How To Complete Your Rutgers MSW Personal Statement
Rutgers MSW personal statement is a critical part of the MSW application because it allows the school to review your writing skills, and it provides them with information about you, your experiences, and your goals.
The personal statement is often considered to be one of the most important parts of the application process because it allows you to show the admissions committee your potential for the MSW program.
Writing the personal statement can be a daunting task – not only is there a lot riding on this important document – but it’s also very different from your usual essay or research paper! So, in this post, we will be diving into how to write your Rutgers University MSW Personal Statement.
Rutgers MSW Personal Statement Requirements:
Rutgers University provides 5 prompts for MSW applicants to answer in a narrative. The personal statement must be typed and be between 750-1000 words total.
General Tips for Rutgers MSW Personal Statement:
Formatting: Because the personal statement serves as a sample of your academic writing one easy way to make your application stand out is to properly format it in APA format. I would recommend an APA style title page, writing in 12 pt, Times New Roman font, double spacing your work, and incorporating other APA elements
RELATED: How to format your personal statement in APA.
Structuring: While you may answer in a narrative format, I also recommend breaking up the prompts into headings so that the reader can easily scan your personal statement and find all of your answers. For example, prompt 1 (below) could be turned into a heading called “Why Rutgers” and prompt 2 could be turned into a heading called “Social Problem”.
Brainstorming: Before you begin answering the prompts for Rutgers MSW personal statement I recommend reflecting on the following:
Why are you interested in becoming a social worker?
What relevant professional, volunteer, academic, and personal experiences informed your decision to become a social worker?
What is your goal? What kind of work would you like to do as a social worker?
Why are you choosing Rutgers MSW program?
Thinking about these questions ahead of time will allow you to connect to your personal mission or your “why” for pursuing social work, and it will make it easier for you to draft your responses to the prompts provided.
Don’t forget to get our personal statement template here.
Now, lets dive into each prompt!
Prompt 1:
What are your reasons for applying to Rutgers University School of Social Work? Discuss how your personal values, professional, and/or community experiences affected your decision.
Why the school asks this question: Rutgers University asks this question because they want you to show alignment between what the school can offer and your goals as a social worker.
To answer this prompt, it's important to show that your choice to apply to Rutgers MSW program was intentional.
Start with your “why”: Share what drew you to social work. Was it a personal experience, a professional encounter, or a community issue that inspired you? Be specific and connect it to the values and theories that are central to social work.
Highlight your values: Describe the core beliefs that drive you to pursue social work, and make a clear connection between your values and Rutgers values. I recommend looking at their mission statement and any value statements they have on their website.
Link to Rutgers MSW program: Show you’ve done your research. Identify specific aspects of the program that resonate with your goals - specializations, faculty expertise, or field placements. Explain why Rutgers is the best fit for you and how their program will empower you to address the challenges you’re passionate about.
Be sure to end by tying it all together by discussing why you would be a great fit for the program – and why the program is a great fit for you!
RELATED: Why do you want to be a social worker?
Prompt 2:
Select and describe a social problem of concern to you and discuss how you believe professional social workers can help alleviate this issue.
Why the school is asking this question: Rutgers University asks this question to assess your understanding of social work perspectives and values and to understand how you can fill a unique gap as a social worker.
To answer this prompt, I encourage you to get specific about a social issue! Social work is a broad field, and by narrowing down a social issue you can position yourself as an applicant who can fill a niche gap. Here is what I recommend:
Identify a specific social problem: Choose a social issue that is meaningful to you and aligns with the values of social work, such as mental health disparities, housing insecurity, or systemic racism. Be specific rather than general; for example, instead of “poverty,” focus on “food insecurity among low-income families.”
Discuss your insights and experiences: Reflect on how you’ve encountered this issue through your personal or professional life. Share meaningful experiences that provide insight into the problem. Highlight barriers, injustices, or gaps you observed. For instance, “While volunteering at a shelter, I saw how a lack of affordable housing perpetuated cycles of homelessness.”
Connect to the bigger picture: Frame your insights within the larger context. Mention research, statistics, or evidence that supports your observations. This demonstrates critical thinking and shows your understanding of the systemic nature of social problems.
Align with social work practice: Explain how professional social workers can address this issue. Connect your understanding of social work principles, such as advocacy, community empowerment, or trauma-informed care, to the solutions you envision. For example, you might discuss the role of policy advocacy, mental health services, or culturally sensitive practices.
Tie it to your goals: Conclude by explaining how you hope to contribute as a social worker. Describe how you will address this issue in your future practice, demonstrating your potential impact on the field. This ties your passion to your long-term commitment to social work.
Prompt #3:
What skills and strengths would you gain from Rutgers University School of Social Work that would help you to address the problem you described in question 2?
Why the school asks this question: Rutgers University is likely asking this question to assess your capacity for long-term growth as a professional social worker and to once again gain an understanding of how the Rutgers MSW program can support you in growing professionally and meeting your long-term goals. To answer this prompt, think about the following:
Reflect on your current strengths and gaps: Acknowledge the skills and knowledge you currently have, as well as areas where you need growth. This shows self-awareness and a willingness to learn, which are important traits for social workers.
Identify specific skills Rutgers offers: Highlight the unique aspects of the program that will equip you to address your chosen issue. For example, you might mention clinical training, policy-focused coursework, or opportunities for community-based learning. Be specific to demonstrate your understanding of the program.
Connect skills to your social issue: Clearly explain how the skills you’ll gain at Rutgers will help you address the problem you described in question 2. For instance, if you’re focused on mental health disparities, you might discuss gaining expertise in trauma-informed care or cultural competence.
Tie it to your long-term goals: Conclude by explaining how Rutgers will prepare you for a meaningful career. Emphasize how the program’s strengths will empower you to create change and contribute to the field of social work.
Prompt #4:
After carefully reviewing the program requirements - including practicum learning hours and course load expectations--please describe how you will manage to fulfill the specific program requirements while balancing other life commitments.
Why the school asks this question: Graduate school is demanding. Admissions committees ask about your ability to meet the demands of graduate school because they want to understand whether you have the time management skills needed to meet the demands of the program. To answer this prompt reflect on the following:
Time management is key to succeeding in graduate school. Share examples of how you’ve effectively managed your time, such as balancing school, work, or a busy schedule. Highlight specific tools or techniques you’ve used, like to-do lists, calendars, or time-blocking, to stay organized and focused. Providing concrete examples of successfully managing competing priorities demonstrates your ability to handle the demands of a fast-paced environment. This assures the admissions committee that you are prepared to thrive in graduate studies and can effectively manage the rigorous workload.
Mitigating challenges and other commitments Graduate school presents challenges like academic setbacks, personal obstacles, and unforeseen circumstances. Admissions committees value applicants who demonstrate resilience and adaptability. When answering this prompt, share a specific instance where you faced a challenge and explain how you overcame it. Focus on strategies you used, such as seeking support, adapting your approach, or developing new skills. Reflect on the lessons you learned and how they’ve prepared you for future challenges. Showcasing your ability to persevere and grow demonstrates maturity, readiness, and a proactive mindset essential for succeeding in graduate studies.
Self care is an important social work skill, so it can be helpful to reflect on your self-care practices and how you will take care of yourself in graduate school.
Still need support with your personal statement? Connect with an application advisor from MSW Helper for application support and personal statement editing!
Recent review from an MSW applicant:
“Working with Michelle and my advisor, Juliann, was an amazing experience! I highly recommend their services to anyone applying to the field of social work. I was feeling unsure about my personal statements, but they helped me feel much more confident in my skills and experiences for pursuing MSW programs. Their feedback was invaluable, and I now feel more confident and hopeful about my applications. Thank you so much, ladies!”
