MSW at Univ South Florida?

[trmptmvn]

My husband and I are looking to start our masters programs soon: I'm interested in USF's MPH and he is looking to get an MSW.

For our situation, his masters is more important than my masters, so I don't want to force us to move across the country (we did our undergrad out west) to go to a school that maybe isn't the best fit for him. He wants to do clinical and, if I'm being entirely honest, he isn't the greatest student so we need a school that isn't laughable in a job interview but isn't Ivy caliber. I love my husband but he is not Ivy caliber. 🙂 Would USF be a good fit for him?

As a side note, Florida is my home state and I'm looking to get my driver's license reinstated there soon so we can get in-state tuition (Anyone done that before?) at an already pretty inexpensive school.

I would love any comments or opinions. Thanks so much.

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[CitoPsych]

My husband and I are looking to start our masters programs soon: I'm interested in USF's MPH and he is looking to get an MSW.

For our situation, his masters is more important than my masters, so I don't want to force us to move across the country (we did our undergrad out west) to go to a school that maybe isn't the best fit for him. He wants to do clinical and, if I'm being entirely honest, he isn't the greatest student so we need a school that isn't laughable in a job interview but isn't Ivy caliber. I love my husband but he is not Ivy caliber. 🙂 Would USF be a good fit for him?

As a side note, Florida is my home state and I'm looking to get my driver's license reinstated there soon so we can get in-state tuition (Anyone done that before?) at an already pretty inexpensive school.

I would love any comments or opinions. Thanks so much.

Hello there! Although I am not a MSW student at USF, I am a fifth semester masters student in the mental health counseling program at UCF (University of Central Florida), and perhaps with my insight of USF (I have a sibling getting their undergrad degree at USF), I could be of some assistance.

I would say that if USF meets other practical needs (i.e., distance from family, a strong desire to live in the Tampa area, etc), USF would be a good fit for your husband.

Also, what are some of your long-term goals? I would imagine that most programs accredited by the top accrediting body for social work would make a solid program, considering tuition costs and opportunities for networking that a larger university usually offers students. If you have any specific questions feel free to pm me!

-Ivan

 

[Neuropsych2be]

I am a Tampa native. Though I don't live there now, my undergrad is from the University of Tampa. In my opinion, USF has a fine social work program. When I lived in the area, I knew many doctoral students in its psychology dept and that program was an unholy mess. But that was 20 years ago. USF has both an MSW and Ph.D. program in social work and has a solid reputation. Frankly, the Ivy's are hardly bastions of academic excellence and in the field of social work, its the University of Chicago that is the 800 pound gorilla in terms of reputation. I'd recommend USF to anyone despite the lousy location 🙂

 

[trmptmvn]

I am a Tampa native. Though I don't live there now, my undergrad is from the University of Tampa. In my opinion, USF has a fine social work program. When I lived in the area, I knew many doctoral students in its psychology dept and that program was an unholy mess. But that was 20 years ago. USF has both an MSW and Ph.D. program in social work and has a solid reputation. Frankly, the Ivy's are hardly bastions of academic excellence and in the field of social work, its the University of Chicago that is the 800 pound gorilla in terms of reputation. I'd recommend USF to anyone despite the lousy location 🙂

Thanks very much, that helps calm my nerves a bit. Is it the school's location thats lousy or Tampa itself? I'm a east coast of Florida girl myself, and I think we visited Tampa maybe once so I'm not familiar with it at all.

Thanks CitoPsych for your help also.

 

[Ollie123]

For what its worth, I'm also in the Tampa area and don't find it a bad place to live. The school itself is the dividing line between good and crappy parts of Tampa, so if you stick to one side you are fine (or just live further away from campus). That said, there is definitely not anything of great interest in the area right around campus - you have to drive about 20 minutes to get to the interesting places.

I'm not sure I'd want to settle here long term but there are much worse places to end up for graduate school. Definitely a better location than many of the schools I applied to (though I suppose that is subjective depending on what you are looking for...). Its quite inexpensive for a large city, there's a good music scene and lots of outdoor activities, etc. Feel free to PM me if you have questions about it.

I can't comment on USF's social work program, but their public health program is very strong.

 

[Neuropsych2be]

Thanks very much, that helps calm my nerves a bit. Is it the school's location that's lousy or Tampa itself? I'm a east coast of Florida girl myself, and I think we visited Tampa maybe once so I'm not familiar with it at all.

Thanks CitoPsych for your help also.

I was referring to the location in Tampa. I am a native and did my undergrad at the hideously expensive liberal arts school, the University of Tampa. Lots of recreational activities. USF's location is near both good and bad regions. Tampa overall is a great town in my opinion. But I am quite biased. USF has a med school, a specialized cancer center, and many good academic programs. I'd say go for it.