Any full time workers applied for Fall 2014?

[sweetpiepear]

Hi everyone,

 

I am absolutely new to this forum. I submitted my applications at the end of December. I was wondering if anyone will be working full-time while going to school full-time as well. I would like to connect with you (self-care, duh! =D) to see how you will handle rigorous coursework and your job.

 

I have applied to BC, BU, and Simmons and am still waiting for their decisions. I am going out of my mind!

Good luck everyone!

[nightwolf1129]

Since MSW programs all require fieldwork/internship that generally are 2 days a week for the 1st year and 3 days a week the 2nd year, it would be extremely difficult to manage a full-time job on top of everything else.  This would be especially difficult if you were unable to block your time for classes as well (e.g., having to take classes across multiple days a week vs. 1 day a week for all of your classes) not to mention the fact that you will definitely need plenty of time to study and prepare for your fieldwork/internship.  I noticed that you've applied to all private universities.  Have you considered possibly looking at public universities around Boston/New England that offer MSW (e.g., Salem State & Bridgewater State)?  Because if it's a matter of cost, what would be the sense of applying to a private university, occuring $$$$ in student loan debt, trying to balance a full-time job while attempting to maintain good academic standing only to find that you're unable to continue in the program?  To me this seems like you're honestly trying to juggle too much.  I completely understand how MSW programs, in general, (especially here in Boston) are not cheap; however, the important thing to consider is if you're seriously considering a career in Social Work you will need to understand the risks involved and be willing to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve those goals---even if that means not working full-time and perhaps working part-time at the most.  A majority of MSW admissions offices highly advise against working full-time as taking 4-5 classes a semester + the fieldwork/internship (2-3x a week) alone is a full-time responsibility.  Admissions offices want to admit students that will succeed in their program.  I'm not saying it's impossible to work a 2nd or 3rd shift, go to school full-time and intern, but MSW programs require a lot out of you.  This is why many MSW programs have a question about how you're going to balance your personal life (e.g., paying bills, rent, etc.) with the demands of graduate school for your personal statement. 

 

Bottom line, graduate school is an investment of both time and resources.  There are scholarships, grants, fellowships available upon acceptance, and of course the dreaded student loans.  If you were to work while going to school full-time, you might be able to get away with a part-time job during your 1st year; however, your 2nd year will be much more demanding and you may want to reconsider working at all at that point.

 

Either way, I wish you much luck and success and hope this advice is helpful in some way.

[MsLSW]

Yes, I will be continuing my full time employment in a behavioral health agency.  I am a Licensed Social Worker in the state of Ohio and do counseling. I will be doing an advanced standing program which allows employment based internships.  A different (easier?)

oute than most will take, but I am still nervous about completing the schoolwork as well as fulfilling my fulltime job duties. 

[MsLSW]

Wow, my phone totally destroyed that message lol

[Catlovers141]

SweetiePiePear -- I am working full time and applying for fall programs!  And it looks like we are in the same state!  (MA)

 

Where are you applying?  I am mostly doing online programs, not because I expect them to be easier, but because I will be more likely to be able to do my classes in the evenings and on weekends.

 

I am applying to BU (online, part-time), Edinboro University of PA (online, full-time), and Westfield State University (in-person, part-time).

 

Right now I am thinking Edinboro, if I get in.  My only reservation is that like you, I would be doing work and school full-time.  What are you thinking about doing to manage it all?  I am hoping that in my second year I will have enough money to leave my current job and maybe get something part-time.

 

Glad someone else is struggling with a similar situation!

[Catlovers141]

Sorry, just realized I missed the last part of your message.  You already said where you were applying!  Are you applying to BU's on-campus or online program?

[Lifesaver]

I worked full time through my first master's degree in criminal justice. As a full time student, I took 3 classes per semester, and each met one night a week for 3 hours. That left me with plenty of time to work, have some form of a social life, and get my school work done. I made it out with a 3.83 GPA.

 

I'm going back to get my MSW in the fall and am planning to be unemployed, per the warning of each and every school I applied to. I am pretty concerned about not working and having an income. With fieldwork, it seems virtually impossible. Or at least the schools are making it seem that way. I'm hoping I can squeeze in something on weekends. Seriously, how do you plan to work full time when classes meet for most of the day 2 days a week and fieldwork takes up the other 3 days? Do share!

[sweetpiepear]

Sorry, just realized I missed the last part of your message.  You already said where you were applying!  Are you applying to BU's on-campus or online program?

Yeah, I have applied to the campus program at BU, BC, and Simmons. Just got email saying I was accepted from BC today! I haven't heard anything about their financial aid yet. I am working at a shelter at the moment and my hours are pretty flexible. That is also a reason why I feel like I could do a full-time job with a field placement, and classes. *Fingers crossed*

I have known someone that did her fieldwork, school, and a full time job all at the same time. I feel like I can cut out my social life for two years and try to get my MSW sooner. Moreover, BC admission said that I can always change to part-time if I cannot manage it. I hope I can do that!

[Catlovers141]

Lifesaver:  I have thought about how it would be possible a lot.  I work Mon-Fri 8-4pm, and for one of the programs I'm applying to field would probably be another 16-20 or so hours per week.  The place where I work now is 24 hours, and I have been able to do evenings and overnights in addition to my work during the day.  There are other places in my area, such as hospitals and other programs that are similar to the one where I currently work, that have the same type of schedule.  I'm hoping that I can rearrange my hours a little at my current job, and maybe do my field during the day on weekends or do a few evening shifts during the week.  Additionally, I am applying to mostly online programs, so I am planning to do my classes and studying whenever I am not at work or at my placement.

 

I'm thinking it will be very difficult but still possible.  For the program that I most want to be in, there are less field hours during the first year.  I am hoping that I might be able to work just for the first year and save up enough money to leave my job and just do school full-time during my second year, or at least do less hours at my job.  We will see.

 

Sweetpiepear:  congrats on your acceptance!  Glad that you can switch to part-time if you need to.  That is a good safety net to have, just in case you do end up needing it.

[tennessee]

Hi.  I will be working full-time and going to school with Edinboro's online MSW program and doing my internship this September.  I have no choice but to keep working full-time due to my financial state. 

 

For self-care, I attend a meditation group once or twice a week, yoga once a week, and have a few people that are my support system that can let me know if/when I am getting in trouble.  I am also lucky that I work somewhere that they encourage self-care and discourage too much overworking.

 

So I am going to give it a try and if it implodes on me I will have to re-group and make a Plan B but I just have an intuitive feeling that this is The Right Program and the Right Time.

 

Good luck to us all!