How to Survive Your First Year of the MSW Program

When I was about to start the first year of my Master of Social Work program, I had no idea what to expect. I tried watching other students’ experiences on YouTube or researching blog posts, but my options were limited. So, I decided to put together a list of tips for incoming social work students that will hopefully help you feel prepared for this next step in your education. 

Tip #1: Connect with your Cohort

Many MSW cohorts will have group chats you can join, even before the first day of class. Connecting with your classmates early on may alleviate first-day stress, provide opportunities to share insight, and be a helpful place for any questions you may have. If you are unsure of where to find these group chats, I recommend looking at the MSW Helper Facebook Group or Gradcafe to see if anyone in your program has started a chat or Facebook group at your school. Once the school year begins, your cohort may also plan get-togethers or study groups, allowing you to make new friends and get to know your classmates further. 

Tip #2: Establish Boundaries

This tip connects with the first one. While MSW cohort group chats can be great, and it is important to form relationships and network as a social work student, it is crucial to implement your boundaries. From my experience, MSW cohort group chats can be extremely active, especially when assignments are coming up. To protect your stress levels and mental health, assess how much connection you feel comfortable with and how helpful the chat is, especially during busy periods. A helpful tip is to mute the group chat so you do not get every notification but can get caught up when you have the time and space to do so. 

Tip #3: Read Study Materials Effectively 

Reading was a significant part of undergraduate studies, but graduate school requires you to read in a completely different way. I did not know this before I began my courses, so I took meticulous notes, stressing out about every word in the required readings. However, I failed to realize that graduate school focuses more on critical thinking and discussion than memorization. While undergraduate courses expect us to memorize content in our textbooks and lectures, graduate instructors want us to understand and evaluate the information and how it can fit into our practice. 

This is a big change, so taking on this strategy will take some time. I just got the hang of it after my first year of my MSW, but it saves a lot of time and enhances my learning, so practicing the strategies prior to beginning your first year is a great idea. 

Tip #4: Practice Self-Care 

Let’s face it: graduate school is stressful! When placement begins, that stress is exacerbated as we are now in the field and learning while also supporting others. For these reasons, self-care is so important. Self-care is unique to each person, so you should try to find the best approaches for you. Some examples of self-care are reading, going to the gym, taking a nap, spending time with friends and family, getting out in nature, going to therapy, taking an art class, calling someone you love, or playing with a pet. This list is not exhaustive, and you can create your own list with self-care strategies that will be helpful for you. 

Tip #5: Be Open and Challenge Yourself 

Social work is a broad profession, and the program offers much learning, both in the classroom and in practicum. 

Though you may not connect with every course you take, try to be open to the professor's and cohort's knowledge and evaluate how you can incorporate this into your practice. If you have an extra elective, try taking a course outside your comfort zone. With such a broad field, you really never know exactly where your interests lie until you try things. If you are in a two-year MSW program, you will likely complete 2 practicums. Since this program is for students without a BSW, it is a wonderful opportunity to understand the field and where you may see yourself. Even if your first placement isn’t exactly what you want to do, it still offers learning because knowing what you don’t want to do gets you one step closer to figuring out what you do want to do. This advice can also apply to those who already know what they want to do because our practical experience further impacts our self-understanding and long-term goals! 

Tip #6: Don’t be Afraid to Talk to Professors

Your professors have a wealth of knowledge and want to help future social workers succeed academically and in the field. I was very nervous to approach my professors with concerns or questions about the course or assignments, but my best learning and success happened when I faced this fear and connected with them. In my experience, most are also willing to share their experiences or answer any questions about the field. Connected to speaking with professors, I also had to work through my fear of sending follow-up emails. I used to be worried I was annoying my instructor by following up on an unanswered inquiry. However, I learned that graduate professors are extremely busy, and it is easy for an email to be missed. Sending a quick reminder email, especially if your inquiry is important, can be the difference between getting a reply or going unanswered. I will clarify, though; I don’t mean sending several follow-up emails in a short period of time. Your professor will likely offer information in the syllabus or during class about how quickly to expect a response, so I would wait until this period of time has lapsed before reaching out again. 

Tip #7: Prepare for Practicum Early

In my experience, the practicum matching process goes quickly, so preparing in advance will put you one step ahead. Most agencies will require a cover letter, resume, and interview prior to offering a practicum, and these are things you can begin to prepare before your program starts. 

MSW Helper supports social work students in writing their graduate school and social work resumes and CV’s. If you are a social work student and you are interested in getting support with your social work resume head here to access our resume and cover letter templates and resume editing services.  

[Watch] 7 things I wish I knew before starting my MSW program: