Which school is your first choice in MSW? Why?

[natsne24]

Hi,

I applied for Simmons, BU, Fordham, Hunter, and Albany for Fall 2015.

Simmons just sent their acceptance letter and I have to make a decision soon, but I don't really have information to decide school though I've read almost all the information on the internet.

And because I am an international student, I cannot attend any information session.

In case of getting acceptance into other schools, is there any way to get some useful information about the programs that I applied for?

Which school do you want to go if you get accepted and why?

How is Simmons compared to other schools?

Thank you so much!

[pippapants]

As someone who is looking back on her MSW experience, and just finishing up this semester, I can give you the advice of what I wish I had known and what I wish I had based my decision on.

 

Define what your goals are before you go into it. What do you want to get out of your MSW? What do you want to do with it? Are you simply looking to practice, or are you trying to launch an academic career? Do you want to specialize in either macro or micro practice, or do you want a more generalist program? What are your financial resources and limitations? How much debt can you come away with and still survive with on the other end? (Make sure you estimate what your monthly loan repayment will look like after school BEFORE you take on the debt. Income based repayment takes the same percentage out of everyone's salary, and lots of social workers in my area are extremely bitter about their loans vs. their salary. This leads to burn out and people leaving the field.) What kind of field placements do you want? How much training do you want in research?

 

Until you have defined your own goals and your own limitations, it will be impossible to match your goals with the best program for you. Once you have answered those questions, then you will know the right questions to ask each program.

 

How much does your program cost, and what are the options for financial aid? Do you offer assistantships, and how many? Do I stand a chance of getting one? If you offer concentrations or specializations, must I choose those up front, or can I change if I am not happy? How much flexibility do you offer in terms of field placements?

 

The most unhappiness I've witnessed in my program is from people who did not know what they were signing up for when they enrolled -- unhappiness with limited field placements, poor field placements that don't prepare students, lack of specialization, not enough electives, and too much emphasis on research. (Research is my thing, and I feel like it's been pulling teeth to get to do any.)