89% of MSW Helper clients got accepted to grad school last year
MSW Helper 2023-2024 Impact Report
In 2023-2024 MSW Helper celebrated 5 years in business, and we experienced rapid growth as we supported 358 applicants in applying to dozens of Master of Social Work programs across the United States and Canada.
In May 2024 we conducted a survey in which we got voluntary feedback from our clients who worked with us between April 1st, 2023 and March 31st 2024. Approximately 20% of all clients responded to the survey.
MSW Helper Client Acceptance Rates
89.1% of respondents who received personal statement editing, consulting, or services from MSW Helper got accepted to a Master of Social Work program in the 2023- 2024 application season.
This is significantly higher than the average rate of admission to MSW programs across both the United States and Canada. While we are proud of the results we can get our clients, it’s important to note that many factors go into a successful application, and MSW Helper does not make any promises or guarantees about a particular student’s results after working with us.
What were the grades, experience level, and writing ability of MSW Helper clients?
How did applicants rate their GPA?
MSW Helper survey respondents reported their GPA as follows:
16.2% reported their GPA as significantly higher than average
35.3% reported their GPA as slightly higher than average
36.8% reported their GPA as about average
7.4% reported their GPA as lower than average
4.4% reported their GPA as significantly lower than average
Almost half of all applicants consider their GPA to be average or lower compared to their peers. This is consistent with MSW Helper’s perspective that the holistic nature of the Master of Social Work application provides opportunities for applicants with a low GPA to highlight their strengths and use their personal statement to showcase their potential as a social worker.
Helpful resources
How did applicants describe their experience in the social work field at the time of application?
MSW Helper survey respondents reported their experience as follows:
28.4% had 2+ years of social work experience
22.4% had less than two years of social work experience
32.8% had experience in the social services (not social work)
16.4% had no relevant experience
There was a wide variety in the level of experience of applicants in 2023-2024, and only 28.4% had a significant amount of direct social work experience.
We know that each applicant brings a unique perspective and potential to the social work field, and through our personal statement editing services we help applicants draw out their insights, transferable skills, and motivations for pursuing a career in social work.
Helpful resources
How did applicants describe their writing ability?
MSW Helper clients reported their writing ability as follows:
45.6% consider themselves to be strong writers
48.5% consider themselves to be average writers
5.9% consider their writing ability to be lower than their peers
The personal statement is a crucial tool for admissions committees to assess an applicant’s readiness for graduate school. Yet, many students struggle to write a personal statement that reflects their skills, strengths, and potential.
Through our resources, partnerships, and services, we educate and support MSW applicants in submitting their applications with confidence knowing that they put forth the best application possible.
By supporting applicants through the writing process we increase diversity and equity in the social work field, creating a field that better reflects the people we support as social workers.
Helpful resources:
What are applicants saying about MSW Helper?
We received qualitative feedback from our clients about how applicants felt before and after working with MSW Helper, and feedback followed four major themes.
Applicants were happy to receive feedback from someone who has a background in social work education
Applicants making a career change were relieved to learn how to translate their non-social work background
After working with MSW Helper, applicants felt more confident in their applications.
Applicants were feeling lost and confused about how to start their personal statement, and MSW Helper’s comprehensive feedback helped applicants complete their application knowing they followed all best practices.
Theme 1: Applicants were happy to receive feedback from someone who has a background in social work education:
“It was great to have someone that specifically works with MSW personal statements to look at my work. The editing was very detailed with great suggestions! I would 100% recommend. I was so happy to find you!”
“I felt strong about all parts of my application except for my personal statement. While I have written personal statements before I never wrote one when applying for school specifically a MSW and working with you made me so much more confident in my writing as well as gave me clarity as to what schools look for. It helped shape my personal statement for master of social work programs.”
“I was unsure of how my personal statement and resume compared to other applicants before working with Michelle. I was unsure if either were focused in the ways admissions committees were looking for and I also felt unsure how to address those issues. I felt much more confident in myself and my writing abilities after meeting with Michelle. It was very helpful to have feedback that was applicable and tailored to MSW admissions. It was also helpful to have someone who had an MSW to look over my materials, instead of others who were not in the MSW field.”
Theme 2: Applicants making a career change were relieved to learn how to translate their non-social work background
“Since I don’t have a social work background I was especially nervous about the personal statement, speaking about social work, and why this was the field I wanted to get into. I think working with Michelle helped me break down each part of my personal statement into manageable parts to show what grad schools look for in application and helped me express how my transferable skills would allow me to excel in social work.”
“Initially I was not confident that l could get in with my journalism/ PR background which puts me just outside the traditional social work applicant; working with you helped make my personal experiences found in my personal statements relevant to social work profession! I was able to compellingly articulate the ‘Why’ in my career pivot to social work.”
Theme 3: After working with MSW Helper, Applicants felt more confident in their applications.
“Working with you positively impacted my personal statement quality! It was extremely helpful and I believe helped me stand out.”
“I felt good before but MSW helper made me feel so confident I felt there was no way I could be rejected by any school.”
“Before working with you I felt completely lost and stressed regarding applying to graduate school. Working with you gave me more clarity and confidence!”
“I felt more confident about my statement after working with you.”
“Initially I was unsure about how to organize my thoughts into a well constructed, shortened essay - working with MSW Helper guided me in how to direct my writing and alleviated my anxieties despite my academic background which was affecting my confidence”
“I felt good about my application before working with you and getting your feedback and making those corrections made me feel very confident.”
“I feel like a lot of my ideas were all over the place but you helped me clarify my social work goals + explain what I want to get out of the program (and what I can bring to it)! I also like that you gave specific feedback regarding grammar/rephrasing sentences, but also provided overarching feedback regarding the content of my essay. I definitely felt more confident submitting my application after working with you! Thank you so much!”
Theme 4: Applicants were feeling lost and confused about how to start their personal statement, and MSW Helper’s comprehensive feedback helped applicants complete their application knowing they followed all best practices.
“I was very worried before working with you. The idea of writing an academic paper felt extremely daunting after 10 years out of school. After our work together, I felt really empowered and confident about my personal statement. I got a merit based scholarship to Fordham and I think the quality of the statement had a lot to do with it!”
“You provided so much information and suggestions on how to make my paper better. You helped with my overall grammar and flow of my statement letter. You definitely help transform my ideas into more professional writing.”
“I felt LOST. The process scared me, I have a learning disability and knew my chances were slim because of this as writing determines if you get accepted. Working with you was the reason I was accepted. Purchasing the full package helped organize my ideas and get examples to showcase my passions where your editing made everything flow together.”
“Before working with you I felt completely lost and stressed regarding applying to graduate school. Working with you gave me more clarity and confidence!”
“I felt super lost - didn’t know if I was on the write track with my statement. What helped the most was your feedback & questions go get me thinking a bit more & giving a better direction of what to be writing about”
“I think it helped because the first application I submitted with the new letter I was accepted to with a scholarship. I had 2 rejections prior to this.”
