How much experience do you need to apply to your MSW?
Many applicants come to me and express worry that they don’t have enough experience to get accepted to grad school.
“The application guidelines say that I need two years of experience before I can apply.”
I can tell you - from both my own experience and from working with MSW applicants - that you can get accepted even if you don’t have a lot of experience.
Here’s how to use your personal statement to apply to your Master of Social Work with no experience:
There’s a reason people with 20 years of experience get rejected.
And it’s the same reason why other applicants get accepted right out of their undergrad.
Admissions committees are looking for you to show that you have the critical thinking skills needed to excel in the Master of Social Work program.
And simply having experience doesn’t automatically mean that you’ve learned the lessons needed to be successful in the program. It goes both ways.
Applicants need to demonstrate their critical thinking skills by uncovering their insights and connecting them to the bigger picture. This gives the admissions committee the impression that you are driven by your mission to become a social worker and contribute to the field in a meaningful way.
Here’s an example:
Experience + insight: “While working at a summer camp, I noticed that children who needed extra support were getting kicked out of camp because there were no dedicated support staff to give them the support they needed.”
Connect it to the bigger picture: “The research shows kids who have disabilities, mental health challenges, and other support needs are far more likely to experience isolation due to stigma and a lack of resources. There is a need for greater support for children in school and community settings.”
I created the MSW Personal Statement Template to help you brainstorm your experience, and uncover your insights and potential as a social worker.
You have experience
Let’s get one thing out of the way: If you’re applying to grad school, you have experience. If you’ve ever had a part-time job, internship, or worked in another field you have experience that you can leverage in your application.
For example, I worked at a call centre during the summers between school breaks. At first glance, this doesn’t seem at all related to social work.
But let’s take a look at some of the transferable skills I gained from this job:
- I gained skills in communication, teamwork, and leadership.
- I got great at thinking on my feet in a fast-paced environment.
- I learned skills in patience and managing my own emotions when facing irate customers (if you ever worked in customer service- you get it).
Now, would you look at that? These are all amazing social work skills!
If you’re applying to your Master of Social Work, try to go deeper than talking about how you took phone calls or followed policies, and instead uncover the transferable skills you gained from your past jobs that will help you in your social work career.
“I was told that my internship doesn’t count”
Many Schools of Social Work say that they don’t accept placement experiences as experience for the application.
And many BSW applicants make the mistake of writing off that experience altogether.
Although they may not count it as part of your “years of experience”, you can still talk about that experience in your personal statement!
Webinar: Best practices in the MSW Personal Statement
If you’re applying to your Master of Social Work, don’t miss upcoming webinars where I’ll cover all the basics for writing a personal statement that stands out.
See you there!
Michelle
