looking for info on these programs

[modestprincesa]

Hi i am new here, But I have been following this board for a while now. I was wondering if there was anyone here who is attending any of these schools. 

 

WashU

Ohio State

University of Ten. knoxville

 

 

[Kristopher]

I currently attend Ohio State and graduate this May.

[modestprincesa]

I currently attend Ohio State and graduate this May.

 I was wondering mainly about what the program was like from a student prospective. I am interested in clinical work and working with immigrant communities. I was wondering if you felt the OSU gave you alot of options field education and class wise and what does financial aid look like there?

 

also did you feel like admissions was extremely difficult? and did you take the GRE?

 

 

any info you can give I would really appreciate

[Kristopher]

I'm going to copy and paste my opinion about admissions since I have discussed it in a few other threads and I am lazy:

 

"GPA is just part of the picture that programs look at. Most programs I have seen require GRE scores for those under 3.0 in order to help bolster it. MSW programs look at much more than GPA. Work/volunteer experience, LOR, and personal statement are all considered. I would say that out of many grad school programs, MSW programs don't weight GPA as heavily as other programs. I am sure at the very top tier schools like Michigan or Columbia GPA may matter more since they get a ton of applicants. If you search this message board you'll find many people get into programs with GPAs below 3.0. Don't worry about prestige unless you want to obtain a PhD and become a professor. Going to an accredited program and having relevant field placements are what is important.

 

Personally, I only applied to one school: Ohio State. I had a 3.04 undergrad GPA (3.5 last two years/60 credits) and no direct social work experience. I obtained solid LOR and explained how my work experience in retail and experience in my personal life motivated me to obtain my MSW.

 

Social Work is a field where individual experiences and circumstance matters. Schools don't necessarily want everyone with a 3.8 GPA. MSW programs "love" to see stories where someone didn't have a high GPA because they had to work two jobs to support family, or other reasons. It's experiences like that which make great social workers, not necessarily good grades."

 

I don't feel like admissions were too difficult. My stats were not stellar nor did they set me apart and I got in. I did ask someone who works in the field office about applicants and they said they get about 500 applicants and admit about 150.

 

I really enjoy the program. Columbus/Franklin County is a huge area and OSU is the only school with a MSW in the area so there are lots of opportunity for field experience with different populations. There is a a huge Somali population here and many of my peers have done projects on this population and work with them. The field office does a good job of working with you to find a proper field placement. There are literally hundreds of options.

 

There are a lot of different classes that offer a variety of different and useful clinical skills. Take a look at this: http://csw.osu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/MSW-Course-Descriptions.pdf

 

I can't speak on financial aid, but they do offer different opportunities (http://csw.osu.edu/degrees-programs/msw/financial-aid/). I just utilize Stafford loans which pay for everything. As a resident of Ohio its about $12k a year, so $24k for two years. Some internships are paid as well so that can help. Many students I know are able to work part time so that could be option.

 

I intern for the VA and I love it. I feel like a lot of my classroom schools are applicable in the field. I love the program and I cannot say enough positive things about it.

 

Feel free to ask any more questions about the program!

[modestprincesa]

I'm going to copy and paste my opinion about admissions since I have discussed it in a few other threads and I am lazy:

 

"GPA is just part of the picture that programs look at. Most programs I have seen require GRE scores for those under 3.0 in order to help bolster it. MSW programs look at much more than GPA. Work/volunteer experience, LOR, and personal statement are all considered. I would say that out of many grad school programs, MSW programs don't weight GPA as heavily as other programs. I am sure at the very top tier schools like Michigan or Columbia GPA may matter more since they get a ton of applicants. If you search this message board you'll find many people get into programs with GPAs below 3.0. Don't worry about prestige unless you want to obtain a PhD and become a professor. Going to an accredited program and having relevant field placements are what is important.

 

Personally, I only applied to one school: Ohio State. I had a 3.04 undergrad GPA (3.5 last two years/60 credits) and no direct social work experience. I obtained solid LOR and explained how my work experience in retail and experience in my personal life motivated me to obtain my MSW.

 

Social Work is a field where individual experiences and circumstance matters. Schools don't necessarily want everyone with a 3.8 GPA. MSW programs "love" to see stories where someone didn't have a high GPA because they had to work two jobs to support family, or other reasons. It's experiences like that which make great social workers, not necessarily good grades."

 

I don't feel like admissions were too difficult. My stats were not stellar nor did they set me apart and I got in. I did ask someone who works in the field office about applicants and they said they get about 500 applicants and admit about 150.

 

I really enjoy the program. Columbus/Franklin County is a huge area and OSU is the only school with a MSW in the area so there are lots of opportunity for field experience with different populations. There is a a huge Somali population here and many of my peers have done projects on this population and work with them. The field office does a good job of working with you to find a proper field placement. There are literally hundreds of options.

 

There are a lot of different classes that offer a variety of different and useful clinical skills. Take a look at this: http://csw.osu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/MSW-Course-Descriptions.pdf

 

I can't speak on financial aid, but they do offer different opportunities (http://csw.osu.edu/degrees-programs/msw/financial-aid/). I just utilize Stafford loans which pay for everything. As a resident of Ohio its about $12k a year, so $24k for two years. Some internships are paid as well so that can help. Many students I know are able to work part time so that could be option.

 

I intern for the VA and I love it. I feel like a lot of my classroom schools are applicable in the field. I love the program and I cannot say enough positive things about it.

 

Feel free to ask any more questions about the program!

This was really really helpful to be honest. I live in Ohio as well about 45 minutes from canton. I actually know quite a bit about Somali culture because I was living in Canada in a somali community for past 5 yrs. so thats really interesting. I also think it is nice to have VA intern opportunities. I actually just finished my 1st semester back in university after 5yrs. I am a junior psych major with a 3.5 gpa. I am working on volunteer experince right now, but I took 18 credit hours and worked 2 jobs fall semester so its been rough. 

 

Do you live on Campus of off Campus? Do you feel like Columbus is pretty safe? I have never actually been there except through passing but i am looking to make a visit in the spring or summer

 

This program has quickly become my first choice school. I really appreciate the info.

[Kristopher]

Downtown Columbus is like any major city, it has it's good areas and bad. I live with my wife in a suburb outside of the metro area and feel very safe. Columbus/Franklin County is a great community, there are lots to do, it's young, and economically it's very healthy. There are many social work job so career outlook seems to be pretty good,