Do I Have a Shot at Getting Into Grad School

[jarrodthomas]

Hey guys!

So I am graduating from my undergraduate in a couple of months and am starting to apply to schools for a MSW. My major in undergrad is marketing but I have taken more liberal arts courses for electives than anything else. I've always known that I wanted to help people, I just didn't necessarily know how I wanted to until I took multiple psychology courses. Now, I don't have much social work experience other than some psychology, sociology, philosophy, and government classes. I also have only had an internship with Veterans Affairs and I am still a year-round intern for medical social work (started as paid but went to volunteer after a certain date). I have been active in the past (high school) in Best Buddies and have mentored freshmen as a senior in high school. I don't have much volunteer experience throughout my college years. I have transferred two times -- I started at one school, I was pretty much bullied out of it, and went to just any school to get away. From that new school, I transferred again to the school I am graduating from. The first 2 schools I didn't have amazing GPA's... first was a 3.2-3.3 and the second was a 2.5. I am going into my final term with a 3.72 GPA with a major GPA of a 3.8. Do I have a chance of getting into an MSW program? I am looking to go to either New York University, Columbia University, or Hunter College. 

 

EDIT: I would like to add that my ultimate career goal is to work at the VA Hospital as an LICSW while also having my own clinical practice (my business degree wouldn't go to waste).

Edited August 1, 2017 by jarrodthomas

[emily18ma]

5 hours ago, jarrodthomas said:

Hey guys!

So I am graduating from my undergraduate in a couple of months and am starting to apply to schools for a MSW. My major in undergrad is marketing but I have taken more liberal arts courses for electives than anything else. I've always known that I wanted to help people, I just didn't necessarily know how I wanted to until I took multiple psychology courses. Now, I don't have much social work experience other than some psychology, sociology, philosophy, and government classes. I also have only had an internship with Veterans Affairs and I am still a year-round intern for medical social work (started as paid but went to volunteer after a certain date). I have been active in the past (high school) in Best Buddies and have mentored freshmen as a senior in high school. I don't have much volunteer experience throughout my college years. I have transferred two times -- I started at one school, I was pretty much bullied out of it, and went to just any school to get away. From that new school, I transferred again to the school I am graduating from. The first 2 schools I didn't have amazing GPA's... first was a 3.2-3.3 and the second was a 2.5. I am going into my final term with a 3.72 GPA with a major GPA of a 3.8. Do I have a chance of getting into an MSW program? I am looking to go to either New York University, Columbia University, or Hunter College. 

 

EDIT: I would like to add that my ultimate career goal is to work at the VA Hospital as an LICSW while also having my own clinical practice (my business degree wouldn't go to waste).

Hi there! 

I personally think you sound like a great candidate! I myself graduated with a degree in Economics and spent 6 years in the advertising industry before applying for MSW programs. Plenty of people make career changes, and frankly, you are very young! The internship you currently have for medical social work sounds extremely relevant. When I decided to make a career change, I had 2 relevant volunteer experiences which I undertook while working full time. As long as you can convey that you have the key values to be a social worker and connect the dots between what you're doing now and where you want to go, you will do just fine! I felt just like you last year and I'm quite a bit older, so it's totally okay! I'll be attending USC this Fall and believe it or not, many professors and incoming students have spent many years doing something completely different. MSW programs are no strangers to 'traditional' social work students.  Make sure you have strong LORs and a strong personal statement!

Hope this was helpful. Best of luck!

Edited August 2, 2017 by emily18ma

[jarrodthomas]

On 8/1/2017 at 8:04 PM, emily18ma said:

Hi there! 

I personally think you sound like a great candidate! I myself graduated with a degree in Economics and spent 6 years in the advertising industry before applying for MSW programs. Plenty of people make career changes, and frankly, you are very young! The internship you currently have for medical social work sounds extremely relevant. When I decided to make a career change, I had 2 relevant volunteer experiences which I undertook while working full time. As long as you can convey that you have the key values to be a social worker and connect the dots between what you're doing now and where you want to go, you will do just fine! I felt just like you last year and I'm quite a bit older, so it's totally okay! I'll be attending USC this Fall and believe it or not, many professors and incoming students have spent many years doing something completely different. MSW programs are no strangers to 'traditional' social work students.  Make sure you have strong LORs and a strong personal statement!

Hope this was helpful. Best of luck!

Thank you so much for this reply. It's such a relief reading this, especially from someone who also received a degree in business beforehand. Best of luck at USC, it's a great school!

[COGSCI]

On 2017-08-01 at 2:42 PM, jarrodthomas said:

Hey guys!

So I am graduating from my undergraduate in a couple of months and am starting to apply to schools for a MSW. My major in undergrad is marketing but I have taken more liberal arts courses for electives than anything else. I've always known that I wanted to help people, I just didn't necessarily know how I wanted to until I took multiple psychology courses. Now, I don't have much social work experience other than some psychology, sociology, philosophy, and government classes. I also have only had an internship with Veterans Affairs and I am still a year-round intern for medical social work (started as paid but went to volunteer after a certain date). I have been active in the past (high school) in Best Buddies and have mentored freshmen as a senior in high school. I don't have much volunteer experience throughout my college years. I have transferred two times -- I started at one school, I was pretty much bullied out of it, and went to just any school to get away. From that new school, I transferred again to the school I am graduating from. The first 2 schools I didn't have amazing GPA's... first was a 3.2-3.3 and the second was a 2.5. I am going into my final term with a 3.72 GPA with a major GPA of a 3.8. Do I have a chance of getting into an MSW program? I am looking to go to either New York University, Columbia University, or Hunter College. 

 

EDIT: I would like to add that my ultimate career goal is to work at the VA Hospital as an LICSW while also having my own clinical practice (my business degree wouldn't go to waste).

I think focusing on your experience during undergraduate years would be helpful. I am sure you are aware of this but mentioning this from high school would not work well on graduate schools apps.

also, I would try to frame your personal statement towards social services management rather than direct intervention. Since you have business background, that would be your strength compared to other applicants.

[jarrodthomas]

11 hours ago, COGSCI said:

I think focusing on your experience during undergraduate years would be helpful. I am sure you are aware of this but mentioning this from high school would not work well on graduate schools apps.

also, I would try to frame your personal statement towards social services management rather than direct intervention. Since you have business background, that would be your strength compared to other applicants.

Wouldn't social services management then be a different degree all together? I mean eventually I want to be a chief of social services (SS manager) but I do want to do direct intervention first. 

[COGSCI]

It depends on the program. Some MSWs have specialization in social work administration. 

You are not really tied to your personal statement once you get in so I thought that would be a good way for you to frame your personal statement, just a strategy option.