I was rejected from the Master of Social Work Program the first time I applied - here’s how I got accepted next time.
Rejected from MSW program
I am currently in my first year of the 2-year Master of Social Work program, but I was rejected on my first try. I first applied to the Master of Social Work program in December 2019, hoping to be accepted for the 2020 cohort. I wrote my personal statement, acquired my references, and submitted my materials before the deadline, excited to begin my journey as a social worker.
Unfortunately, when admissions decisions came out in February 2020, I was rejected from the MSW program. Upon receiving that rejection, I felt defeated and confused. I thought my statement was great, and I had high grades and lots of diverse experience. However, when I applied a second time in December 2022, I reflected on my application and realized there were some major changes I needed to make to ensure my acceptance.
What I changed to go from rejection to acceptance to the MSW program
During the time between my two application cycles, I made changes to all areas of my application.
My GPA increased slightly, but was already at the minimum threshold when I applied.
Similarly, I gained close to 1000 additional human services hours, but I already had above the recommended 3500 hours the first time.
I also acquired new references who knew me and the field better.
While these aspects likely made me more competitive, the biggest change I made was to my personal statement.
Social Work Personal Statement Tips
When I first applied for my Master of Social Work, I thought my personal statement was great. I shared my lived experience, showed I knew about social work, and discussed a social issue while referencing the academic literature. However, when I looked back at it two years later, I realized that some errors I made could have impacted the strength of my application.
These are the top errors I made that I believe led to my rejection that future social work applicants should be mindful of:
Lack of cohesiveness between my experience and social justice issue
The first time I applied for my MSW, my statement was not cohesive at all. I picked a social issue I had heard about in the media which did not relate to my lived or professional experience. This made my personal statement jump around a lot and did not give a clear picture of who I was or what I was passionate about.
The next time I applied, I chose a social issue that I cared deeply about and could personally relate to, which connected to my goals. This enhanced my ability to show the admissions committee why I would be an asset to the program and what I planned to do with my degree.
Including lived experience without connecting to my goals as a social worker
When I mentioned my lived experience in my first statement, it did not correlate with anything I had done or wanted to do in the field. I was mentioning it for the sake of mentioning it, which was not the strongest approach.
When I wrote my personal statement for the second time, I had to think about why I wanted to share my lived experience and how it related to what I wanted to do in the future. Surprisingly, it actually did relate to my future goals, I just hadn’t seen or made the connection the first time. Connecting my personal experience to my social issue and career objectives clarified my reason for sharing my lived experience.
Writing what I thought admissions committees wanted to see rather than being true to myself
Knowing what to write in a personal statement is overwhelming and confusing. I had so many questions. One was, what does the admissions committee want me to say? Focusing on this question hindered my application because it unintentionally made my statement less honest. I discussed a social issue that was prominent, but not one I was passionate about. I mentioned career goals that I thought aligned with the school’s focus rather than being honest about my aspirations out of fear that they would not be seen as good enough. The admissions committee wants to see who you are, and I wasn’t showing them that. Instead, I showed the version of myself that I thought they wanted to see.
The next time I applied, I took some time to reflect. I asked myself a few questions before writing my statement: Who am I? Why do I care about social work? Where do I see myself in 10 years? What am I passionate about? Take some time and use this free personal statement template to get to know yourself and brainstorm before you begin writing.
Lack of alignment and fit with the MSW program
Carleton’s School of Social Work - my school of choice - is rooted in a structural approach. One of Carleton's questions is why this approach interests you and how you would benefit from studying at Carleton. This is a big question, and I had no idea what I was doing the first time I answered it. In my first statement, I wrote a list of partner organizations I’d be interested in doing a placement at, which took up a lot of the word count and said nothing about the school itself. It was probably the weakest area of my statement.
The next time I applied, I researched and educated myself about the structural approach and the program. When I wrote my personal statement, I demonstrated an understanding of the school and their focus, which helped me tie my goals and interests into the section. I mentioned a professor I wanted to work with and specific courses I thought would benefit me, and I made it clear that I knew the program was right for me.
More tips and takeaways if you got rejected from your Master of Social Work
Follow formatting guidelines
No matter what school you apply to, pay close attention to the formatting asked for. In my experience, it can be overwhelming to apply to many schools, especially when they are asking for different criteria. One thing I missed when applying to my MSW the first time was the specific portfolio formatting they requested. The second time around, I made sure to follow the template exactly.
Get feedback on your personal statement
Read your statement to people. Whether it is family members, friends, or MSW Helper, I recommend that you do not send your statement in without having someone critique it, ideally someone who understands the field of social work. When I first applied, I read my statement out loud to my mom once. I did not give her an understanding of the program or field, so she could only comment on the writing style. The second time, I read my statement to many more people and ensured they knew what I was being asked and what the program offered.
MSW Helper is the ONLY grad school application service who specializes specifically in Master of Social Work applications. Learn more about MSW Helper here
Start the personal statement writing process early
The earlier you begin, the more time you’ll have to reflect and edit your statement. Also, it will give you ample time to acquire strong references and gather all your required materials. The first time I applied, I began the application process less than a month before the deadline. The second time, I started brainstorming and planning at the end of summer, which helped me significantly.
Overall, the application process is multifaceted, and I cannot be certain of why I was accepted the second time I applied. However, I truly think that reflecting and being myself were the two biggest strengths of my second personal statement, and I do not think I would be in the current MSW cohort if I had not done these things.
Free webinar: Write your Social Work Personal Statement
If you are applying to your Master of Social Work join our free webinar on writing an effective personal statement to learn more best practices and how to avoid making mistakes that could lead to rejection from MSW programs.
