Advanced Standing M.S.W. Applications

Advanced Standing applicants must submit a field information form. It is expected that applicants have a B or better GPA in the last 60 credit hours of an accredited Bachelor's Degree and a B or better in all of the required undergraduate social work classes. Applicants must have completed a direct service field placement of at least 400 clock hours with a grade of B or better. Applicants who have had MSW supervision in their undergraduate placement will be preferred. It is recommended that applicants have scores in the 50 percentile or higher on each section of the GRE, particularly the verbal and quantitative sections.

If the field placement is not done until the spring semester prior to the May in which an applicant plans to enroll in our MSW Advanced Standing program, the applicant will be required to submit an interim field evaluation by Feb. 15 in order for the application to be reviewed.

A Minimum of Three Recommendations is Required

You should request recommendations from individuals who are familiar with your academic achievement and potential. If you have been out of school for a number of years and are unable to contact former professors, letters from other individuals who can address your achievement and potential will be accepted. At least two or more of the references should be from people who have seen you do social work or related work. If you have been a paid social worker, at least one of the two references should be completed by your supervisor or director.

Recommendations can be word processed on the letterhead stationery of the person sending the recommendation; however, the Graduate School recommendation form indicating your choice in waiving the right to see the reference should be completed and should accompany the letter. The form can be downloaded from the School of Social Work web site, or a paper copy can be requested from The Graduate School. Completed recommendations should be sent to the School of Social Work in a sealed envelope with the signature across the seal. Applicants should suggest to the persons writing the non-academic references that they use the following guidelines when writing the recommendation letters:

How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?
What is your judgment of the applicant's maturity and emotional stability?
What is your evaluation of the applicant's capabilities and suitability for graduate education?
What is your evaluation of the applicant's capabilities and suitability for subsequent practice in the social work profession (i.e., ethical standards, appreciation for a wide range of people, commitment to social and economic equity)?
Identify areas such as work performance, workload management abilities, leadership ability, and personal characteristics that you believe might either help or hinder the applicant's development as an effective social worker.
Other comments.

Personal Narrative Guidelines

Prepare a personal narrative of 4-5 double-spaced pages in no less than 12-point font and focus in some detail on all the questions below. This narrative is one of the most important parts of your admissions folder. Consider it your opportunity to communicate with Admissions Committee members about yourself. Before submitting it, make certain it gives the committee members a clear picture of your interests, experiences, and objectives. SIGN AND DATE THE TYPED copy that you submit.

How do you account for your interest in social work? Please describe any volunteer or paid experiences in human services and/or other experiences that contributed to your choice of social work as a profession. The admissions committee is looking for evidence of some leadership ability, experience or interest in working with diverse populations or oppressed groups, commitment to social and economic justice, and other interests congruent with social work.
Please describe an aspect of social work that interests you most and explain how you became interested in this issue.
Describe briefly experiences in which you have given and/or received help.
Identify a social issue of concern to you and describe how you think social work, as a profession, should respond to this issue. (Feel free to describe a response at the policy, program, or direct practice levels of social work.)
What do you consider your personal strengths and limitations for the practice of social work?
The School of Social Work is seeking a diverse student group. We are looking for students who can enrich the classroom because they bring broad experiences to the learning environment, and for students who will represent an array of skills and interests as they begin their social work career following graduation. What special attributes do you bring to the field of social work?
Feel free to share any additional information.

Resume Guidelines

Your resume will give you an opportunity to share information about yourself in a brief, easy-to-read style and it should be done with great care. Below is one way your resume can be arranged. While it is not necessary for you to arrange yours in this manner, it is necessary that you include all the information listed. (Type on white paper and limit your resume to two pages or less if possible.)

PERSONAL DATA: Name, Address, Phone Number (Optional: age, marital status).
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE: Institution(s) and the dates you attended.; Identify your degree(s) and major(s) and minor(s).
WORK/VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE: List your work and volunteer experiences in chronological order.; Provide a brief (2-3 line) job description and give beginning and ending dates for each position. Clearly identify those positions which were paid and those in which you volunteered. Also, identify any positions which provided MSW supervision.
SPECIAL SKILLS OR ATTRIBUTES: List those skills or attributes which enhance your ability to work with others.; For example: Do you speak a foreign language? Do you know sign language?; Are you skilled in athletics, art, music, or speech? Do you know how to use computers or special equipment? List such things in this section.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND HONORS: Are you a member of the National Association of Social Workers or other professional associations? Did you receive academic honors from your college or university?; Have you received honors from a community, service, or social group? List such things in this section.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Information

A Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score is required for admission. The GRE (General Test) must be taken within five years of application. In order for the scores to reach the School of Social Work by the application deadline, all applicants should take the GRE by December 1 prior to the year they wish to enroll. The Computer Based Training (CBT) is administered at most Sylvan Learning Centers nationwide.

The testing or counseling center at a local college can provide information about test dates and locations and where to acquire study materials. You also may contact directly the Educational Testing Center, CN 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000.

Applicants are more competitive when they have scores in the 50th percentile or higher on each of two GRE sections, the verbal and quantitative. The analytical section score is also reviewed. An applicant's total package is considered when making decisions.