MSW 2022 CANADA APPLICATION FORUM

[Jm123]

1 hour ago, madamemsw2022 said:

hi there!

congratulations on your acceptance, that is so exciting! just out of curiosity, how many hours did you have of experience and if you don't mind sharing, your gpa?

just trying to gauge how competitive to expect this years applications to be.

thank you

Thank you! I am very excited and nervous lol. I am not sure what my exact hour breakdown was at the time of my application but I have worked full time for the past 7 years as a Case Manager for a community agency and had a supplementary relief role last year at a shelter in the evenings and weekends. My GPA is B+. 

Hope that helps!

[madamemsw2022]

1 minute ago, Jm123 said:

Thank you! I am very excited and nervous lol. I am not sure what my exact hour breakdown was at the time of my application but I have worked full time for the past 7 years as a Case Manager for a community agency and had a supplementary relief role last year at a shelter in the evenings and weekends. My GPA is B+. 

Hope that helps!

you are going to kill it, I'm so excited for you!! that is good to know, I do not have as quite much experience but I am going to cross my fingers. Just wondering, how long ago did you apply and how long did it take to hear back?

[Jm123]

2 minutes ago, madamemsw2022 said:

you are going to kill it, I'm so excited for you!! that is good to know, I do not have as quite much experience but I am going to cross my fingers. Just wondering, how long ago did you apply and how long did it take to hear back?

My application was submitted the end of September and my last reference did not submit until October 20th. They connected with me needing more information from a transcript after that, I submitted the information on October 26th and I heard back that I was accepted on November 3rd. 

[Stbee10]

On 10/19/2021 at 10:56 AM, MelaninandJustice said:

Hi everyone!  I just want to extend an invitation to anyone who has any questions about the MSW program at U of T  - especially the application process. I am currently in my first year of the program after applying last year and am super happy in answering questions people may have.

Hi! Are you in one of the specialized programs? How long did you have to wait for the decision?

[roughclub]

Hi everyone!! So glad I found this thread as I'm applying this year for September 2022. Something I've always had concerns about in regards to my application is my GPA. Overall its 68%, 64% for the last 30 credits and 66% for the last 60 credits. I really struggled with my mental health throughout my undergrad degree as well as had family issues which is why it's so low. It's kinda frustrating tbh cause I was a 90%+ student in high school. I'm even re-taking some courses at the moment to try to boost my GPA and still not making that much of an improvement (achieving ~70% on current midterms). Does anyone have thoughts or suggestions on how I can make my application more competitive? My other stats are as follows: 

BA in Psychology + English Literature from UBC

• GPA (as mentioned above): Overall 2.3 / 4.0
  • 60% in Research Methods
• Research Assistant for ~1 year (~256 hours)

Over 4000 hours combined paid and unpaid experience 

• Paid:
  • Social Planner, Community Resource Specialist, Community Support Worker, Summer Camp Leader
• Unpaid:
  • Community Organizer, Crisis Line Volunteer

I'm confident in my ability to write a strong compelling personal statement that also ties to my lived experience as a mentally ill Black queer femme but I'm worried this may not be enough and that my grades may still be a barrier. 

I'm applying to U of T, Carleton, Western, and York this year, with the understanding that I may not get in on my first try.

Anyway any advice is much appreciated

[MelaninandJustice]

1 hour ago, Stbee10 said:

Hi! Are you in one of the specialized programs? How long did you have to wait for the decision?

Hiiii 

I am in the 2 year MSW program, in terms of specializations we get to expand and choose our decision next year ( I am leaning towards the mental health and health stream). I received a letter of offer on April 8th ( around 6:45ish). It appeared on ACORN first only though for me.They did it in rounds over the week ( began with the acceptances, then waitlist) and it was alphabetical I believe.

[Stbee10]

When did you apply? 
I applied for the MSW ITR stream so I think it’s just specialized right away. Not too sure though. I’m so excited to get a decision! Hoping for the right one for me lol

[MelaninandJustice]

On 11/9/2021 at 11:43 PM, Stbee10 said:

When did you apply? 
I applied for the MSW ITR stream so I think it’s just specialized right away. Not too sure though. I’m so excited to get a decision! Hoping for the right one for me lol

I applied in 2020's December round. I'm excited for you! The ITR stream is amazing, I had a colleague just finish the program and each cohort in that specialization become super close.

[HBSW2021]

On 10/29/2021 at 1:19 PM, riaveda said:

Hi all. Does anyone know how the Lakehead BSW program went this year? Was it online or in person? 

Hey! If you're referring to the one-year HBSW I'm currently in the program now and it's online! However, the MSW program at Lakehead is currently in-person and it's likely that the HBSW will return to on-campus next year. I hope that helps! 

[riaveda]

38 minutes ago, HBSW2021 said:

Hey! If you're referring to the one-year HBSW I'm currently in the program now and it's online! However, the MSW program at Lakehead is currently in-person and it's likely that the HBSW will return to on-campus next year. I hope that helps! 

Thanks @HBSW2021 that is very helpful! How have you found the program so far? 

[Pastalini]

On 11/8/2021 at 12:32 PM, madamemsw2022 said:

hi there!

congratulations on your acceptance, that is so exciting! just out of curiosity, how many hours did you have of experience and if you don't mind sharing, your gpa?

just trying to gauge how competitive to expect this years applications to be.

thank you

wow Congratulations! 

[M.grad]

On 11/7/2021 at 9:12 PM, Jm123 said:

I just got accepted into Windsors MSWwp Sept 2022 start. Is there anyone in that program that has insight into the time commitment other than course weekends? Any insight into the program and how you like it would be helpful

Congratulations!! I was also accepted in Sept 2022 start! 

My sister completed this program a few years ago and she said it's about 10 hours of work outside of class time. I would also like to hear input from students who've been doing it online.

[Waiting4AdmissionDecisions]

On 11/9/2021 at 10:20 PM, roughclub said:

Hi everyone!! So glad I found this thread as I'm applying this year for September 2022. Something I've always had concerns about in regards to my application is my GPA. Overall its 68%, 64% for the last 30 credits and 66% for the last 60 credits. I really struggled with my mental health throughout my undergrad degree as well as had family issues which is why it's so low. It's kinda frustrating tbh cause I was a 90%+ student in high school. I'm even re-taking some courses at the moment to try to boost my GPA and still not making that much of an improvement (achieving ~70% on current midterms). Does anyone have thoughts or suggestions on how I can make my application more competitive? My other stats are as follows: 

BA in Psychology + English Literature from UBC

• GPA (as mentioned above): Overall 2.3 / 4.0
  • 60% in Research Methods
• Research Assistant for ~1 year (~256 hours)

Over 4000 hours combined paid and unpaid experience 

• Paid:
  • Social Planner, Community Resource Specialist, Community Support Worker, Summer Camp Leader
• Unpaid:
  • Community Organizer, Crisis Line Volunteer

I'm confident in my ability to write a strong compelling personal statement that also ties to my lived experience as a mentally ill Black queer femme but I'm worried this may not be enough and that my grades may still be a barrier. 

I'm applying to U of T, Carleton, Western, and York this year, with the understanding that I may not get in on my first try.

Anyway any advice is much appreciated

Hey! It sounds like your experience is strong, and I think some schools do let you submit a letter of explanation if your grades are a bit lower.

I will just note that you may want to check out the minimum grade requirements before you apply, and contact admissions people to see if they are firm? Often they're set by the school of graduate studies at a given university, and not the faculty/school of social work itself, and so the program might not have a choice on waiving that requirement. Applications are expensive, so I would just check before you apply!

If you're planning to continue taking courses to boost your grades if you don't get in next year, it might make sense to check out second degree entry BSWs (in ON, Lakehead, Carleton, McMaster, Windsor, Waterloo? and York all have programs). I think they tend to more often let you submit a letter of explanation with your application (Carleton does for sure). There are some advantages to doing a BSW first and then an MSW - more practicum hours overall, and the potential to work more directly in the social work field after you finish if you choose to, or if you don't get into an MSW straight away after. You also have more options for schools if you end up doing an advanced standing MSW. Not saying it's the right path for everyone, but an option!

[Alex24]

Hello friends

application is in for dal’s online msw…now we wait ?

[makttrrr]

On 11/12/2021 at 6:30 AM, M.grad said:

Congratulations!! I was also accepted in Sept 2022 start! 

My sister completed this program a few years ago and she said it's about 10 hours of work outside of class time. I would also like to hear input from students who've been doing it online.

What day did you apply and when were you accepted?

[M.grad]

13 hours ago, makttrrr said:

What day did you apply and when were you accepted?

I applied Sept 16th and was accepted 7 weeks later. 

 

I had previously applied to the January 22 start and was waitlisted after 15 weeks. 

[madamemsw2022]

hi friends,

My last reference handed in her form for the MSWWP last night! So now we just wait

wish me luck,

madame

[ghostfacekillah]

hi everyone!

has anyone else applied to york? i've uploaded everything...but no email from them stating "application complete," or "application received." now i'm wondering - am i missing something!?

Edited November 21, 2021 by chrissypeddle

[AlexaS]

Hi everyone!! I remember how stressful applying to my MSW was last year and just want to say you are almost at the finish line  Thought I would share my perspective of the process. I find that it's really difficult to say which schools are more "competitive" simply because each school looks for something different in candidates and it's hard to really tell what each school looks for. I had little confidence in myself while applying for schools, I had about 2000hrs of direct experience in children's mental health and employment services, an 84% average, and some research experience as I wrote an undergraduate thesis. I applied for Windsor, Laurier, and UofT as well as Lakehead's 1-year BSW program. I was accepted into lakehead, but waitlisted for all 3 MSW programs. I was accepted off the waitlist for Windsor in May and very surprisingly, I was accepted off of UofT's program a week before classes started. I am now attending UofT and I am loving the program.

My main point is to not doubt yourself! You don't have to have the most hours of experience or the highest grades, but it's how you relate your experience to social work. Don't be afraid to show off who you are! I remember not wanting to come off ignorant, but it is important to be confident in your personal statement. 

Wish you all the best of luck!

[hopefulsomehow]

 

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Edited November 23, 2021 by hopefulsomehow

[priawet]

To those finishing up your applications these next 2 months like myself, keep going y'all! We're almost there! I finally submitted my Laurier application for the 2 year MSW (it was 32 pages - crazy!) tonight and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders! 

1 or 2 more to go... 

 

[makttrrr]

Has anyone that applied to UWindsor MSWwp in past 3 weeks heard anything back yet?

[hopefulsomehow]

Hi everyone, I am about to submit my application for U of T without completing the CV and other forms. Before submitting, I want to confirm that once you submit you can come back on and add the application forms (CV, personal statements, field placement form). 

I dont want to submit an incomplete application but want to make sure it is submitted before the 30th

 

[okayidk]

Hi! Just wanted to see if anyone can confirm that York's admission deadline for the 2-year MSW program is Dec 15? The website says the application is available from October 15-Dec 15, but I couldn't find a specific deadline listed for documents (SOP, CV, supplementary form) and just wanted to check

Edited November 25, 2021 by okayidk

[MSWMa]

This board seems pretty quiet compared to previous years. I wonder if there’s reasoning it just luck of the year?