UC Berkeley MSW Statistics

[lemondrop]

When I was looking into MSW programs to apply to for 2011, I decided that UC Berkeley would be my first choice. I couldn't find any hard data about how competitive Cal's program was online, and tried to guess what kind of applicants they like by looking at old forum threads where people shared their GPA/scores/experience and whether they got accepted or declined. As it turns out, the School of Social Welfare has their own data, which they shared with prospective students at info sessions last year. If you're wondering what your chances are, especially since the application deadline has now passed and there's nothing left to do but wait, here are some useful statistics they gave us about last year's applicants:

2010 Applicant Info

Medians:

- GRE Verbal: 550/70%

- GPA: 3.61

- Age: 26

Admission Statistics:

586 applications

99 admitted

Also very important to them: "Knowledge of social welfare field and professional commitment to social work (1 year of experience)." That's at least one year's worth of experience at 40/hrs a week (full-time).

I hope this is helpful to someone. Good luck to all applicants!

[evilpupil]

that does stress me out a little bit. My stats are all across the board a TINY BIT lower than their medians. but i have had awesome work experience + life. Hm...

When I was looking into MSW programs to apply to for 2011, I decided that UC Berkeley would be my first choice. I couldn't find any hard data about how competitive Cal's program was online, and tried to guess what kind of applicants they like by looking at old forum threads where people shared their GPA/scores/experience and whether they got accepted or declined. As it turns out, the School of Social Welfare has their own data, which they shared with prospective students at info sessions last year. If you're wondering what your chances are, especially since the application deadline has now passed and there's nothing left to do but wait, here are some useful statistics they gave us about last year's applicants:

2010 Applicant Info

Medians:

- GRE Verbal: 550/70%

- GPA: 3.61

- Age: 26

Admission Statistics:

586 applications

99 admitted

Also very important to them: "Knowledge of social welfare field and professional commitment to social work (1 year of experience)." That's at least one year's worth of experience at 40/hrs a week (full-time).

I hope this is helpful to someone. Good luck to all applicants!

[avocado]

When I was looking into MSW programs to apply to for 2011, I decided that UC Berkeley would be my first choice. I couldn't find any hard data about how competitive Cal's program was online, and tried to guess what kind of applicants they like by looking at old forum threads where people shared their GPA/scores/experience and whether they got accepted or declined. As it turns out, the School of Social Welfare has their own data, which they shared with prospective students at info sessions last year. If you're wondering what your chances are, especially since the application deadline has now passed and there's nothing left to do but wait, here are some useful statistics they gave us about last year's applicants:

2010 Applicant Info

Medians:

- GRE Verbal: 550/70%

- GPA: 3.61

- Age: 26

Admission Statistics:

586 applications

99 admitted

Also very important to them: "Knowledge of social welfare field and professional commitment to social work (1 year of experience)." That's at least one year's worth of experience at 40/hrs a week (full-time).

I hope this is helpful to someone. Good luck to all applicants!

Thanks! Do they mainly focus on the verbal score for the GRE? What about people who are applying straight out of an undergrad program and could not work full time?

[lemondrop]

Thanks! Do they mainly focus on the verbal score for the GRE? What about people who are applying straight out of an undergrad program and could not work full time?

Yes, the main focus is on the verbal score. They do not even track the math scores. I specifically asked them this because my math skills are appalling. But... having said that, any school is going to look twice if it looks like you didn't even try, right?

[lemondrop]

that does stress me out a little bit. My stats are all across the board a TINY BIT lower than their medians. but i have had awesome work experience + life. Hm...

Work experience is really important to them. At the info session, they had some current MSW students there to tell their stories and answer questions. One thing I noticed was that not one of them said "I went straight from undergrad to the MSW program." They all took a break from school and had work experience.

On the other hand.. I just spoke to someone who works at the organization I work at, who was a Berkeley MSW grad. She DID go straight through from undergrad, but she was put on the wait list. She did not have much experience in the field, but she went to Cal for undergrad and had a 3.8 GPA. She was also accepted into UCLA. That was several years ago though, and I think Berkeley has gotten more selective so maybe they take experience into greater consideration now.

[lemondrop]

I called the School of Social Welfare and asked about statistics for this year.

Here's an update:

Q: How many people applied?

A: Over 700.

Q: When will we hear back about decisions?

A: Everyone should hear back by the first week of April, by email. Should not be later than the 4th.

Q: How many people applied for the Community Mental Health concentration?

A: 180-190.

Q: How many spots are there for people in this concentration?

A: 24-26.

So.. in other words, more than 100 more people applied this year compared to last year, and they are accepting fewer students. I think at the info session they said that they had 26-28 people in the CMH concentration last year.

(If any Berkeley admissions people are reading this and something here is incorrect, please feel free to correct).

Final thoughts: I'm not getting my hopes up.

[AZmsw]

I called the School of Social Welfare and asked about statistics for this year.

Here's an update:

Q: How many people applied?

A: Over 700.

Q: When will we hear back about decisions?

A: Everyone should hear back by the first week of April, by email. Should not be later than the 4th.

Q: How many people applied for the Community Mental Health concentration?

A: 180-190.

Q: How many spots are there for people in this concentration?

A: 24-26.

So.. in other words, more than 100 more people applied this year compared to last year, and they are accepting fewer students. I think at the info session they said that they had 26-28 people in the CMH concentration last year.

(If any Berkeley admissions people are reading this and something here is incorrect, please feel free to correct).

Final thoughts: I'm not getting my hopes up.

I posted this earlier on another thread, but I called the admissions office at Berkeley today. The woman I talked to asked for my name and concentration and said I should hear back by March 4th. I wonder if it'll be March 4th or April 4th....?

[lemondrop]

I posted this earlier on another thread, but I called the admissions office at Berkeley today. The woman I talked to asked for my name and concentration and said I should hear back by March 4th. I wonder if it'll be March 4th or April 4th....?

March!!!! Big, big typo. March 4th, not April 4th!!! Thanks for pointing that out!

[evilpupil]

I called the School of Social Welfare and asked about statistics for this year.

Here's an update:

Q: How many people applied?

A: Over 700.

Q: When will we hear back about decisions?

A: Everyone should hear back by the first week of April, by email. Should not be later than the 4th.

Q: How many people applied for the Community Mental Health concentration?

A: 180-190.

Q: How many spots are there for people in this concentration?

A: 24-26.

So.. in other words, more than 100 more people applied this year compared to last year, and they are accepting fewer students. I think at the info session they said that they had 26-28 people in the CMH concentration last year.

(If any Berkeley admissions people are reading this and something here is incorrect, please feel free to correct).

Final thoughts: I'm not getting my hopes up.

that is insane. That's 2 in every 10 people. I think I'd agree with you there. I'm not getting my hopes up. I thought I had a strong chance, but I'm not so sure anymore....

[lmcfarlin]

that is insane. That's 2 in every 10 people. I think I'd agree with you there. I'm not getting my hopes up. I thought I had a strong chance, but I'm not so sure anymore....

Sadly, it is even less. If they decide to be generous, that is a 14.4% admittance rate. Scary!

[smgirl2010]

i got a personal phone call from my future health services advisor for Cal's MSW program yesterday... was SO excited.

not sure how many people applied and how many got in, but i was too excited to ask!

[lilli]

So does that mean that ppl are already getting in. I think I am going to freak out, those stats are very sad.... I guess I should lower my hopes too. I have the work experience in spades and am right at the median for everything but GPA. Is that GPA overall, or everything but your first 60 credits? This is tourture.

[lemondrop]

i got a personal phone call from my future health services advisor for Cal's MSW program yesterday... was SO excited.

not sure how many people applied and how many got in, but i was too excited to ask!

Congratulations!! I think you're the first on this forum to get accepted at Berkeley.

Edited February 18, 2011 by lemondrop

[lemondrop]

So does that mean that ppl are already getting in. I think I am going to freak out, those stats are very sad.... I guess I should lower my hopes too. I have the work experience in spades and am right at the median for everything but GPA. Is that GPA overall, or everything but your first 60 credits? This is tourture.

I'm not sure. The way I typed it out was exactly what it said on the handout we got at the info session. I assume it is overall GPA, but I really don't know.

[MSW11]

I'm pretty sure the GPA should be for the last 60. This is what I was told when I went to an info session, but I went to the info session the year before. I even asked for clarification after the info session because I have 120+. I was told that they generally calculate the last 60, but do whatever they can to caluclate and get the highest GPA possible...so perhaps they will calculate both and use whichever is higher.

smgirl2010, Congratulations on your acceptance!!

I'm not sure. The way I typed it out was exactly what it said on the handout we got at the info session. I assume it is overall GPA, but I really don't know.

[lilli]

Yup, just called, mental health will hear ON march 4 by email. I almost wish I didnt know the day. T-14 days!

I'm not sure. The way I typed it out was exactly what it said on the handout we got at the info session. I assume it is overall GPA, but I really don't know.

[lilli]

Well, thats better. Then I am exactly at the median on everything. Guess its just a ticking clock now.

I'm pretty sure the GPA should be for the last 60. This is what I was told when I went to an info session, but I went to the info session the year before. I even asked for clarification after the info session because I have 120+. I was told that they generally calculate the last 60, but do whatever they can to caluclate and get the highest GPA possible...so perhaps they will calculate both and use whichever is higher.

smgirl2010, Congratulations on your acceptance!!

[MSW11]

Just posted on the other thread. I just got an email and have been waitlisted. I applied for the gerontology concentration, which apparently had 6/7 slots available, so I'm not all that surprised. I guess many of us will be hearing soon...

[smgirl2010]

thanks everyone! now if only ucla would call back too.. :-/

[evilpupil]

march 2nd guys. anyone heard back? lemondrop? community mental health concentration?

[lemondrop]

Nope, haven't heard anything. 2 days left to wait!

[evilpupil]

lemondrop... march 4th. still nothing.

[dressagester]

I just called to check my status and was told they are sending out emails today and Monday. The wait continues... :-/

march 2nd guys. anyone heard back? lemondrop? community mental health concentration?

[evilpupil]

I just called to check my status and was told they are sending out emails today and Monday. The wait continues... :-/

brutal. i spent all day waiting literally.

[lemondrop]

Just got an email! I have been waitlisted. The email said that they accept around 30% of the students off the waitlist each year, and to respond to say if I am interested in remaining on the list.

At least now I know that they are considering me. The big wait is finally over!

GOOD LUCK to everyone else and please keep us updated!