One question that often pops up on grad school applications is: "How are you prepared to meet the demands of grad school?" Admissions committees want to know that you can handle the rigor of the program and are seeking assurance that you have the resilience, determination, and skills necessary to excel in the demanding environment of graduate school.

Many applicants’ desire to pursue a career in social work is driven by their lived experiences. Personal experiences are valid and can be used to strengthen your statement when done correctly. In this article, I will discuss how to include personal experiences in your statement and what to avoid.

If you are applying to the Master of Social Work (MSW) program, you likely need to write a personal statement as part of the application process. The vast majority of Schools of Social Work ask applicants to discuss what motivates them to become a social worker.

In this article, we will be discussing how to discuss your motivations for becoming a social worker in a strategic way.

Many social workers have been through personal experiences that inspired them to pursue social work, but how do you navigate the balance between the personal and professional? Let’s talk more about how much self-disclosure you should be using in your Master of Social Work Personal Statement.

Many schools of social work ask about ethics in the Master of Social Work (MSW) personal statement. I often find that applicants aren’t sure how to answer the question, and end up tossing in a few sentences that can feel clunky and awkward, and stick out like a sore thumb in an otherwise well-written personal statement.

I’m a big fan of using social work theories in the Master of Social Work personal statement. I feel like this is an area many applicants overlook, but it’s something that can help you stand out.

If you’re applying to advanced standing MSW (meaning you have a BSW), this is an opportunity to show the reader what you learned in school.

If you’ve ever had a job interview in the past where you were asked what your areas of weakness are, you might know that the standard answer is to provide a humble-brag, or a weakness that is actually a strength.

“I’m a perfectionist”, “I work too hard”, and “I care too much” are standard answers people often give. People often avoid answering this question because they don’t want to give an answer that might be a dealbreaker for the role.

Schools of social work often ask this question as well, and they are not looking for these types of answers. They are looking for you to demonstrate your critical thinking skills as it pertains to social work practice, which might not be the same as what you would say in a typical job interview.

Master of Social Work (MSW) programs have comprehensive application processes; They look at your experiences, your references, your personal statement, and of course, your grades.

It can be worrisome when applying to competitive programs when your grades aren’t what you hoped they would be. However, since the application is so comprehensive this means that if you play your cards right, you can use the personal statement to highlight other areas of strength, or you can even put a positive spin on why your grades are low.

Here is what I recommend when working with MSW applicants:

If you’re applying to your Master of Social Work, there’s a good chance you’ve come across this section in your personal statement prompts. Many schools of social work ask applicants why they want to pursue social work. This can be a tough question, especially if you already have a BSW (Like hello, I already DID pursue social work!)

So how should you answer this question in a meaningful way?