How to answer the question “why do you want to be a social worker?” when you already have a BSW
If you’re applying to your Master of Social Work, there’s a good chance you’ve come across this section in your personal statement prompts. Many schools of social work ask applicants why they want to pursue social work. This can be a tough question, especially if you already have a BSW (Like hello, I already DID pursue social work!)
So how should you answer this question in a meaningful way?
Think about why you pursued social work in the first place
If you already have a BSW and you’re applying to the Advanced Standing MSW program, I would recommend thinking back to why you pursued social work in the first place. What goals or aspirations did you have? Why did you choose social work instead of another helping profession?
Address gaps in service at the Masters level
If you’ve worked in the field for a while, or if you’ve had placement/volunteer experiences, you can think about the gaps you’ve noticed at the micro/mezzo/macro level. How might an MSW enable you to help the population you support in a more meaningful way? Maybe you worked with a certain population doing case management and noticed barriers at the institutional level. Pursuing an MSW would allow you to work at the policy or macro level to work towards removing those barriers that exist for the population you serve.
Show your potential to contribute to the field in a unique way
If you already have a BSW, you want to show a high level of critical thinking and an ability to connect theory to practice when answering the “why you want to pursue social work” question.
MSW Personal statement template
Use the free MSW Personal Statement Template to help you brainstorm ideas to speak about in your social work personal statement.
Ready for the next step?
If you found this helpful, don’t forget to enroll in my FREE 10-day mini-course for MSW applicants. Through a series of emails, I’ll teach you how to write a strong personal statement for your Master of Social Work program.
You can also work directly with me. If you’re ready, I can help you create a top personal statement for your MSW. Click here to work with me.
Happy writing!
-Michelle