SimonettaSeeker

Also rejected from UMich today! Well, at least we all know? @ thomasd88- I have not heard a word from UW. I'll post here when I do, though. Good luck!

I am also losing hope for UMich. The post on the results forum that basically said "if you haven't heard yet, you aren't in" helped me to come to terms with that possibility.

@ Cat Face- I received a rejection from UChicago's PhD program via an email to check their website last week. While I don't know much about this process, I would think that not hearing anything yet is a positive? Good luck!

It looks like there is one acceptance for BC posted on the results board. I hope that it is you or that you hear positive things soon!

Sorry, applicant2013fall, that's not a school I applied to. Good luck though! I hope everyone is hearing good news this week! Today and yesterday were pretty action packed: Accepted: IUPUI Waitlisted: University of Illinois- Urbana Champaign Rejected: University of Chicago And Michigan State offered me a pretty stellar fellowship! All in all, more good news than bad, in my opinion. Waiting on: University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin- Madision, University of Illinois-Chicago, University of Iowa, Florida State, University of Minnesota- Twin Cities

Hello, So I applied to several (11) PhD programs, perhaps an overkill, but I was uncertain about my admission chances. I have heard back from 3 - 2 acceptances (1 with potential fellowship) and 1 rejection. The school with the possible fellowship is currently my top choice based on good fit, a great conversation with a student, and a stressful, but very nice informal interview with the PhD director for the fellowship application before my formal acceptance to the program. Now it is official, they want me! And I want them, as much as I can, considering that I still have 8 schools to hear from. I am in a field whose cycle is a bit later than most, so no worries about not hearing yet. I have another conversation scheduled with the PhD director to "talk about [my] needs going forward" tomorrow. I really don't want to misrepresent myself or my intentions, but neither do I want to give the impression that I am not over the moon to be accepted. If the choices I have right now are my only acceptances, I will absolutely go to this school without hesitation. Any advice on general demeanor, tone, or better yet, what my "needs going forward" should consist of? Can I ask to visit? Ask more questions about how the program works, assigning advisors, picking classes, etc? I've never done this before and am really nervous that I am going to ask for too much or not ask enough or that there are "needs" I haven't considered. Any help would by much appreciated. tl;dr accepted to PhD program- still waiting to hear back from other schools- phone call tomorrow to discuss my needs- not sure what to say

@ applicant2013fall- Thanks! At least we know where we stand? Right? @ somerset- I, too, have been utilizing that particular defense mechanism. I think it's healthy, or something... I hope your other programs respond soon! @ Post-it Poet- Thanks! I'm sorry to hear that you have no new news! I hate all this waiting!

@thomasd88- Well that is good to hear! I have never been to East Lansing, but I imagine will be scheduling a trip up there soon. @ashsw & somerset- Thanks!!! I am quite excited! In other news, I received my official rejection from Washington University in St. Louis today via e-mail. Just wanted to keep you guys informed.

Hi! I am hoping some people still frequent this area! I am considering MSU for grad school this fall and had a couple of questions: - What is the culture of renting like? For instance: are there lots of rental houses, or mostly apartments? Is it easy to find places that would rent to a married couple with two cats and a medium sized border colie-ish dog? What are rents like? Do people find rental homes mostly through Craigslist, relators, word of mouth, the newspaper, signs in yards, etc. -Do there seem to be many companies that would need IT people? -Is it a dog friendly town? -Is the comic book store of a decent size? -Are there any areas of town where you absolutely wouldn't live? -Is there anything I should be asking that I don't know to ask?

Hi guys, I am just about to post it on the results page, but I wanted to post it here first: I was offically accepted to Michigan State!

32, will turn 33 mid-way through the first year of PhD program.

@ somerset- Nice! What a fabulous position to be in! Hopefully, I am there with you soon!

I know this is something I need to do, I just don't want to seem like a pest, or hear a bunch of "no"s! I am sure that you are right, somerset, but I am not brave enough for that. I think I would feel like I was overstepping myself, so I would be overly apologetic. Thus, making me seem like the least assertive person ever!

Just curious, at what point is it appropriate to contact schools about the status of you application? I know now is still a little early, but when is the right time? Also, is it better to call the secretary or send an email?

Congrats ashsw! That is awesome! It's ridiculous how much I have talked myself out of some of the places. I think you are right, though, I may just be trying to cushion myself from possible rejection.

When I was completeing applications, I honestly believed that every school I applied to was one that I would be thrilled to go to. However, the longer I wait, the more I think about it and now I don't even know. I know I've said this before, but I just want to start hearing back from schools!

thomasd88- Sorry to hear about the waitlist at UIC, BUT at least it isn't a no! You can still have hope! Though, personally, I'm a bit tired of all of the hope and could use some answers (but depending on the answers, I may want the hope back!) ashsw- I applied to a bunch, but that is because my app had several weaknesses (low UG GPA, low math GRE, smaller MSW program) and I wanted to cover my bases. I think it sounds like you made some smart choices. Good luck on the other three programs!

Hi xlipsticklover1991! I am a MSW student who is graduating in May 2013, and I'd be happy to try and answer some of your questions. The main difference between a BSW and a MSW is that a BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) is the social work version of a 4 year degree, while a MSW (Master of Social Work) is the graduate social work degree. A MSW is usually considered the terminal degree in the field and is usually needed if you want to have lots of options for clinical work. If you think that you want to get your MSW eventually, a BSW is a great start because many programs have an advance standing option that let students with a BSW complete the MSW in less time. As far as schools on the East Coast, these are programs that I have heard of (though I am not at all an expert and recommend that you do some research about your options): NJ: Rutgers, Monmouth University, Kean MD: University of Maryland- Baltimore NY: Columbia, Fordham, CUNY- Hunter, NYU, SUNY-Albany, SUNY-Buffalo DC: Howard, Catholic I am sure there are also a ton of great schools in Atlanta, and certainly a bunch of smaller schools on the East Coast in the states you mentioned. This is a fact sheet about social work as a profession: http://www.naswdc.org/pressroom/features/general/profession.asp Here is a website about some of the ways that social workers help teens: http://www.helpstartshere.org/kids-families/youth-development/youth-development-how-social-workers-help-struggling-teens.html I love social work as a degree and as a profession. I encourage you to do some more research (the NASW (National Association of Social Workers) and Help Starts Here are both great websites to start with). Good luck with all of your upcoming choices!

I admire your perseverance, Post-It. I can't imagine doing this as many times as you have! You are brave and resilient. I totally know what you mean, I just want to know!

Can I just say that I cannot wait for this waiting to be over. It seems like all I am doing right now is alternating between my list of schools, college websites, the results posting area here, and this message board. I just want to know, so I can start planning the rest of my life, but at the same time I'd rather wait if that means the likelihood of more positive results. Gah! Thanks for listening

Ugh. Sorry to hear it, ashsw. Several of my schools are reaches, I must have had a wildly optimistic day when I applied to a couple of them. I'm glad to hear you aren't discouraged! There's still plenty time for the rest of them.

Thanks for the advice, somerset. Diane Elze is someone who I would LOVE to work with, unfortunately I am somewhat stuck in the mid-west. You are very lucky! And I think ashsw is right on target re: GRE scores. I too am eagerly awaiting mid-February, ashsw. Congrats on the positive feedback from your top program! Fingers crossed for us both!

The wait is driving me crazy. I had convinced myself that I wouldn't hear anything until late February or early March, but then I saw on the results page that someone got an acceptance for University of Wisconsin and that Washington University is doing interviews (as Post-It Poet confirmed ), so now I am super nervous. I had some POI issues, too, somerset. I have dual interests of sex/gender and at-risk youth, so typically if I couldn't find anyone in that was a perfect match, I could at least find someone who has research in sex and gender OR working with adolesents in some capacity. Maybe not the best strategy, but I guess we'll see! I would be thrilled to get into any of the schools I applied to and ecstatic if I have any sort of choice at all. Thanks for the congrats, but until it's official I'm still soooo nervous about it!