non-psych major applying for MSW. advantages/disadvantages?

[Jellohno]

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Hi! I'm thinking pretty seriously about applying for a MSW to do clinical work, especially therapy/counseling. I'm currently working in a counseling/college advising capacity in an NYC public high school and will probably continue with some similar work, plus hopefully some hospital/clinical volunteering, for at least another year before applying.

Here's the thing: I did no undergraduate psych coursework. I went to Columbia and was a Classics major (basically Greek and Latin/ancient history for anyone not familiar...) I had a 3.8 GPA, graduated cum laude, awards for my senior thesis, blah blah blah. I did take a couple anthropology and education classes, plus calc and physics (not sure if either of those are remotely relevant). In order to apply to the Columbia MSW program in particular I'd need to take statistics and 9 credits of "social sciences" (not sure if my anthro classes would count there?), which I could do at night or over the summer; some other programs I've looked at (SUNY Stonybrook, Hunter) don't seem to have any undergrad requirements at all.

Anyway point is, can anyone speak to the number of social work grad students who were or weren't undergraduate psych or similar majors? Would I be a minority in not having a serious psych background? Any chance having a more unusual major might work in my favor re. admissions?

And for Columbia in particular, would my grades in the courses that I'd now have to take as a postbac matter more than the fact that I had generally good grades all of undergrad? Should I try to take more than that 9-point minimum (I could do it at CUNY where tuition is relatively inexpensive for an in-state resident so it wouldn't be a huge financial burden.)

thanks for any help or insight you can offer!

 

[spctle342]

MSW students have a variety of undergraduate backgrounds. Psychology is one area, and happens to be mine, but it honestly doesn't matter what you majored in. Anthropology courses should definitely count toward the social sciences credits. I don't think post-bacc GPA matters, because adcomms typically look at the undergrad GPA (more specifically, the cumulative GPA for your final two years of undergrad and the GPA for your major). I could be wrong, so perhaps someone can correct me on that, if that's the case.

I don't think your less than typical background will hinder you in the selection process, but I don't think it necessarily gives you an advantage, either. As long as you're able to demonstrate the ability and potential for social work, you should be set.. and your stats seem just fine for most MSW programs. As far as requirements pre-MSW, most programs require statistics and human biology in addition to the social science courses, but typically will allow a student to be admitted with the understanding that those courses must be taken immediately upon entering the program.

 

[Jellohno]

Thanks! One more question -- should I bother asking any of my undergrad professors for recs -- the ones who know me well can say that I'm smart and can handle grad-level coursework but probably not much about my potential for social work-- or should they all come from work/volunteer supervisors?

 

[spctle342]

Thanks! One more question -- should I bother asking any of my undergrad professors for recs -- the ones who know me well can say that I'm smart and can handle grad-level coursework but probably not much about my potential for social work-- or should they all come from work/volunteer supervisors?

I think the general rule of thumb (and one that is usually a written requirement) is that at least 2 of your references must be academic. A third or fourth reference can come from someone who has been acquainted with your work in a professional capacity. Getting into grad school requires that someone is able to attest to your academic preparedness, no matter how well you seem to fit the mold of a social worker.