Fall 2019 MSW stats? (Experience, GPA, anxiety, etc.)

[cymsw1163]

Hi all, 

I’m planning on applying for MSW programs, and though I know we have a new more weeks before apps open, I’m having some anxiety over it all! My goal is to go on to become a LCSW, and I have an interest in mental health. I hope one day to work with immigrants and refugees. I have just graduated with a BA in Psychology, overall GPA 3.86. I plan on asking two professors and one internship supervisor for letters of rec. 

It’s on experience I’m having some nerves over. I know usually MSW students are older with years of experience. My experience is as follows: 

Two years of part time work as a tutor (working with new immigrant elementary aged children and underserved youth).

Three months research experience at a developmental psychology lab, looking at how newborns acquire language (there was a lot of data entry and stats analysis, but also plenty of interaction with the moms and babies that came in!).

Eight months volunteering experience at an assisted nursing facility (where I also interned ar the facility’s acute psych hospital, having one in one chats with the patients and assisting with group therapy).

Two months in Cambodia, teaching elementary school aged kids English.

One year as a Teacher’s Assistant. The class was for community service (which was required at my university). So while I didn’t have to actually lecture, I did assist the students with any questions they had and assisted  the prof. with communications between various charities and non-profits. 

All together, I’m at around 1,500 hours, so while I have plenty of expericence, I don’t have much depth at each place. Is this an issue? Also, as I hope to work with refugees/immigrants, is this an issue because most of my experience is with children? Can I spin it somehow? Should I even apply this year or wait until next year and get more experience in the meantime?

Do I have a chance with any MSW program? 

Some schools I’m eyeing are UW, NYC, Columbia, UChicago...and some CSUs. 

Please help, and feel free to share your story as well! 

Edited July 30, 2018 by cymsw1163

[louise86]

I don't think it hurts to apply this year. The worst that can happen is you are not accepted and then you just reapply next year. If you are not accepted this year you can request feedback on your applications and work to strengthen for the following year. If you are set on starting a program next fall then you might want to broaden your school list with a couple of safety schools that aren't so competitive.

Working with undeserved populations is good and strengthens your application, but it's important to understand that tutoring/teaching kids is not social work or social services related experience. It's tutoring/teaching experience. Teaching English in Cambodia may not be looked at in a favorable light. The assisted living facility volunteering and internship is great, but it's the only social services experience you have. What are "one on one chats"? The TA experience also looks nice especially if you plan on applying for one in your MSW program.

The research experience is nice, but what does "interaction with the moms and babies" mean? Like greeting them? General chit chat? Or something that actually contributed to the research? Data entry and stat analysis is enough so if your interactions with the subjects wasn't meaningful I probably wouldn't mention it.

Many refugees and immigrants are children so that's not a problem. I think the bigger hurdle to overcome is explaining why you chose social work and why you want to be a social worker. Your undergrad is in psychology so why not a graduate program in psychology? Most of your experience is tutoring/teaching so why not a career in that area? Why social work specifically?

 

 

[BackNSchool83]

If you are applying to CSUs or UCs there is a facebook page you should also check out in addition to Grad Cafe called UC and CSU MSW Applicant Support Group

[doctormelody]

On 7/29/2018 at 9:30 PM, cymsw1163 said:

Hi all, 

I’m planning on applying for MSW programs, and though I know we have a new more weeks before apps open, I’m having some anxiety over it all! My goal is to go on to become a LCSW, and I have an interest in mental health. I hope one day to work with immigrants and refugees. I have just graduated with a BA in Psychology, overall GPA 3.86. I plan on asking two professors and one internship supervisor for letters of rec. 

It’s on experience I’m having some nerves over. I know usually MSW students are older with years of experience. My experience is as follows: 

Two years of part time work as a tutor (working with new immigrant elementary aged children and underserved youth).

Three months research experience at a developmental psychology lab, looking at how newborns acquire language (there was a lot of data entry and stats analysis, but also plenty of interaction with the moms and babies that came in!).

Eight months volunteering experience at an assisted nursing facility (where I also interned ar the facility’s acute psych hospital, having one in one chats with the patients and assisting with group therapy).

Two months in Cambodia, teaching elementary school aged kids English.

One year as a Teacher’s Assistant. The class was for community service (which was required at my university). So while I didn’t have to actually lecture, I did assist the students with any questions they had and assisted  the prof. with communications between various charities and non-profits. 

All together, I’m at around 1,500 hours, so while I have plenty of expericence, I don’t have much depth at each place. Is this an issue? Also, as I hope to work with refugees/immigrants, is this an issue because most of my experience is with children? Can I spin it somehow? Should I even apply this year or wait until next year and get more experience in the meantime?

Do I have a chance with any MSW program? 

Some schools I’m eyeing are UW, NYC, Columbia, UChicago...and some CSUs. 

Please help, and feel free to share your story as well! 

I mean, I got into Columbia with absolutely zero experience last year and your GPA is also better than mine, so I think you'll be fine as long as you write a compelling essay, etc. No idea about the other schools. Did you mean to say NYU?

[BackNSchool83]

Also I think the OP asking about experience has enough experience to get in most places, but to max your chances I would do a good job on your resume and SOPs, good LORs and apply as close to the start of the application season as you can.

[AMiscione]

I am looking into MSW as well. My goal is an LCSW, for I have a passion for mental health. I am currently a senior psychology student at CSUF. I am planning to apply to CSUF, CSULB, CSUSM, and UCLA. UCLA would be the dream, but I lack the confidence that I am qualified enough/ will succeed in their program. Here are my stats:

3.25 overall GPA, 3.80 Major GPA, 3.85 last 60 units (as the applications ask for). 

I have been doing ABA therapy for children with autism and other developmental disabilities for 3 years now. Within that, I was promoted to parent consult, where I teach the parents ABA therapy. I have been a parent consult for 1.5 years. I run programs with my clients and take data on their progression towards goals. I work in them with behavioral, communicational, cognitive skills. 

I am a volunteer Youth Mentor for the Mental Health Association of Orange County. I help my client with existing mental health needs by working on her goals as provided by her therapist. I additionally write monthly reports about her meeting her goals. Goals include self-esteem, assertion, self-sufficiency, independent living, etc.. 

I am a peer mentor for the psychology department at CSUF. I hold office hours for students, hold study skills workshops, help with academic questions, APA formatting, job searching, resume building, etc. I am also the co-editor of the psychology newsletter. 

Other than that, I am a member of 2 psychology clubs. 

Also, I have taken a large number of sociology courses that I feel would nicely suit social work for they illustrated concepts about social injustice/ inequality. For example, sociology of: gender, sex and society, social inequality, drugs, ethnic/minority relations, interaction, etc... 

I tend to doubt myself and my abilities to get into graduate school for social work- but I am hoping this can be a positive and uplifting environment for all of us when it comes to submitting our applications! I hope to hear from you guys, thank you! 

Edited October 4, 2018 by AMiscione