Abbigail001

I just finished telling my family that I have been accepted to UGA's MSW program for Fall 2013. Got my letter this morning in the mail, and I'm so happy because it's the only school I applied to. I'm 33 this week, and UGA is where I've wanted to go all along - so I applied to the MSW program, and to the Community Counseling, M.Ed. program - and with any more luck, I'll have the choice. Now just to figure out which program is going to be best for me in the long run. Anyone else having to decide between two programs, rather than two schools? It'd be interesting to have this discussion with someone in the same situation. Good luck to all of you still waiting!! Go check the mail

Hi applicants! Well, this should be an entertaining six months. I'm applying for Fall 2013. To only one school. UGA ALL THE WAY! I just have one thing to say - I'm getting in. LOL Well, like anyone, I don't know that. But it's the only school I'm willing to drive to and they are all quite the drive. I'm trying to complete my application packet for early admission, and I think that deadline is December 1. I've just taken the MAT last week - SO glad thats over. I made above the preferred score. I have a great GPA. I have a resume done, and experience to put on it. I've written my narrative, and given my requests for references out with a Nov 15th deadline to have them back to me. (yeah right.) I still need to fill out my paper application - and oh yeah, figure out how I'm going to pay for it all if I get in. Other than that, I'm really going to be relieved when I've done all I can do, and I'm waiting on a piece of mail. Still, only applying to one school... scary. But I'm 32, have 2 kids, a husband, a house, and have been looking at their program for a long time. I think I have interests that fit well with the research and programs they offer - so I'm betting on being UGA material. Gosh, not having a B plan sounded good in my head... Now, seeing it written out, I must be nuts. I might go search for some other schools now. Look forward to waiting it out with you guys!

Wow! Thank you for that very constructive feedback

I'm a story teller. It's what I do, to a fault. I have attempted to write an opening paragraphe to explain why I have asked for acceptance to my graduate program - but now I need feedback to tell me either a) I cannot tell a story and get accepted or you can and here's how... Really - help. I'm not worried about GPA, GRE, experience - just this SOP. Please be kind in your critiques. All I want to know is if it's too personal, too much story. Thank you. ---- I was a latchkey kid. For years I jokingly claimed to have raised myself because my single mother was working too many hours to truly parent. Today, I appreciate her. What she gave up, she can never reclaim and it haunts her to tears if we ever talk too much about it; but slowly she is seeing the beauty in the seed she planted- all because of her absence. It affected me. I have felt the ruin of childhood. I have lived an adolescence of isolation; and I am best friends with the concept of filling the void. However, because of what I learned first-hand about the absence of parents, my life has forever been set on a mission. I am an advocate for the family. I am sensitive to the choices people must make. I have spent years of my life devoted to understanding why people make intentional mistakes, and spend the rest of their lives trying to recover. America’s system of family and support is in chaos. The pains of living in a society where people experience desperation, poverty, loneliness, abuse and boredom – with no working ability to sit with their discomfort- is consistently producing them, who work too much, enjoy little, self-medicate and are typically searching for empty promises of happiness. The effects on the family are toxic. I want to be a part of the life-altering empowerment that is able to influence the way people relate with each other, and instills a sense of purpose and dignity so that they can do better for themselves and are then able to have healthy relationships with others. In doing so, the children of healthy adults can grow up feeling secure, loved, and protected as they make their way through hardships of their own. They will be able to learn from role-models that chose not to walk away; that encourages health and responsible choices. They become a future generation that is better equipped to deal with disappointments or tragedy without self-destructing. As the daughter of a regretful woman; and as the mother of two incredibly gifted girls – I feel obliged to be a resource for others. This is why I am applying for your graduate program at the University of XXX.