I will graduate with a BSW in one month. I have applied to the advanced standing MSW program at the same university that I attend now. I am pretty positive that I will be accepted.

My concern is that my field practicum this year has been less than expected. I am at a very small battered womens shelter. My social work experience has been limited to intakes, hotline calls and reading files, all of which have been very infrequent. Most of my time is spent doing busy work, such as shredding documents, answering the phone, ect.

My fear is that I will be ill prepared going straight into the second year of a clinical MSW program with the lackluster internship as a BSW student.

I know I am asking a lot, but does anyone have any thoughts, experiences, suggestions, maybe even encouragement for me?

Thanks,
Maddy

You may be not as well prepared as would be ideal, but that is true for lots of folks. Make sure you talk to the field office. Express concerns about your field experience. (They need to know that you are being used as office help.) Look for a placement which can offer pretty intense supervision and lots of client contact.

Have you let the school know your concerns to date? How are you recording your time, the schools I work with all ask for some accounting of experiences.

The reality is that many students end up with just one good placement. Meanwhile, since there is still some time left...holler! Ask if you can sit in on groups, observe interviews, get more client related exposure.

Good luck

Pandora

Pandora,

Thank you for your response. I have advocated for myself, especially early in the year. The message I received was, "I picked your placement, you must stay and work it out." I could have gone to the student advocate and filed a formal complaint, but I did not. I am the first BSW student to do their placement at this agency. I have told the underclassmen not to go there.

My supervisor asked me this week to cover the phones for secretary at the main office next week. I told her no. I stated that I had 3 more weeks at the shelter and that I needed to stay there. She tried to get me to compromise, but I didn't budge.

I plan on volunteering this summer for a crisis hotline. That will give me more experience.

Maybe my internship next year will be what I am looking for. If not, I will definitely use my voice and advocate for myself.

Maddy

hi im a 15 year old an im not sure wot grades i need an wer do i go wen i leave school college or what and im not sure what sort of social worker i want to be please help me !!!!!!!!!!!!

Jennifer, you are 15 years old. You need good grades to go to the best college you can, besides social workers need the education and skills you are being given in high school. Figure you need at least a B average...and A's would be okay. About the kind of social work? This is much too early to feel that you have to make this decision!

Volunteer at places that interest you. Go to college and get a BSW. You will gradually discover what kind of social work excites you! (You may even discover that you would rather do something else!)

Good luck

Pandora

Jennifer, Pandora is so right. If you want to learn more about social work, I suggest beginning with yourself. What do you like to do in your spare time? What type of classes do you like to take? How can I use these to help others? A friend of mine works in dance and the arts. She will use this, part time, to help children with disabilities. Do some volunteer work in the community. ANY volunteer work. PLEASE, however, do so with a reputable and safe organization.
My first volunteer work that was related was just being present during play therapy with 3 to 6 year olds. This helped me to know that I could work with children.
Is there a career path workshop or mentoring program in your school?

Jennifer,

I would just ditto what Pandora and William have told you. My first piece of advice is to volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! Think about what interests you, and find agencies in your community that have volunteer work available. Look in the local newspaper--sometimes volunteer opportunities are listed in the community section. Or look in the phone book under "Social Services" or call the local United Way. By getting involved, you will find out what kinds of work interest you.

Linda

Jennifer,
You might also ask your teacher if she/he will bring in a speaker once a month, including a social worker. My history teacher did this in high school and we really enjoyed it.
William

I need a listing of Colleges/Universities that are accredited for a Bachelors in Social Work. Accredited through the Council on Social Work Education.

Thanks

Cheritina

cheritinalee821@hotmail.com

Cheritina, the list you seek is available online at the CSWE web site. Gary

And that site is at http://www.cswe.org -- click on Member Program Directory.

Linda

My cumulative GPA will only end up being a 2.3, but my last 60 hours are going to end up being a 3.0 or close to it. I am worried I won't get accepted into grad school for my MSW because of my GPA, is there hope??

Depends upon what school and the weight they give to scores. Be more concerned about the scores in your focus courses. For instance, what is your Social Work GPA? This makes a difference. You must have, I believe, a C or better in every foundation social work class. Check on the CSWE website to verify this.
Get really good references from field instructors, field advisors, professors, etc. Volunteer during the summers in a really good organization. Get a referrence from them. I know of one student who had two volunteer experiences in one summer. This gives her quality experience and looks great on a resume. Study for the GRE and take it. IF you don't do so hot, make certain you only send it to colleges that require it (Many, including Columbia University, University of Texas at Arlington, do not require this for Social Work Graduate school.)
Write a very strong essay, being careful to fulfill the requirements of the assignment. Have it proofed!
You have a chance. Don't despair. There is always one good choice to make. Even if you don't get into the one you want to most, remember that the quality of the education is what matters. Note any disabilities or barriers (which are legitimate) that may have given you difficulty in your Undergrad years. I think that some applications require this. If you really want a specific college and you are not accepted, ask your undergrad college if you can retake courses you did poorest in and replace the grade, then apply again next year. It might be worth the wait. In my opinion, it is better to have some experience under your belt before Grad school, anyhow. I spent six months in London working on a children's and family team. It was well worth it. I earned money, saved money, saw part of Europe and England, and the experience really spiced up my resume. Try to get a job (somewhere) with a focus that relates to your prefered practice path in Graduate school. If you want to study policy, don't work with children! Instead, work for a senator or policy writing body! Think this through with a professor. Call a graduate school and visit with them about your chances. What ever you do, try to get into only accredited institutions! You will increase your options later.
Best wishes to you on your journey.
William

lmf, William's suggestions are good ones. I would add, if there is a reason that your gradepoint has improved substantially in the last two years make sure you let the school know. (For instance, have you matured and learned how to study or that you have to study or gained a focus etc.)

Finally, if you are not admitted directly from undergrad don't despair. A year of work experience makes your grades less significant, and helps your application. Schools much prefer candidates with experience.

Good luck

Pandora

Hi everyone,
I am new here and have a big problem. I am doing one of my assingments for school. It is due tomorrow. I'm having a problem w/ one of the questions and I'm hoping someone here will see this and have an answer to help me! The question is What are the nine assumptions that outline the strengths perspective? Anyone have any ideas???? HELP!
Thanks,
Michelle

Do you mean like the client will know what works best for him or her? Hello Michelle. Be aware that assumptions are not always broken down the same in each text. Some writers and scholars lump concepts because they feel that there is a direct relationship. I have three books that speak on assumptions and all three have short lists. Go to the book for your class or the notes. If you don't have the book, go to the library and ask to see a copy. If you cannot find this, contact your professor and ask where they suggest you look. You might do a search on the internet.
Best of luck

Exactly...we could tell you what OUR ideas are about the assumptions WE would make, but the assignment is apparently referring to the assumptions outlined in a particular theory or text...most likely the textbook for your course, as "guess who" has pointed out.

Linda

Dear friends,

As an international organization, Rotaract Club of Hong Kong Northeast always strives for opportunities to broaden our members' horizons and serve the community. This year, Rotaract Club of Hong Kong Northeast and our fellow sister club, Rotaract Club of Osaka-Midosuji proudly present to you the International Service Project -- "Bring Happiness to Children", which will be carried out in Osaka, Japan from Feb, 26 to Mar, 2. 2005.

Through this project, you will

- learn the essential skills of writing proposals, which will be helpful to your future career development;
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- experience the cultural exchange with Rotaractors, Rotarians and friends from different countries (primarily Japan and Hong Kong);
- provide meaningful community services to children in Japan.

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Should you have further enquiry, please contact Jacky Chan at 9414-5670 or Karen Pang at 9813-0338.


Regards,

Jacky Chan
Vice President
Rotaract Club of Hong Kong Northeast