Any 30-something prospective students out there? Are you quitting your full time job for MSW?

[susanbe]

Just out of curiosity, what are everyones ages and how many years of work experience do you all have? I'm 32 and am worried I'll be the senior citizen in the MSW program. I know average MBA students are in their 30s but it seems to be a young crowd on this forum. I've spoken to several people who are currently in an MSW program and they straight from their undergrad, or waited a few years max.

 

Any other 30 somethings out there applying for the MSW program?  If so, are you also struggling with the decision to leave your full time work to be a starving student again?

 

 

[hmsw2013]

Hey,

I will be 40 years old this coming June. I will be attending Fordham . I have right years of social service experience working with many different populations in the Bronx and Harlem. I was laid off from my last social service job on July. The timing is perfect and I will be attending full time . Thankfully my husband has a great job and will be holding down the finances . Don't worry about age. My motto is with age comes experience. I have plenty of real life social work experience ))). Just knock it out and make a difference to the cause

[hmsw2013]

* eight years

[Min.Indy]

Do not worry at all. I'm currently at UNC and there are several people in my cohort who are over forty and are in this program. They tend to have a great rapport with the professors and the students really value their insight. Many individuals are leaving second careers and heading into the program.

Just out of curiosity, what are everyones ages and how many years of work experience do you all have? I'm 32 and am worried I'll be the senior citizen in the MSW program. I know average MBA students are in their 30s but it seems to be a young crowd on this forum. I've spoken to several people who are currently in an MSW program and they straight from their undergrad, or waited a few years max.   Any other 30 somethings out there applying for the MSW program?  If so, are you also struggling with the decision to leave your full time work to be a starving student again?

[pavehawk357]

I am 38 and have no experience!  I was accepted into a wonderful program.  I'm a SAHM to three children under 5, so things get hectic, but where there's a Will there's a way!!  Good luck to you!

[Goobah]

I'm almost 40. I quit 2 years ago to finish undergrad I don't have oodles of social work experience, though I have pertinent job experience. I do have some research experience though. I felt like I fit in with everyone, I may be completely clueless though... Hehehe

[gradschoolmom]

I don't have a lot of experience, and I'm pushing 40.  I'll be attending part time so I can stay home with my kids and work/volunteer, so it's not a choice for me necessarily.  However, I talk to MANY folks who are in this age bracket who are attending. You're not alone!

[KLeeS]

I'm 34.  I quit working in 2007 to go to school. I've been working during my 6 month break between undergrad and grad school, but I don't think I'll be able to do an internship and work at the same time. if I do, it will have to be part time or casual hours.

[Stacy Hill]

I'm still in my 20's but being a "older" student in undergrad I'm thrilled that there will be a larger range of ages in grad school!  You definitely won't be alone.

[Adri.H]

Just turned 30   and from what I've been told they like older students:) I wouldn't worry about your age. 

[reyna323]

I'm 34 and was just accepted to a full-time MSW program!  I am currently a stay-at-home mom with a 4.5yo and a 10yo.  My youngest is starting pre-K in the fall, and of course my oldest is in school too.  My husband makes a comfortable salary, so I decided to go full-time and knock it out quickly so I can get to work sooner.  My social work experience is mostly volunteer and unpaid stuff, so I really feel like I'm starting over to some extent.  But I am a paralegal by trade, so I'm going to check out forensic social work to figure out if I would enjoy marrying those skills together.  Our field placement coordinator said that my experience with the courts should serve me well.

 

Anyway, in response to the OP, I know the feeling about being the old lady.  I believe that most of the older students at my school are probably in the part-time program and are continuing to work, so I do expect to be on the older end of the cohort.  I've been fortunate to be able to stay home with the kids since my youngest was born (i worked full-time when the oldest was little), so I can't exactly relate to the leaving work thing.  I am a little nervous about the transition from full-time home to full-time school, though! 

[Nobodysss]

Hi,

 

I wouldn't worry about your age. I am attending BSW program,and I have people in their 50's in some of my classes.

I am also over 30,and I am going to be close to 40 when I apply for my MSW. I have about 5 years of social work experience. I am planning to attend MSW online and continue to work.

 

Good luck to all of you

[susanbe]

Thanks for the responses everyone! It seems most people our age are attending part-time programs or staying local. Any 30 somethings "over-hauling" their lives for an MSW program (far move, quitting full time job, leaving behind friends/family)? THis is the option I'm facing now, and it sounds silly but I feel like I'm just too old for this type of thing.

[CJMSW]

I'm 26 but I'm facing the same rough decision of quitting work to go to Grad school. I only graduated from undergrad a few months ago but was able to land a job right after graduation (practically unheard of in my state) and was then offered a promotion 2 months later in the field I ultimately want to end up in. So yes, the idea of over-hauling life to go back to school is really overwhelming. The idea of graduating from MSW and NOT being able to find a job right away like I did after undergrad is scary. I was hoping to hear more people on the board who went back for their MSW and somehow managed to keep their jobs as well...but it appears that is a rarity

[susanbe]

CJMSW-

I know quite a few people who did their MSW and continued working through out. I believe this forum is just a select demographic -- the older students who do part time/evening MSW programs don't tend to post on here. I don't know anyone who attended a full time program and continued working though; these people all did online or part time night programs and saw the experience as more of advancing their careers than "the college experience". I'd also assume attending these PT programs is a very different experience in terms of your cohort and learning experience, though though the class curriculum is the same. If this is your plan, don't be discouraged -- like MBA's there are plenty of people who pursue alternative programs....they just don't post on this forum. 

[CJMSW]

CJMSW-

I know quite a few people who did their MSW and continued working through out. I believe this forum is just a select demographic -- the older students who do part time/evening MSW programs don't tend to post on here. I don't know anyone who attended a full time program and continued working though; these people all did online or part time night programs and saw the experience as more of advancing their careers than "the college experience". I'd also assume attending these PT programs is a very different experience in terms of your cohort and learning experience, though though the class curriculum is the same. If this is your plan, don't be discouraged -- like MBA's there are plenty of people who pursue alternative programs....they just don't post on this forum. 

 

Thanks for shedding some light. I was really starting to think it was impossible & I'd be crazy to try keeping my job while going part-time. Would you happen to know of any good part-time programs out there, online? That's really encouraging to hear that you know people who were able to pursue their education while keeping their position.  My biggest concern has been figuring out how to do the fieldwork portion of the MSW programs while working 40 hrs Monday to Friday.

[susanbe]

I believe nearly every top program has an online option. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the best ones as it was never an option for me. There's probably a thread out there about the better online ones....

[insearchofmsw]

I turned 40 this year and am changing careers and going into social work, I am happy to be one of the more mature students in my cohort so I can DOMINATE the kids!  haha just kidding of course, yes there was some trepidation leaving a comfortable job/salary for the student life but I hated my job and wanted to do work in a more fulfilling profession and luckily have a supportive wife who works to help support us.