Mph vs. Msw
- Thread starter yjmally
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i majored in psych undergrad and considered the msw a while ago. the answer is simple, DO NOT DO THE MSW IF YOU DONT LOVE SOCIAL WORK. fact is you might be able to maneuver between working in schools/hospitals/dyfs/state with an msw more than an LPC but your salary will cap off on about 50/60k for your entire career. An msw is better than an lpc but not an mph. If you get the lcsw, you might be able to make more and do more but then theres the 3000 hrs to fufill that. in regards to curriculum the msw is going to have much more papers and more credits to fufill. but remember once again... do not do the msw unless u absolutely love it and you cant see yourself doing anything else. i know too many social workers and mental health counselors that got burnt out only about 1-2 yrs in. the turn overrate in dyfs is insane.
good luck
good luck
...they are two completely different career tracks. It's really hard to compare because it's not like comparing the lifestyle of a physician to a nurse (since they work in the same setting).
As for the ease of getting job, it really depends on the job you want. There are plenty of jobs out there for both career paths, it's just a matter of which one you want.
As for the ease of getting job, it really depends on the job you want. There are plenty of jobs out there for both career paths, it's just a matter of which one you want.
I gotta agree with Stories on this one.
I think thats the wrong way to be thinking about this. Sure both fields have some similarities but in the end, they are certainly different enough that this decision should make itself based on what you want to do rather than which degree you think has better job prospects.
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I am currently trying to decide whether apply for medical school or to apply for a mph/msw degree. Can anyone shed some light on this situation for me. I have a BA in Psy and have completed my pre-reqs for medical school. I am scheduled to take the MCAT in June. For some reasons I am still unsure if I want to make the move to medical school. I currently work as a Program Coord at a Health Dept and live what I do.
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I work with physicians and social workers, and I have to say their jobs could not be more different. In your case, I think the main issue is the medical school tuition. It's so expensive that obviously you don't want to go there and then end up NOT liking what you do, but you also don't want to get an MSW/MPH and then tack on med school tuition on top of that if you decide you did want to be a doc. (Also, I probably just reiterated everything that has been going through your head for the past month - I have a talent for stating the obvious).
Have you thought about what is it that appeals to you about medical school and social work? Would you want to be a doctor focused on the underserved? If so, you could go to medical school and work in a medical professional shortage area, with the added bonus of loan repayment. Or maybe you really want to help people, and recently realized that there are more ways to do so than being a doctor? If so the MPH makes sense, or an MSW with a health care concentration which is becoming more and more popular.
My recommendation would be to take some time to volunteer at a hospital or other health care facility. See what the docs do and what the MSWs do. Take some time off before going to med school if necessary. It may seem like those volunteer positions are hard to get, but they are available if you get in touch with the right people at whatever organization you are interested in. Plus remember, most people LOVE helping students out.
Good luck!
