What are my chances getting into USC's MSW program?

[mimimzungu]

I applied to USC to do an MSW online last week and the waiting has been killing me! 

I completed my undergraduate in 2015 as a Child and Family Studies major. I didn't really have a ton of work experience, just a work-study job, so my CV is kind of dull. I'm really concerned about my GPA as maybe it was a 2.7 when I graduated. I did write an addendum to further explain the reasoning behind my low GPA (sexual trauma). I have had a time of healing and know that I am fully ready to be a fantastic student again. A few months after I graduated, I moved to Tanzania to work for a non-profit for 15 months. Which is why I am wanting to pursue a masters in social work. I'm really passionate about working with refugees and hope to live and work in the East African region working with those refugees. 

My professor wrote a strong recommendation letter for me and the founder of the organization I worked for wrote my letter as well. 

I'm also nervous about my personal statement. I'm not the best writer and I answered each question, I'm just scared I didn't answer up to their standards. 

Do I have a shot or should I kiss my dream school goodbye?

 

Edited February 9, 2018 by mimimzungu

[CelestialJenkins]

@mimimzungu I'm more into the campus option.  My first choice is tied University of Chicago SSA/Washington University in St. Louis (WashU), I feel like USC might be a really big program that doesn't have quite as many opportunities for me.  But I applied.  I had the same LORs for all my schools, generally the letters are specific enough on you and who you are and are able to be sent to other schools/programs,  especially if your letters are academic ones, as it's sort of a part of a professor's job and they're pretty used to writing them.  Good luck though!  You have until March 1 for WUSTL and April first for University of Chicago, if you feel like expanding your options ?

[CelestialJenkins]

Don't give up hope, definitely!  MSW programs tend to have more holistic ways of considering applicants, and some of them aren't as competitive as you'd think.  I think USC is somewhat competitive, but it's also a huge program.  It sounds like you would have pretty good chances of getting in, especially with those strong letters of recommendations.  As far as the personal statement goes, as long as you answered the questions they're probably more concerned about contend; that said, it never hurts to have someone you trust read it (preferable someone with both academic skills AND a knowledge of social science).  I sent my SOP to my journalism acquaintance and he tore it up and sent it back to me with my voice gone and the entire meaning changed.  I brought it to a sociology professor and they gave me glowing reviews.

Are you only applying to USC, though?  I applied to 4 schools.  If you're set on staying in Southern California, apply to some other schools too if it's not too late.  
I've decided that if I don't get into a program I want with a decent amount of funding, I'll work for a year to grow and learn, then apply early next year to more programs (when I'm not a full-time student).

Never, ever, kiss your dreams goodbye, though.  Just know there are other legit MSW programs you could have as back-ups

[mimimzungu]

On 2/17/2018 at 9:23 PM, CelestialJenkins said:

Don't give up hope, definitely!  MSW programs tend to have more holistic ways of considering applicants, and some of them aren't as competitive as you'd think.  I think USC is somewhat competitive, but it's also a huge program.  It sounds like you would have pretty good chances of getting in, especially with those strong letters of recommendations.  As far as the personal statement goes, as long as you answered the questions they're probably more concerned about contend; that said, it never hurts to have someone you trust read it (preferable someone with both academic skills AND a knowledge of social science).  I sent my SOP to my journalism acquaintance and he tore it up and sent it back to me with my voice gone and the entire meaning changed.  I brought it to a sociology professor and they gave me glowing reviews.

Are you only applying to USC, though?  I applied to 4 schools.  If you're set on staying in Southern California, apply to some other schools too if it's not too late.  
I've decided that if I don't get into a program I want with a decent amount of funding, I'll work for a year to grow and learn, then apply early next year to more programs (when I'm not a full-time student).

Never, ever, kiss your dreams goodbye, though.  Just know there are other legit MSW programs you could have as back-ups

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm believing in that for me as well! USC is the only I've applied to as it's the only school (that I'm aware of) that you can still interact and have vocal discussions with other classmates and professors. Since I won't be attending in person, it's still important for me to build a professional relations with my classmates and especially my professors so that I can use them for future references or just an overall networking opportunity. Also, as I mentioned before, my CV is pretty dull, so I lack previous employers and what not to write my letters of recommendation. And I just feel uncomfortable asking those that wrote my LOR for USC for others schools. But I really am so dead set on USC.

I applied on the 5th of this month and it really feels like forever ago.

I see that you applied to USC as well. What is your top choice school? When do you plan on starting? Online or on campus?

[CelestialJenkins]

I got my acceptance to USC today!  No word on scholarships, though...

[mimimzungu]

On 3/1/2018 at 1:30 PM, CelestialJenkins said:

I got my acceptance to USC today!  No word on scholarships, though...

Congratulations on your acceptance!! I've read from other forums that applicants who were accepted at USC don't know how much they are awarded until they have committed to the program and paid the deposit.

When did you apply to USC? Did you get your acceptance in the mail, in an email, or on the portal that you submitted your application on? Mine just keeps saying that my application has been submitted and i can make some changes to my app until March 25. So I'm not sure where I need to keep eye an on for an answer. 

I finished my app on 2/5 and got an email from my admissions counselor on 2/6 that it was complete and now being reviewed by the admissions committee, so I guess it could be any day now? I'm so nervous and a little discouraged...

[CelestialJenkins]

17 hours ago, mimimzungu said:

Congratulations on your acceptance!! I've read from other forums that applicants who were accepted at USC don't know how much they are awarded until they have committed to the program and paid the deposit.

When did you apply to USC? Did you get your acceptance in the mail, in an email, or on the portal that you submitted your application on? Mine just keeps saying that my application has been submitted and i can make some changes to my app until March 25. So I'm not sure where I need to keep eye an on for an answer. 

I finished my app on 2/5 and got an email from my admissions counselor on 2/6 that it was complete and now being reviewed by the admissions committee, so I guess it could be any day now? I'm so nervous and a little discouraged...

I applied around 2/9, I think, and found out on March 1, which was way earlier than I expected.  I was notified via e-mail.  I found out the next day that I was awarded a $10,000 scholarship, and have applied for more (because I need more if I go). 

I won't hear back from all the other programs I applied to until like April, probably, so I asked for an extension to USC.  Hopefully I'll hear about scholarships before then.  I'm sure you'll hear back soon, I think it depends on what your concentration is.  It's such a huge program I'm sure they have different processes depending on what you're planning to do in the program.  I'm betting that they have a lot more folks that apply to the online program, since that can be nation-wide.

Hang in there, they normally take 6-8 weeks.  Good luck!

[mimimzungu]

On 3/7/2018 at 12:53 PM, CelestialJenkins said:

I applied around 2/9, I think, and found out on March 1, which was way earlier than I expected.  I was notified via e-mail.  I found out the next day that I was awarded a $10,000 scholarship, and have applied for more (because I need more if I go). 

I won't hear back from all the other programs I applied to until like April, probably, so I asked for an extension to USC.  Hopefully I'll hear about scholarships before then.  I'm sure you'll hear back soon, I think it depends on what your concentration is.  It's such a huge program I'm sure they have different processes depending on what you're planning to do in the program.  I'm betting that they have a lot more folks that apply to the online program, since that can be nation-wide.

Hang in there, they normally take 6-8 weeks.  Good luck!

I still haven't heard anything from USC. This wait is killing me inside!

Do you think this is a bad sign? I completed my application early February and now it's almost April, and I haven't hears a word from them...

Should I call the admissions office or the admissions counselor that was helping me to see about the status of my application? It's stressing me out each day that passes, not only because I would love to go there, but I'll need to start looking for scholarships. I won't have much time if I'm wanting to start in May.

[CelestialJenkins]

16 hours ago, mimimzungu said:

I still haven't heard anything from USC. This wait is killing me inside!

Do you think this is a bad sign? I completed my application early February and now it's almost April, and I haven't hears a word from them...

Should I call the admissions office or the admissions counselor that was helping me to see about the status of my application? It's stressing me out each day that passes, not only because I would love to go there, but I'll need to start looking for scholarships. I won't have much time if I'm wanting to start in May.

I would call them.  My experience with USC so far is that they’re horrible communicators.  Check your spam, but maybe they just forgot to let you know?

 

That or they’re disorganized and taking a long time.  I know they do rolling admission.

[mimimzungu]

On 3/20/2018 at 1:02 PM, CelestialJenkins said:

I would call them.  My experience with USC so far is that they’re horrible communicators.  Check your spam, but maybe they just forgot to let you know?

 

That or they’re disorganized and taking a long time.  I know they do rolling admission.

So I did call my admissions counselor yesterday and she said that my application was under review. However, 

 

I got my acceptant email today!! I feel a HUGE relief now. Now my main concern is being able to afford it! I don't know if I've been awarded scholarship from USC yet; I haven't been told otherwise. Are there any threads here that I can follow? Do you have suggestions on websites? I only know of FastWeb, but others, I'm not sure if they are legit or are scams. Should I contact the financial aid office for their help? I will NOT do loans, that is for sure. Also, I can defer my acceptance to up to a year, so I think I may do that to give me more time, because I don't know if I'll be able to come up with the money by May.

[Iris.guan]

Congratulationsssssss!!!!!!So proud of you!!

[Fernando0417]

Congratulations!.  I got my acceptance letter today.  I applied for the online program.  I did not get any notifications in regards to any scholarships

[CelestialJenkins]

18 hours ago, Fernando0417 said:

Congratulations!.  I got my acceptance letter today.  I applied for the online program.  I did not get any notifications in regards to any scholarships

I got mine a couple days later, but they weren’t nearly as significant as those received from other schools.