Spring2014 thread

[bellebruin]

Anyone just applying to one school??? I am and lately having second thoughts about it but it is really the only school I want to go to. Anyone have any experience with the MSW program at San Diego State University?? 

[TLC]

bellebruin- SDSU sends out acceptance letters in March. I know several graduates of the MSW program as well. If you have specific questions you are welcome to inbox me, or I can answer them openly. Your choice.

[bellebruin]

Thanks! I will send you a PM. 

[zizek!85]

Found out today that I got into Hunter!

[melmoose]

zizek !! nice!!!!! we gonna be in the same class?? whats your plan?

[newyorkla19]

Congrats Zizek - did you interview at Hunter?

[zizek!85]

@newyorkla: Yes, I interviewed on Tuesday the previous week and received word of my acceptance the following Tuesday.

 

@melmoose: Yes, definitely. Hunter was by far the best option for me; see you soon.

 

For other applicants, still no word from NYU but received an email from Columbia apologizing for not having rendered a decision before Thanksgiving, that applications were still being reviewed.

[newyorkla19]

Just got my Hunter interview date. It's my first choice (with NYU as a backup) any tips for the interview?

[zizek!85]

You will be asked to say why you want to study social work at Hunter. Talking about their focus and how it relates to your experience/interests would be a good idea. The moderator seems to monitor the group dynamic. My advice to you is to be assertive while fashioning your responses to what others are saying in the group. Another question I was asked was when did you ever feel like an "Other"? This question relates to the focus on oppression and working with at-risk populations shared by much of the faculty (and also encompassed by the writing sample at the end which differs for each interviewee). The group was also given a clinical example of working with an elderly client who one day decides to cook you dinner - what do you do? Some in the group talked about the ethical dilemma; however, I focused on the behavior - what does this mean (for this is a significant change). I have a masters in psychoanalysis, have been doing therapy with psychotic patients, and work as a caregiver for an elderly population so this question was perfect for me. Past students have told me that they often ask which population you would not be comfortable working with (but this was not asked at my interview). Hope this helps.

[newyorkla19]

Thank you so much. Hunter is my first choice. I got into Columbia today as well, but really want Hunter. Congrats again. 

[hiclub2]

congrats for spring admit. How well did you do in your stats class?

[zizek!85]

Just got into NYU. Would I be stupid to pass up Hunter?

[washrag]

Received Hunter acceptance last week. I've still got apps out to Smith and Penn and struggling to figure out what my final criteria for making the decision will be.

[MAH7802]

Hi All - has anyone heard from Columbia? I heard back from both NYU and Hunter, but am still waiting and wanted to see if that was the general consensus. Thanks!!

[zizek!85]

Hi MAH7802, just found out today that I was accepted to Columbia. Will be attending Hunter in the Spring. Congrats everyone.

[MAH7802]

@zizek!85 - thanks for your quick reply! If you don't mind me asking, why Hunter over Columbia or any others that you may have applied to? I was accepted to Hunter and it is probably my top choice but I just want to weigh all of my options.

[zizek!85]

To be honest, my top choice was NYU given it's psychodynamic focus. However, the cost of attendance was just too much to bear. I have begun working toward certification in psychoanalysis rendering the difference in clinical focus, in a sense, moot. After I came to realize that Hunter provided reasonable training and that it was primarily my desire as a public school lifer to train at a prestigious school that was driving me toward NYU/Columbia, I was then able to make the more realistic and appropriate choice. Really, it is not difficult to get into SW school (although more difficult to get into Hunter) and employers know that. A few electives does not a future make. Hope this helps.

[lagranhermana]

zizek!85 -- will you be working on your psychoanalysis certification while doing the MSW? i was deciding for a while between getting a master's in psychoanalysis and an MSW. i went for the MSW, knowing I could work towards my certification post graduation. I'm curious to know how you're liking it, where it is that you're studying, and why did you decide to get the MSW in addition? i'm sorry to bombard you with all these questions, i haven't had anyone to ask!

[zizek!85]

No problem. A key factor for me was getting to work with patients. The MSW gets me my union card so to speak and also provides a way to finance the long, expensive process that is certification. In 36 months I can earn an LCSW and begin building a practice billing insurance. Without a master's in hand I did not qualify for training at an analytic institute and so found one with a terminal masters program - New York Graduate School of Psychoanalysis and Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies. This institute is modern Freudian and focuses on treating severe narcissistic disorders (including schizophrenia) using a drive theory model. As for double dipping, the plan now is to find part-time work at an agency to continue to build my resume. Hope it all works out. Feel free to send me a PM if I can be of more help.

[lagranhermana]

THANK YOU!!!! I just PM'd you...

[hiclub2]

I still havent heard a word from USC for spring admission

[ruby13]

Hi all!

 

I was accepted to NYU and Columbia's accelerated programs on 12/5 and 12/6 and had my Hunter admissions interview today. I was really nervous, and I'm sure everyone else was too, but I think we all did OK.

 

I decided long ago that I would pick Columbia over NYU because I have heard more positive things about their program and had the opportunity to work with a few Columbia students. However, if I get into Hunter, I'm not sure which I would pick. My experience with Hunter graduates has been overall negative, but that might have just been because of where I was working. How does everyone else feel about the schools? I honestly didn't think I would get multiple offers, so I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.