MSW Helper Blog
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What grades and experience do I REALLY need to get into my MSW?
When I applied to my Master of Social Work, I often compared my GPA and experience to other applicants, and it made me doubt myself even more. Here are my thoughts on the grades and experience you need to get accepted to grad school.
Example of self-disclosure in the MSW personal statement
Many social workers have been through personal experiences that inspired them to pursue social work, but how do you navigate the balance between the personal and professional? Let’s talk more about how much self-disclosure you should be using in your Master of Social Work Personal Statement.
Avoid these 4 phrases in your Master of Social Work (MSW) personal statement
After several years of helping people with their personal statements, I often see similar phrases over and over again that can come off as weak or controversial. Here are the most common ones:
How to talk about ethics in your Master of Social Work (MSW) personal statement
Many schools of social work ask about ethics in the Master of Social Work (MSW) personal statement. I often find that applicants aren’t sure how to answer the question, and end up tossing in a few sentences that can feel clunky and awkward, and stick out like a sore thumb in an otherwise well-written personal statement.
Using social work theories in your MSW personal statement
I’m a big fan of using social work theories in the Master of Social Work personal statement. I feel like this is an area many applicants overlook, but it’s something that can help you stand out.
If you’re applying to advanced standing MSW (meaning you have a BSW), this is an opportunity to show the reader what you learned in school.
How to talk about weaknesses and areas of improvement in your Master of Social Work (MSW) personal statement
If you’ve ever had a job interview in the past where you were asked what your areas of weakness are, you might know that the standard answer is to provide a humble-brag, or a weakness that is actually a strength.
“I’m a perfectionist”, “I work too hard”, and “I care too much” are standard answers people often give. People often avoid answering this question because they don’t want to give an answer that might be a dealbreaker for the role.
Schools of social work often ask this question as well, and they are not looking for these types of answers. They are looking for you to demonstrate your critical thinking skills as it pertains to social work practice, which might not be the same as what you would say in a typical job interview.
Don’t make these 5 mistakes when writing your Social Work Personal statement
Over the years, I’ve helped hundreds of applicants apply to their Master of Social Work program. These are the top 5 biggest mistakes I see applicants make when writing a personal statement.
What if I have bad grades? Applying to the Master of Social Work program with below – average grades
Master of Social Work (MSW) programs have comprehensive application processes; They look at your experiences, your references, your personal statement, and of course, your grades.
It can be worrisome when applying to competitive programs when your grades aren’t what you hoped they would be. However, since the application is so comprehensive this means that if you play your cards right, you can use the personal statement to highlight other areas of strength, or you can even put a positive spin on why your grades are low.
Here is what I recommend when working with MSW applicants:
How to write a Master of Social Work (MSW) Personal Statement: with Examples
Over the past few years helping MSW applicants apply to their Master of Social Work, I’ve developed some of my top tips for getting started with writing a personal statement.
Formatting tips for your MSW personal statement (APA Style)
The personal statement serves as a sample of your academic writing abilities, so properly formatting your MSW personal statement is a simple way to help your application stand out and look more professional.
How to answer the question “why do you want to be a social worker?” when you already have a BSW
If you’re applying to your Master of Social Work, there’s a good chance you’ve come across this section in your personal statement prompts. Many schools of social work ask applicants why they want to pursue social work. This can be a tough question, especially if you already have a BSW (Like hello, I already DID pursue social work!)
So how should you answer this question in a meaningful way?