Question about Competitiveness of MSW programs

[californiagirl8]

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Hi everyone!

I'm new on here and have a question about M.S.W programs. I just graduated from undergrad, with a major in Political Science and a minor in Psychology. I am taking the year off to teach English abroad, and am trying to figure out if I want to attend law school in the fall, or graduate school for social work. I know they are two very different avenues, and I am having a difficult time deciding between the two.

I have spent years thinking I absolutely wanted to attend law school, and my resume reflects this fact: I have a solid LSAT score, have worked at a law firm for four years (only during the summer and breaks from school), have had an internship in a non-profit that dealt primarily with legal counsel and advocacy for low-income students, and have interned on Capital Hill. What I am concerned about is that my resume may not make me a strong applicant for top M.S.W. programs, since my experience is geared more towards the law, and less towards social work.

About the only relevant experience I have is the non-profit internship, and volunteering with two children's organizations, but both for only a few months time (and I'm not sure if teaching English to students might be looked at favorably?) For law schools, it is fairly easy to look at schools' statistics and assess the likelihood of being admitted. However, I have no idea how competitive MSW programs are, especially considering I have decided I am only applying to schools that do not require the GRE (after nearly a year of preparing for the LSAT, I've had it with standardized tests).

I graduated with a 3.67 cumulative GPA, and have a few professors and supervisors in mind who I believe would write me very good letters of rec. My question then is, how likely is my chance at being admitted to an M.S.W. program such as USC, Columbia, University of Washington, Portland State U, ASU, etc.?

I am so sorry about the long post, but I would greatly appreciate ANY thoughts you have!

Thanks a million!

 

[futureapppsy2]

MSW programs are typically not very competitive stats-wise and care a lot about experience--your internships with children well help, as will your experience with low income clients in law settings (social work is VERY big on social justice, so most programs will look highly on this experience. I think you will be in very good shape for most programs.

Are you looking at a macro (policy oriented) or micro (practice oriented) MSW track?

 

[californiagirl8]

I'm thinking a practice-oriented MSW track. Thanks for your response! Does anyone know what are considered good GRE scores for MSW programs? (I'm realizing I may need to take the GRE as most state schools require them, and with a state school comes a much lower tuition 🙂)

 

[BSWdavid]

I'm thinking a practice-oriented MSW track. Thanks for your response! Does anyone know what are considered good GRE scores for MSW programs? (I'm realizing I may need to take the GRE as most state schools require them, and with a state school comes a much lower tuition 🙂)

I am currently attending a state school and the GRE wasn't required for the MSW program. Most MSW programs in fact DON'T require the GRE. Check with prospective schools to find out if they require it, and if so, what the minimum score needed to apply is. I know there are a few programs they will require the GRE and some only if your GPA is below a 3.0. Again, the websites of these programs should give you the admissions guidelines.

David