezzo social work field would be greatly appreciated!

In looking ahead to the upcoming application season, I've been trying to do extensive research to narrow down my prospective schools. I'm hoping to apply to only a handful of schools, both due to the expenses and time involved in applying. I have a pretty good list of my top 7 programs right now, but I'm hoping to get some opinions on how you determine how well a school really fits your academic needs and desires. My area of interest is fairly specific and won't be relevant for most of you (although I have been surprised by the other postings I've occasionally seen around) but I will use it to provide context to the situation, while asking you to imagine that the topic is something more closely related to your interests in reflecting upon how you determined the compatibility of programs for yourself. I'm most interested in work with refugees and asylum seekers -- in general, but areas of specific interest are women and children, protection issues (gender based violence etc.), preventing and overcoming trauma, and finding durable solutions. I'm still deciding what type of MSW I want in terms of concentration, because I guess my overall desire falls more into the "mezzo" sphere than it does micro or macro... or maybe it's better to say I want both! Anyway, I realize that there are a limited number of SW programs that offer an international perspective. I'm not as concerned with that, as I have 3 years of international development and service experience anyway. The programs that are at the top of my list are there because of the breadth and depth of the curriculum they offer, the field experience opportunities they offer, and the opportunities that exist for research as a master's student. I am beginning to feel as though a PhD might be in my future after some years of practice, but I'll cross that road when I get there. The main thing that I'm finding challenging is that I'm having a hard time finding faculty at these schools whose research interests align with mine, and I'm trying to determine to what extent that should play a role in my decisions. The truth is, there aren't a lot of SW scholars doing research on these issues, so it's not simply that I've chosen to consider the wrong programs. But would it be fair to assume that faculty interested in GBV more generally may also be supportive of my interest in GBV within refugee populations? Or a professor who does a lot of research on immigration, might they also be a resource when investigating forced migration? Even at master's level, I would really like to be involved in research - hopefully even presenting at conferences - so I'm wondering how to balance this desire with the reality of what most research assistantships or other opportunities for master's students to be involved with. These are very specific concerns and I don't expect answers that specifically address them. I guess what I'm really asking is, in determining the "fit" of a SW program for yourself, how did you factor in the following: 1. Location / opportunities to engage with your population of interest 2. Curricular flexibility or relevant certificates 3. Faculty areas of research 4. Opportunities for participation in research Any other insight is warmly welcomed! Thanks!

Thank you for looking for those stats! The out of state percentage was something I've been especially curious about -- I visited UNC when I was applying to undergrad and I remember them telling me they had a cap for out of state (around 18% I believe) and haven't been able to find anything out about the graduate programs. It will be interesting to find out if the out of state numbers are low because less out of state people apply or if there is preference given to in state applicants. Anyway, I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out! Take care

Thanks 2012 MSW! It's good to know that the admissions office is responsive and helpful. I actually have already sent an e-mail to them, but since it's a busy time for the staff (or at least I'm assuming - what, with the admitting and scholarships and preparing for the incoming class) and I thought perhaps my e-mail was missed. I'll write back when things have presumably settled down for them if I haven't heard back, but in the mean time I thought maybe some of you here on GradCafe could help me out. Do you happen to remember or still have the 2011 stats admissions shared with you? I realize that details change from year to year but at this point I'll take what I can get.

Hi future Tar Heels! I'm narrowing down my list of top schools, to which I'll be applying this fall, and UNC has topped my list thus far. It's been difficult to find information regarding admissions statistics or a profile of admitted students statistics. I was wondering if any of you successfully got this information from people at the school, or if you would be willing to share your own statistics... I feel like I'm a strong candidate but it's difficult to say that without having comparisons to substantiate it. Anything you can provide would be helpful and would be much appreciated! Oh yeah, I almost forgot - Congratulations on your acceptance!!