What kind of experience do you have?

[MSW13]

Just curious about the type of experience people have.  We all know what a good gpa looks like, but what about experience? It would be nice to kind of guess where you stand in terms of 'average' experience, but I have no idea what that is!  Anyone want to share what they've got in terms of type of experience or months/years doing it?

[almedina]

I've done 3 different research studies as well as presentating at the Ohio NASW chapter conference. I also worked on a project that was developed under the new health reform law, which was an assessment of community health. Besides that I have completed two separate volunteer experiences for the past 2 years. One at a food bank and another at an agency that works with children and mental health. It's not much experience but I didn't realize the importance of volunteering/getting involved into my sophomore year of college.

[awright228]

Just curious about the type of experience people have.  We all know what a good gpa looks like, but what about experience? It would be nice to kind of guess where you stand in terms of 'average' experience, but I have no idea what that is!  Anyone want to share what they've got in terms of type of experience or months/years doing it?

 

I consider myself to have very little experience. I have average volunteer experience through organizations I was a part of during my graduate studies, and then has far as practical experience I currently am working at an organization that works for the Friend of Court and does custody evals, guardianship evals, home visits, ect...I've been doing that for a semster as part of the clinic program at our school. Through my current program (I'm getting my JD) I was able to take some graduate level social work classes so that's been good.

[SammR]

I was also wondering this in terms of where I stood against other applicants. I have volunteered at a big mental health angency in NY for about a year and a half for those who were mentally ill. I also volunteered at my local hospital in the emergency department for about 7 months. I've thought that this was significant experience, but I'm not a 100% sure what admissions commitees really consider to be significant. I'm sure each school differs, I know some schools that don't mind if you don't have any, as long as you've worked somewhere that can vouch for your skills. Some schools I'm sure want to see years in a social work setting.

 

I graduate this semester from undergrad.

Edited February 13, 2013 by SammR

[paige_elizabeth10]

I've definitely been curious about where I stand compared to others. I'm finishing up my undergrad this semester so I have always felt that I am lacking in experience since I haven't worked in the field full time. But I do have some SW related experience: I am an on-call residential youth counselor for an emergency shelter and have participated in two service learning programs through my university (I was a participant for one year and a trip facilitator/leader the next year). I feel as though my academic success is the only thing I have going for me. Aside from gpa, I have been a research assistant under two professors where I presented research at an international conference and have been trained in statistics software (datadesk and SPSS). Other small things have been mentoring high school students and participating in the Students Against Slavery club at my school. 

 

I always think that perhaps I should have taken a year off to get more experience, but I feel I am academically capable for grad school and want to go straight out of undergrad 

[MSW13]

Since you've already been accepted to a couple of programs, this should give you the confidence to know that the admissions committee believes you are plenty capable of making the transition.    I've been working as a Social Worker for many years and have seen lots of grad students along the way.  The vast majority did not have years of experience prior to entering grad school.  However, what they did have was maturity and a keen interest in learning.  One thing is true, no matter how long you've been doing this job, you will always be in situations that are new to you.  It is your ability to handle these situations that will define you professionally, not your age. At least that is my opinion    

I always think that perhaps I should have taken a year off to get more experience, but I feel I am academically capable for grad school and want to go straight out of undergrad 

[MSW13]

I'm really surpised and impressed by the amount of great experience you guys have listed here!  Are you all applying to the 2 year program or are any of you advanced standing applicants?

Edited February 13, 2013 by MSW13

[barleythebulldog]

I have also wondered...I have been a volunteer counselor/advocate for victims of sexual violence and abuse since 2009. I have also worked for a food bank. I also (for a Winter Break) volunteered for my hometown's pregnancy center. I don't really have any WORKING experience, just an adequate amount of volunteer service.

[paige_elizabeth10]

Since you've already been accepted to a couple of programs, this should give you the confidence to know that the admissions committee believes you are plenty capable of making the transition.    I've been working as a Social Worker for many years and have seen lots of grad students along the way.  The vast majority did not have years of experience prior to entering grad school.  However, what they did have was maturity and a keen interest in learning.  One thing is true, no matter how long you've been doing this job, you will always be in situations that are new to you.  It is your ability to handle these situations that will define you professionally, not your age. At least that is my opinion    

 

Ah, that is encouraging. What I lack in experience I feel I make up for in passion for this field! I am applying to a 2 year as the advanced standing doesn't apply to me (I'm studying Psychology) 

[RubySohoPDX]

I've worked for 5 years in a residential treatment center for women that qualify for dual diagnosis services that are either pregnant or have children under 7 (their kiddos live with them in treatment). I am also finishing up my SW practicum placement at a residential alcohol and drug treatment center for adolescents in the criminal justice system (the kids are housed in the detention center and the county contracts out to an agency for services).

 

In regards to research, I've completed two intensive summer internships funded by NIDA at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Minnesota. At Penn I was on two separate projects; one was look at general risk factors subjects for the HIV vaccine participated in and another was the development of mindfulness project for opiate addicts that require pain management meds. I also did bio research that summer at Drexel looking at the effects of the combination of amphetamines and traumatic brain injuries on memory. At the University of Minnesota I was working on a project that was implementing a new parenting program for returning veterans to help them re-integrate and parent after experiencing war.

 

Regarding the advanced standing question-I'm graduating with my BA in psych and BSW so have been applying for the advanced standing option.  

[carrielynn]

I graduated in 2009 with a Sociology degree, having worked as an undergraduate assistant - mostly tutoring students in statistics and quantitative research, using SPSS, etc. I also completed a summer internship at a foster care agency. Since then I have worked more or less continuously in direct services. I started out as a case manager for a juvenile behavioral health center, then I moved to California in 2010 and worked two jobs, one as a counselor at a homeless shelter and the other as an administrative assistant for a Social Security Disability attorney. Since November of 2011 I have worked as a call specialist at a branch of 211, a nationwide information and referral center for health and human services.

 

When I started the application process, I felt like I did not have a ton of experience, but I'm starting to feel more confident about it.

[bbergstrom]

I spent a summer in Tanzania and Zanzibar working with HIV+ women and children, which ended up being my senior research and thesis topic for my Social Sciences degree (The Effect of Education on the Stigmatization of HIV+ Individuals in Rural Tanzania).. I have been out of school for two years, both of which I have been working for AmeriCorps (a government funded volunteer program where we are paid "living stipends" equivalent to the poverty line of the places you work). The first year, I traveled around the midwest performing service projects from building houses to tutoring children, to working with disabled individuals. The second year (this year) I have been working in an inner-city school in CT providing wrap around services to underprivileged children, making sure their social/emotional needs are met, and trying to find a way to increase parent engagement. It has been tough, but great! 

 

I think there are many great experiences in undergrad careers, as well as volunteering, that are just as impressive to admissions committees as paid work. So good luck to all, and what a great field with so many interested future social workers! 

[citychild]

Egad.

Now I'm doubting myself. I'll be graduating with my BSW in May.

I have lengthy volunteer experience. Most notably at a homeless shelter were I have worked with kids, families, and now lead volunteer orientations (as a volunteer). I also have experience with United Way, Salvation Army, a LGBTQ youth group home, a community action office, and various other agencies. I have everything from direct practice experience to handling social media profiles for nonprofits.

Aside from volunteering, I presented at a statewide homeless conference about social service disparities for the LGBTQ community. I presently intern at a homeless coalition.

Regarding research I have been involved in four projects, have done a poster presentation, and have a publication under my belt (2nd author). I'm trained in SPSS and NVivo.

I also won the NASW Profession of Hope essay contest and have an active presence on Twitter which is one of my points of pride ;-)

I love what I do and do what I love!

Edited February 14, 2013 by citychild

[JamieH]

I have extensive experience in group work. I understand the military community which is a population I am very interested in working with. I have a lengthy volunteer resume that includes United Way, AmeriCorps, HandsOn, Girl Scouts, Illinois School Board of Education, and I have just started assisting in a collaborative effort with the Chicago Bears for volunteer work in my county. Academically, I have a solid GPA and I graduated first in my degree program.

[MSW13]

It sounds like everyone has some pretty amazing experience! For anyone reading this who has less than what has been posted so far, dont feel bad about it.   I think we all know of a few people who have been admitted with minimal experience.  This is where the other parts of your application can really help (ie/ great gpa, reference, written statement).

[JamieH]

Definitely MSW13 USC has admitted students without an undergrad degree in social work related focuses! Good luck all!

[gradschoolmom]

Yeah, not nearly the kind of experience described here.  No working or interning experience.  I have done volunteer work for six months with a homeless outreach, an experience working with bereaved parents who have lost children in childbirth, wrote an article for their newsletter.  Spent two weeks on a volunteer trip in Bulgaria.  I've been a volunteer advocate (online) for parents with special needs children.  Unfortunately, with the exception of the homeless outreach, all of these things are situations where I have personal experience and I know there was discussion in my interview about "professional boundaries".  I definitely understand that and SW is not a profession where you just help people who have experienced things you have - that's what a support group coordinator is for.  I definitely tried to stress this in my interview, and specifically asked (when talking about field placements) that I be placed in something very different from my background.  I also have a high degree of passion and enthusiasm for the profession and I think my GPA reflects that.  I graduate in May this year also.

[Goobah]

Wow!  You guys have great and fascinating experiences!  Thanks for the encouragement MSW13.  And after reading this thread I still kinda have no idea where I stand ha!   I definitely have a non-traditional path, and when I was writing up my personal statement, I found it hard to summarize my experiences or "fit-in" all the things I needed to mention.   I tried to touch on some important points, but man it was difficult.    None of my volunteering was specific to social work, so I didn't bother to list every single agency I've volunteered for.   I was just unsure what to do. I'm afraid I ended up being too "non-specific."

 

I am just now graduating (May) with my BS in Psych, and I'm almost 40.  I'm currently working on my Honors Undergrad Thesis and I'm an RA (1 year) and a TA (yes, trying to make up for lost time haha).  So I do have some nice things under my belt, but I also don't have any recent work at all in the social services area.   The local program I applied to specifically states that they give priority to people already working in the field -- and I'm pretty sure I'm not in that group.  I did work for the US Family Support Center overseas while we were stationed there.  In essence that is the military's social services program.  I'm pretty sure all my experience is "on the fence," volunteering and work.  My academic background is very solid leading up to this point, there are just huge gaps from moving etc.  My major background is medical coding and I have a lot of A & P classes etc. 

 

My background is a major jumble of things that would really be good for a military or medical social worker -- I just hope I explained myself decently enough on the application.

I also know someone who was admitted to a program with no background in the social services and only volunteered at her own church.  I think that's the part that freaks me out the most -- the acceptance process is such an unknown!  And she was denied the year before she got accepted.

Good Luck everyone!  May the Force be with you  

[humblegirl]

I ran a talent show to purchase supplies for an orphanage while I was in high school.

I served 10 months in AmeriCorps NCCC (one of the most phenomenal experiences of my life).

I ran a small nonprofit organization for a few years.

I've been a foster parent.

I currently volunteer for an organization that assists victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

I've participated in the McNair program at my university, which included a research internship, presentation that aired on local television, and a publication.

A few conference presentations, guest speaking opportunities (such as a scholarship essay writing class)...

 

Also, my mother has Bipolar I, which taught me crisis management skills at a very early age. I know they say grad school committees don't want to hear sob stories and the general "I want to help people" line, but when you think about it, we all have personal experiences that laid foundation for pursuing a career in this field.

[StenderB]

I currently am a Case Manager with Volunteers of America and have been for just about 2 years.  I case manage female homeless youth ages 16-20 that live in our transitional living facility.  It's an 18-month program where they are either in school or working and we help with employment skills, life skills, therapy groups, and I also immediately put them on county housing lists.   Teens are fun, but they're definitely a group that you either love or hate.

I had to work all throughout my undergrad so my experience is mostly paid since I didn't have the time to be able to consistently volunteer (though I did and do still volunteer at different organizations at least once a month and many times WITH my residents so they can get a positive community experience).  I'm finally going on an Alternative Spring Break trip w/ my alma mater in March though (they accept alumni) so I'm really really excited for that opportunity and to add it to my list of social service experiences  

[CJMSW]

Wow after reading through the experiences of everyone on here I now feel extremely defeated. Sadly I do not have nearly the amount of volunteer experience as anyone here. I finished my BA this past Fall in Criminology so I don't have the advantage of having a BSW which apparently makes me less competitive off the bat. My GPA is below what it should be (2.8) which I know is a huge blow to my application. I do have an essay explaining the reasons why but still I don't know if it will be enough to increase my chances of getting into a program.

 

I did do an internship with a committee of the Dept of Defense for a semester and stayed on for the following year. It was mostly working with their public relations side and assisting members of the National Guard/their families with obtaining jobs in the civilian world. Following that I did an internship with my college's Office of Veterans Affairs to develop support programs on campus (PTSD group counseling, military significant others support group, and assisted in writing a grant for a new reintegration program with veterans who were just entering college). My goal in Social Work is to have a career with the VA or some other organization that works with Veterans/their families. the MSW programs I'm looking at applying to have concentrations/coursework with Veterans/Military personnel so I'm hoping my experience with Veterans and the DoD will help a little.  A few years ago I volunteered at a public school within their special needs department but that's about it.

 

Most of my paid positions were in retail/office work. I just recently started working as a Case Manager with the Red Cross as part of their disaster recovery program. In that position I am working with people effected by Hurricane Sandy who are displaced or are just now starting to get back in their homes. It entails a great deal of advocacy, coordinating services with other non-profits, and developing a long-term care plan for the clients so as to get them as close to "normalcy" as possible.

 

Overall I don't think I'm a strong applicant after reading all of the great work the people in this topic have done. Is it better to hold off on applying till I have more experience? Blah

[humblegirl]

Wow after reading through the experiences of everyone on here I now feel extremely defeated. Sadly I do not have nearly the amount of volunteer experience as anyone here. I finished my BA this past Fall in Criminology so I don't have the advantage of having a BSW which apparently makes me less competitive off the bat. My GPA is below what it should be (2.8) which I know is a huge blow to my application. I do have an essay explaining the reasons why but still I don't know if it will be enough to increase my chances of getting into a program.

 

I did do an internship with a committee of the Dept of Defense for a semester and stayed on for the following year. It was mostly working with their public relations side and assisting members of the National Guard/their families with obtaining jobs in the civilian world. Following that I did an internship with my college's Office of Veterans Affairs to develop support programs on campus (PTSD group counseling, military significant others support group, and assisted in writing a grant for a new reintegration program with veterans who were just entering college). My goal in Social Work is to have a career with the VA or some other organization that works with Veterans/their families. the MSW programs I'm looking at applying to have concentrations/coursework with Veterans/Military personnel so I'm hoping my experience with Veterans and the DoD will help a little.  A few years ago I volunteered at a public school within their special needs department but that's about it.

 

Most of my paid positions were in retail/office work. I just recently started working as a Case Manager with the Red Cross as part of their disaster recovery program. In that position I am working with people effected by Hurricane Sandy who are displaced or are just now starting to get back in their homes. It entails a great deal of advocacy, coordinating services with other non-profits, and developing a long-term care plan for the clients so as to get them as close to "normalcy" as possible.

 

Overall I don't think I'm a strong applicant after reading all of the great work the people in this topic have done. Is it better to hold off on applying till I have more experience? Blah

 

I have a friend who graduated with a BS in Psychology and a BS in Criminology last year. She's currently in an MSW program. I have never heard that having a BSW gives you more of an advantage. I guess in a sense it does because you can complete your degree sooner. Be assured that they will evaluate your application holistically. I don't know the circumstances affecting your GPA, so I can't speak to that, but people do get into graduate school even if they don't meet the minimum GPA requirements. How strong do you think your LOR's were?

 

It sounds like you have some great experiences. If you explained how your values align with your program(s) of interest and the social work field in general, you'll probably be okay. If you don't get in this time, you can always contact the programs and ask how you can strengthen your apps in the future. 

Edited February 16, 2013 by humblegirl

[MSW13]

A BSW is only necessary when you are applying to the 1yr program. Everyone else who applies to the 2yr program is not required to have a BSW. Unless the programs you applied to clearly state a 3.0 or above cut-off, you are still in the running.  The truth is, no matter how much or little experience you have or how high/low your gpa is, you will worry that you are lacking in *something*.  So you are not alone.  Hang in there, you have some really great experience   

 I finished my BA this past Fall in Criminology so I don't have the advantage of having a BSW which apparently makes me less competitive off the bat. My GPA is below what it should be (2.8) which I know is a huge blow to my application.

[JamieH]

Amazingly put MSW13! I think it is especially so with this type of focus since everyone brings a unique perspective.

[StenderB]

Wow after reading through the experiences of everyone on here I now feel extremely defeated. Sadly I do not have nearly the amount of volunteer experience as anyone here. I finished my BA this past Fall in Criminology so I don't have the advantage of having a BSW which apparently makes me less competitive off the bat. My GPA is below what it should be (2.8) which I know is a huge blow to my application. I do have an essay explaining the reasons why but still I don't know if it will be enough to increase my chances of getting into a program.

 

I did do an internship with a committee of the Dept of Defense for a semester and stayed on for the following year. It was mostly working with their public relations side and assisting members of the National Guard/their families with obtaining jobs in the civilian world. Following that I did an internship with my college's Office of Veterans Affairs to develop support programs on campus (PTSD group counseling, military significant others support group, and assisted in writing a grant for a new reintegration program with veterans who were just entering college). My goal in Social Work is to have a career with the VA or some other organization that works with Veterans/their families. the MSW programs I'm looking at applying to have concentrations/coursework with Veterans/Military personnel so I'm hoping my experience with Veterans and the DoD will help a little.  A few years ago I volunteered at a public school within their special needs department but that's about it.

 

Most of my paid positions were in retail/office work. I just recently started working as a Case Manager with the Red Cross as part of their disaster recovery program. In that position I am working with people effected by Hurricane Sandy who are displaced or are just now starting to get back in their homes. It entails a great deal of advocacy, coordinating services with other non-profits, and developing a long-term care plan for the clients so as to get them as close to "normalcy" as possible.

 

Overall I don't think I'm a strong applicant after reading all of the great work the people in this topic have done. Is it better to hold off on applying till I have more experience? Blah

You have plenty of significant experience! I wouldn't be worried if I were you.

And an MSW is a practical/professional degree-- I haven't gotten into an MSW yet but I graduated with a B.S. in Anthropology and a B.S. in Sociology, not a BSW

Edited February 17, 2013 by StenderB