MSW programs often ask for the following as part of the application process:

• Transcripts

• Resume/ Social Work CV

• References

• Personal statement

In this article, I will be sharing the tips and strategies I use when I help MSW applicants prepare their applications.

Your personal statement is one of the most important documents that you’ll write in your career, yet there are few resources that explain how to write an impactful personal statement. In this article, we will be talking about what you should include in your social work personal statement, as well as mistakes to avoid.

If you are applying to the Master of Social Work (MSW) program, you likely need to write a personal statement as part of the application process. The vast majority of Schools of Social Work ask applicants to discuss what motivates them to become a social worker.

In this article, we will be discussing how to discuss your motivations for becoming a social worker in a strategic way.

Starting the journey of pursuing a Master of Social Work can be both exciting and daunting. On one hand, you may be excited about your potential career path, but on the other hand you may already know that Master of Social Work programs can be quite competitive.

As a Canadian myself, I often get questions specific to Canadian Master of Social Work programs. This blog post will address important questions and considerations when applying for Canadian MSW programs, including the demand for social workers in Canada, finding suitable programs, GPA programs, and identifying the best programs in the country.

Schools also often ask about things like ethics, alignment with the school, values, conflict, and how you intend to manage the demands of the program, but almost every school asks the above two questions, so this is a great place to start

The vast majority of schools are looking for you to talk about:

• Your personal experiences (from your life, professional experiences, schooling etc).

• A discussion of a social problem and how social workers can work towards solving it.

• Your motivation or goals for becoming a social worker

When I was applying for my Master of Social Work, I spent hours scrolling through forums and trying to compare myself to other MSW applicants.

I see the same thing happening today. I always see MSW applicants compare their stats with each other “I have a 4.0 GPA, 10,000 hours of experience – blah blah blah.”

As someone who works with MSW applicants daily, I can tell you with confidence that having more experience doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a better application. It’s far more important to show admissions committees that you have the skills and insights they’re looking for.

More universities are offering 100% online Master of Social Work programs. Online Master of Social Work programs are great because they offer flexibility with time and location, and they open doors for applicants in remote areas.

However, there are also drawbacks to online programs as well. They can be more competitive, they aren’t suitable for everyone, and it can be harder to secure placement in online programs.

When I applied to my Master of Social Work, I often compared my GPA and experience to other applicants, and it made me doubt myself even more. Here are my thoughts on the grades and experience you need to get accepted to grad school.

Many social workers have been through personal experiences that inspired them to pursue social work, but how do you navigate the balance between the personal and professional? Let’s talk more about how much self-disclosure you should be using in your Master of Social Work Personal Statement.

After several years of helping people with their personal statements, I often see similar phrases over and over again that can come off as weak or controversial. Here are the most common ones: