u/Weekly_Shoe4060

I am an idiot. I did all my research on pet insurance, decided on one over the weekend. Didn’t sign up right away, as I was going to wait till I was back to work today. Now the universe is giving me some insane karma.

My cat has been poop scootching today so I looked at his bum and it looks really weird. Like his butthole has two giant pink bumps. Like prolapse or hernia type thing.

Is this going to cost me a million dollars?? I just signed up for Spot pet insurance. Accident coverage begins tomorrow, illness on Friday (May 22). Should I wait? I sound like a horrible pet owner, I love my baby. He was blocked two years ago and it cost me $4000+ so I am terrified of the cost right now.

I have no clue what to do.

How the heck do people choose between multiple grad school offers. I have until Wednesday to decide between two offers and this has felt like one of the hardest decisions of my life, so naturally I am coming to reddit for advice.

Option A: Dalhousie University, Master of Social Work, two-year program. Went to Dalhousie for my undergrad and had an OK experience. I have been hearing EXTREMELY mixed reviews about this program. It’s advertised as a “critical clinical” focused program, but from hunting online and speaking to students there is a huge debate about this. Nova Scotia does have clinical specialization - this varies across provinces but is essential here to do private practice which is a future goal. In NS you are required to have four courses that are clinically focused, I’m worried the curriculum won’t meet this requirement if its not actually as clinical as it sounds. I’ve reached out to the licensing body AND the advisor on whether or not Dal’s curriculum meets these requirements and have not heard back. If I can’t secure a clinical placement I’ll have to do a lot of side work to find a job that will train me afterwards. Not sure if I want to stay and practice in NS long term. Dal’s program runs Sept to June each year, so could work in the summer.

Option B: Master of Social Work at UBCO in Kelowna. This is a clinically focused program, gives clinical practicums which are very convenient for developing clinical skills and learning therapeutic modalities. Sounds like a great program, however moving across country would be extremely stressful and costly - two cats, never flown with them before, either have to drive my car across the country or ship it for a couple thousand dollars from what I understand. UBCO’s curriculum DOES meet BC’s clinical specialization requirements so this would also likely meet Nova Scotia’s if I returned to practice afterwards. No clue if I would want to stay in BC - I have never been, but do think I’d enjoy Kelowna. UBCO runs year round, so the longest I could come home to visit is likely Christmas break and study break, so this does make me a bit nervous I’d be homesick. I have a great job here, great coworkers, but kinda worried about leaving without much notice - don’t want to burn bridges. I get back from a month long trip in early July and would have to basically go back to work for a month then leave 😬

Does moving make sense if I don’t know where I want to practice? Does staying at Dal make sense with so much uncertainty around the clinical component? Please be honest! I am desperate for some feedback that will actually help me make a decision lol

Is it worth relocating for MSW if I don’t know where I want to practice long term?

I have two offers - Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia and UBCO in Kelowna. Completely opposite ends of the country.

Financially moving is taxing, but Dal’s program is around $9,000 ish a year (two year program). UBCO’s is only about $5000 a year.

UBCO is aligned better with my clinical goals, but moving two cats, my belongings, and car across country is extremely scary and overwhelming to me. I know I want to move at some point but don’t know if I’d be better off to attend Dal, stay in Halifax for a couple more years and move afterwards?

Some pet insurances seem to have different categories of “pre-existing conditions”.

My cat had a urinary blockage from a crystal a couple years ago and it’s my understanding he has to be on prescription food for life. This costs me about $115 a month.

I’m trying to find an insurance policy that would cover a urinary blockage in the future, but the food seems to be the tiny important detail. Spot told me they were leaning towards it would not be covered because the food is being used as prevention / maintenance.

Has anyone found a company that may be suitable for this? I’m in Nova Scotia, Canada for reference. This is my first cat, I’m only 25, entering graduate school, and would really like to avoid spending thousands of dollars again for a future pet emergency.

Looking to hear from anyone who took the MSW program (foundation or advanced):

Did you feel you gained sufficient clinical training (if any)?

Did any of the core courses focus on therapeutic modalities or did you have to complete these on the side? Were the courses more hands on training or theoretical?

What kind of practicum placements did you have? Were you able to secure clinical placements where you could work with mental health populations or learn counselling skills? Did you feel these placements significantly improved your training / skills?

Would you have chosen a different program if you could go back?

Looking to hear from anyone who took the MSW program (foundation or advanced):

Did you feel you gained sufficient clinical training?

Did any of the core courses focus on therapeutic modalities? In a hands on or theoretical way?

What kind of practicum placements did you have? Did you feel these placements significantly improved your clinical training / skills?

For those with an MSW currently in clinical work - did you need to complete extra certifications or trainings in order to work in counselling. What would those extra certifications and trainings be? Did you feel your MSW aided you in preparation for clinical work or did majority of your skill development come from practicums and job roles?

I’m based in Nova Scotia which has specific clinical specialist licensing and my end goal with the MSW is to work in private practice or mental health setting.

I am considering relocating to BC as I have offers to UBCO in Kelowna and to Dalhousie for Master of Social Work programs.

Trying to figure out the costs related to a cross country move. Can anyone recommend any cheap car shipping companies? I’m trying to gather some quotes to see what I would realistically be looking at.

I’m deciding between the MSW programs at UBCO and Dalhousie University, and I’d love to hear from graduates or current students about their experience with the program!

A few things I’m trying to understand:

* If you completed the MSW program what are you doing now?
* Did you complete your practicum in BC or long distance?
* If you completed a long distance practicum, what was the process like in securing that placement?
* Did the clinical focus of this program actually make a difference in getting jobs? Did you feel prepared with your skills?
* Was the program’s clinical component more theoretical or hands-on? In general and in respect to assessments, interventions, etc.
* For students who relocated to Kelowna: How was the process of moving? Did you feel it was worth relocating for two years? Did it help with personal and professional growth? I currently have an offer to Dalhousie and am based in Halifax, but am unsure if I want to live and practice here.
* If you could choose again, would you pick the same school?

For context: I don’t have a BSW, so I’d be entering the 2-year MSW route. I care a lot about long-term earning potential, flexibility, and keeping options open. Working in a clinical setting and being able to provide therapy, psychological assessments and interventions are key goals of mine.

Appreciate any honest experiences!

Hi everyone,

I’m deciding between the MSW programs at UBCO (clinically focused) and Dalhousie University, and I’d love to hear from graduates or current students about actual career outcomes.

A few things I’m trying to understand:

* If you went to UBCO or Dal for your MSW, what are you doing now?
* How long after graduating did it take you to get your first role?
* What was your starting salary, and what are you making now (if you’re comfortable sharing a range)?
* If you wanted to get into clinical work/therapy/hospital social work, did your school make that easier or harder?
* For Dal grads: did you find it difficult to secure clinical placements? I’ve read that students have had to push hard for clinical placements
* For UBCO grads: did the clinical focus of this program actually make a difference in getting jobs? did you feel prepared with your skills?
* Domestic tuition to UBCO appears to be substantially lower than Dal (18k vs 5k it seems). UBCO is on the other side of the country. I am already based in Halifax but open to relocating. Did your financial position strongly sway your school choice? Should I be heavily considering this in mine?
* If you could choose again, would you pick the same school?

For context: I don’t have a BSW, so I’d be entering the 2-year MSW route. I care a lot about long-term earning potential, flexibility, and keeping options open (clinical, leadership, healthcare admin, etc.), however a clinical setting and therapy are key goals of mine.

Appreciate any honest experiences!

Can anyone who is entering, in, or has completed Dal’s MSW Foundation program confirm the tuition for domestic students?

I am seeing on the fee schedule break down a total of around $18,600 for one year, but the accounting email says this is estimated as if students are taking 5 courses a semester for three semesters a year (Fall, Winter, Summer). I’m having trouble understanding this as this isn’t the case with the course scheduling (Fall term 4 courses, Winter term 4 courses, Summer term 1 course).

Just wondering if anyone can confirm, as I am starting to get confused lol

Any recommendations for a cheap spot to get tires changed? Anywhere in the HRM

Is it worth reporting stolen packages to RCMP? I had three packages stolen off my porch between when they got delivered at 3:30pm yesterday and when I got home from work at 5pm. A major piss off because they were all for an upcoming trip, and now I don’t know if I can get the same items as they were on sale and may be sold out.

The companies are giving me a hard time about refunding the order or resending items. Suggested I reach out to authorities, but not really sure what that would do?

I live on Hunter St for reference and it’s definitely not the best area of Halifax to live in.

Anyone heading into the MSW Foundation program for Fall 2026 know where to locate the list of pre-approved electives from other faculty at Dal? And how to register for these? I can’t seem to find this list anywhere on my Brightspace or on the website.

I didn’t get into one of the in-person electives I was hoping for, so would like to either register for an elective with another Dal faculty OR take one of the asynchronous summer term SLWK electives if there’s space remaining.

I reached out to MSW Advising two weeks ago and have received no reply, even with follow up email.

Thought I’d throw this out here and see if anyone has any info! Thanks!

Hi all. I am entering my Masters in the Fall and was hoping someone may have a bit of insight into the NS rental supplement benefit.

I called and spoke to someone from their office on the phone and didn’t really get great answers to my questions…

I’m currently in a rooming lease with two others until end of August, then am hoping to find a one bedroom for Sept 1. What I’m struggling to understand is if they evaluate my current income, it will 100% be higher than that of when I’m in full time courses because I will have to scale back on working hours, so how do they take being a FT student into consideration?

If I apply now and submit a lease within 90 days I’m not sure I will be eligible because my total monthly income is higher than the AMR I calculated: AMR 1464 / 0.40 = 3,660, my total monthly $ before tax is $3888.

Should I wait till my income essentially drops in September and then apply? Then I’ll potentially have a period of having to pay full rent without any supplement is my understanding?

Also is there any way to gauge how much you may receive? I don’t want to sign a $1600+ one bedroom lease then find out I’m not eligible for any funding.

I’d love to hear anyone’s experience or guidance with this. I’ve never lived alone before and am very nervous about this transition but feel it is what I need to do for my mental health given my current living situation, so please be kind. The rental situation in this city is brutal.