How to get accepted to your MSW even if you have a low GPA
What is the minimum GPA requirement for MSW programs?
Schools of Social Work typically require applicants to have a B-average to apply to Master of Social Work programs. Each school should have the minimum requirements posted on their website. However, MSW programs are often competitive, and you may need a higher average than what is listed as the minimum to be a competitive applicant.
That said, MSW programs are unique in that they assess your application in a holistic manner. Admissions committees look at your GPA, resume, references, and personal statement. They use all of these parts of the application to get a sense of you as a whole person.
Social work is so much more than an academic field, and as social workers, we need to have empathy, align with social work values, and contribute to the field in a positive way. None of this can be reflected through your GPA, which is why Schools of Social Work use a holistic approach when reviewing your MSW application.
Is it possible to get accepted with a low GPA?
In short, yes – it is possible to get accepted to your MSW with a low GPA. Over the years MSW Helper has supported dozens of students with a low GPA in getting accepted to the MSW program.
As I mentioned, Schools of Social Work want to get a full picture of who you are as a potential social worker, and your low GPA does not always reflect your full potential.
For example, many applicants come to me who are worried about their low GPA caused by a hardship that they faced while in school. They went through something challenging, and this led to a low GPA for a few semesters. If the admissions committee did not have that context, they would take that applicant's low GPA at face value. That’s why the personal statement is such an important part of the application – not only does this give the applicant a chance to explain why their GPA was lower, but they can also talk about how the hardship they went through made them more resilient and will make them a better social worker down the road.
When I applied to my MSW I spent a lot of time comparing myself to others. I often scoured forums and tried to get an idea of what other applicant's GPAs were like. What I failed to realize is that comparing grades is not an “apples to apples” comparison because I don’t know the full picture. For example, one applicant might have a high GPA because they had the privilege of making school their #1 priority. Another applicant might have a low GPA in comparison, BUT they had to work to put themselves through school and take care of their family. So even though their grades weren’t as high, they make up for it by having a ton of experience.
This is what I mean when I say that MSW applications are holistic. They know that your potential to be a great social worker can’t always be reflected by your GPA, so they try to get a sense of all of the academic, work, and life experience that you bring to the table.
How can I compensate for a low GPA?
If you have a low GPA, it’s crucial that you put extra effort into your personal statement to offset your low GPA. Some Schools of Social Work will even give you the opportunity to address your low GPA in your personal statement. Here is what I usually tell applicants when I edit and critique their social work personal statement:
Use neutral language:
First, you should always talk about your low GPA in a neutral manner. Avoid using self-deprecating or judgemental language towards yourself when bringing up your low GPA.
For example, instead of saying: “I acknowledge that I have a low GPA and that this might negatively impact my application” you might instead want to say: “There was a semester where my GPA was lower than usual.”
Keep your discussion brief:
The vast majority of your personal statement should highlight your skills, strengths, and potential as a social worker, so if you decide to address your grades you should keep it as brief as possible so that you can save as much room as possible for talking about the positives.
Building off the last example you might say something like: “There was a semester where my GPA was lower than usual because I went through a hardship that required my attention.”
Highlight skills and resilience:
After being neutral and brief in bringing up your low GPA, talk about how the reason for your low GPA is also the reason that you will be a great social worker down the road.
“There was a semester where my GPA was lower than usual because I went through a hardship that required my attention. Although this experience led to a drop in my GPA, it also taught me resilience and will make me a better social worker down the road”
Focus on strengths
If the school you are applying to does not directly ask for you to address your low GPA in your personal statement, I would recommend focusing on your strengths. You may not need to directly address your low GPA in your personal statement, and instead focus on highlighting all of your skills, strengths, and potential through your personal statement. Let the admissions committee see that you would be an asset to the program despite your low GPA.
If you are applying to your MSW I invite you to register for this free webinar on writing a personal statement where I will be addressing how to make your MSW application stand out even if you have a low GPA.
Advice from applicants who got accepted to their MSW with a low GPA
I hope that by now I’ve shown you that it’s possible to get accepted to the Master of Social Work program even if you have a low GPA. Schools of Social Work care about you as a whole person, and sometimes your GPA does not reflect your true potential. To drive this point home here are some testimonials from past MSW applicants who got accepted to the program because they focused on their personal statement.
Claire H:
“Michelle helped me dig deeper into my personal statement and show the admissions committee what I really wanted to say. As someone who has always considered themselves a strong writer, it was 1000% in my best interest to use Michelle’s services because there are simply so many nuances of social work that she can help you critically think about and express.
I’ve been accepted into 4/4, including my top choice at UChicago and I couldn’t be more happy!!! what it’s worth my GPA was below average due to extenuating circumstances so my personal statement DEFINITELY had something to do with my acceptances!!”
Hannah S.
“Michelle is AMAZING! I honestly can not say enough about her and her services.
I remember I was so stressed out writing my personal statements for graduate school. I wasn't feeling confident, and didn't know where to start. I did my best and Michelle gave amazing feedback that got my brain working. She helped me fix wording issues.
She is 10000000000% worth every penny to review your personal statement. By the time I was done working with her, I felt confident sending in my personal statement instead of nervous. I got into both of my top schools. She went above and beyond. If you are feeling stuck or want feedback on your personal statement, I highly recommend her!”
Happy writing!
Michelle
