MSW acceptance with unrelated undergrad degree?

[alex bo balex]

Hey everyone--I'm just curious if any of you have experience or insight into this matter. I have several years of social service experience (mental health tech at a psychiatric hospital, domestic violence advocate, special-needs classroom aide), as well as about a year of research experience at a psych lab that studies trauma. However, I have a somewhat "random" undergrad degree (piano performance; I used to teach music at the psychiatric hospital, in addition to teaching privately).  Although most of the programs I've applied to specifically state that they are open to a diverse range of undergrad degrees, I'm noticing that most members here who have been accepted seem to have an undergrad degree in sociology, psychology or social work.

 

Is anyone else here in a similar boat? I realize that MSW programs are competitive and am fully prepared to be rejected this year...but if it turns out my undergrad degree is a significant problem, I'm not quite sure how to compensate for it the next time I apply. 

Edited March 1, 2015 by alex bo balex

[adacot]

I don't think your undergraduate major will keep you from being accepted, unless you have not taken certain courses that some social work programs have deemed as prerequisites, such as statistics, human biology, or something else. In fact, I think talking about how your studies and piano skills were used to improve the quality of life of the people you were working with in your personal statement can strengthen your application.

[alex bo balex]

That's good to hear--I did talk about the intersection between music and service work, as well as the personal strengths I developed as a result of the degree. I've also taken stats, biology, and twelve psychology credits (and earned a 3.9 gpa), so hopefully that helps. Guess we'll see. I think I'm just feeling anxious because I'm in the "waiting to hear back" phase, and a little nervous that the choice I made when I was younger will work against me.

[magfish]

I hope not. I'm in history and have tried to compensate by picking up a gender studies minor & a diversity certificate. If I don't get in this year I'm planning to spend a year volunteering and potentially taking a local community college course or two (or signing up for a few online university courses) in a more "related" field like sociology or even into to social work courses if I can find them. Then even if my degree is a problem it will show I'm committed to the field and taking courses to further my education. Good luck!!

[amers]

You should be just fine! My BA is in public relations and advertising with minors in art history and psychology and I got accepted at all of my top 3 programs. It also sounds like you have more social service experience than I do, I volunteer but my paid experience is in communications/marketing. So if I got in, you should definitely be able to as well!!

 

I was really worried about all this too when I was applying, but as long as you have a liberal arts background and can write your statement in a way that connects your unique experiences to social work, I think most programs are open to students with diverse backgrounds. However, if there are any schools you're particularly interested in, I would check with their admissions counselors. Some schools do have requirements about the amount of experience you need, undergrad classes you took, ect. 

 

Good luck, don't worry too much

[alex bo balex]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the reassurance. And magfish, that's my plan too. My husband and I are moving to California whether I get accepted there or not, so if I'm not in this time around, I'll just keep working at shelters, establish residency, and take some community college courses. (It would just be super nice if it worked out this time around...the whole process has been such an expensive, time consuming ordeal that I'd kind of prefer not to do it all over again...  )

Edited March 1, 2015 by alex bo balex

[SopranoSocialWorker]

I am just finishing up my second quarter in my MSW program, and I was a choral conducing/music ed major in undergrad! I think that all of years of dedication and practice have really helped me. Also, being able to work as a team with a random person or group is something that you have to learn early on as a musician. 

 

The only thing that I have felt a little behind on is that I don't have the psych background that most of my cohort does, but that hasn't really held me back at all .

 

Good luck!! 

[alex bo balex]

Thank you so much for replying! It's awesome to hear from another musician. I totally agree about the dedication/collaboration element of music study, too--it's already helped me in so many areas of life.

Fortunately, I was recently accepted into one of my first choices, so it looks like my undergrad degree wasn't a deterrent after all (huge relief here,.) I've also been working on a psych concentration in preparation for grad school, so hopefully that'll help a bit.

Where (or whereabouts) are you studying?

Edited March 10, 2015 by alex bo balex

[SopranoSocialWorker]

That is great!! I don't regret for a moment being a music major. I have decided not to be a professional musician/music teacher, but I learned a lot of transferrable skills and I got to put all of my energy into something that I love. Now, in graduate school, I get to do that again. I LOVE being a social worker, and I LOVE being a singer. 

 

I am studying at EWU near Spokane. I was in kind of the same situation as you in that my spouse got a job up here, and so I spent last year working and getting residency. Eastern is the only MSW program in the area, so that is where I am going. Not a prestigious program, but I feel that I am getting a good education. 

 

I really stuck out during the first week of school when we were introducing ourselves, but after that my major hasn't really come up. I think that having a background of some sort that deals with theories (other than music theory), such as psych or soc., really helps. I have been able to make a lot of connections by comparing concepts to work I did for my minor in speech communication. 

[alex bo balex]

You know, I think I *might* have regretted my degree a bit if it had impacted my ability to pursue something else I care so much about--so I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to fulfill both passions.

Do you get a chance to sing much any more? And did you study classical or contemporary...? I'm curious what role piano will play in my life as I move forward with things.

(PS: Feel free to drop me a message; I'd love to chat music a bit, but realize this may not be the place for it.)

[asdghasdghsjdgas]

you definitely shouldn't worry about it. i got accepted by 3 different schools and i was a theatre & dance major, chinese minor in undergrad lol