r/SocialWorkStudents

I have a BA in Psych and am looking into programs that are fully online to obtain my MSW with the ultimate goal of becoming a LCSW. So far, Walden has stood out the most to me for flexibility, however there is so much negative discourse surrounding the school online in terms of employers/ job prospects being comprised due to poor school reputation, it’s making me second guess.

Does anyone have any insight on job prospects as a Walden graduate. My understanding is that if you are able to get the licensure to be an LCSW after meeting the hours post grad, employers don’t give much weight to where the MSW was earned. But will a degree from Walden dissuade internship prospects?

I am also looking for recommendations on other online programs.

I really appreciate any insight!!

Students who receive a No Pass grade from an internship are automatically dismissed. There was no meetings no nothing, and the student was dismissed from their program. I believe their handbook wrote that there was supposed to be a meeting gathering the circumstances, and then it will be decided what is the outcome, but the student received a No Pass grade and was immediately dismissed soon after. Does anyone know what can they do? Do they go to the Dean to be reinstated? Do they now have to go through the appeals process (which the advisor said that they havent seen anyone successful with it)?

I dont know if this is relevant, but the student was dismissed from the internship site for raising discrimination of a protected class issue with their supervisor. The site then accused the student of wrongdoings that are not really related to their work, for example, saying that they are taking credit for cleaning when other people did the cleaning. This is because it was cleaned twice because they did not inform who was cleaning on that day.

I got accepted into the graduate program for NYU and Columbia for this fall semester. I need help deciding between the two. I have read other posts that state they have similar practicum placements and most have stated the cost of Columbia is simply too high.

For context, I am using the GI bill to cover most of the expenses. Essentially, I can go to NYU and graduate without having to take out any loans and for Columbia I would be about $20,000 short after the GI bill and the yellow ribbon program.

I have heard mixed reviews when it comes to applying for grants for graduate school, but my main question is would it be worth it to take out that loan to go to Columbia? The loan would be worth it to me, depending on what the difference is in the experience, program quality, and going to an Ivy League is obviously a plus. I’m open to any comments, suggestions or feedback, thanks.

I started my final placement before I graduate in August, but it's unfortunately clinically focused and all the other interns and I at this place are therapists. I already hated doing the mock sessions in class with the classmates I was paired with, so I already know that I do not want to be a therapist post-grad.

I have 8 clients and I already did my first sessions with 3 of them. Two of them went so bad, there were lots of periods of silence and I felt like I was going in circles repeating the same validations but phrased differently and "the here and now" at the end. I felt like the ishowspeed and talking ben/talking tom clip.

I'm expected to have a biopsychosocial and treatment plan completed by session 3 (which honestly I believe that that social worker who took on the client's referral during intake should've conducted the biopsychosocial, however they just only get info on their situation). My supervisor hasn't honestly been the best, they didn't even know my name until I sat down for supervision. They just asked me to go over a client's problem that got them referred them to the agency, and what went on during our first session. My supervisor has access to my progress notes, and I genuinely would've preferred for them to have read my progress note and given me feedback. It was a very unproductive supervision - granted, it's my first time ever sitting down for a formal supervision. At my first practicum (generalist) I never once had supervision and my supervisor pretty much stopped caring about me and left me to figure out everything by myself, which was stressful, but I learned from the other social workers and asking them if I could shadow them. At the end, it made me want to pursue social work in the legal setting.

After reading the session's summary to my supervisor, I brought up how I felt like I was going in circles with the client and couldn't get them to open up as much (again understandable). They suggested if I wanted to sit down and shadow a real therapist. Mind you, earlier this week they were shit talking to the intake-social worker lead about another MSW intern who had requested to shadow a therapist😭

Getting this degree has been the hardest thing ever, and it's not even the courseload that's bad, it's these unpaid practicums and my field liaison who has NEVER been useful.

Pros of this clinical site is that the training (paperwork, administrative stuff, legal stuff) was elite, but now I'm here doing therapy and I'm so lost. My generalist never had training and I was left to figure it out on my own, so I'm kind of thankful for this.

so i was a provisional student which means i was only allowed to take two classes and i needed to get a b or higher in each class. well i got a c in one class and now i got dropped out of my program. i really want to be a lcsw so i’m applying to vcu. does anyone know if that is a good college??? if not, do you know any msw programs that are completely online (i can do asynchronous or synchronous classes)??? also idk if this is important but my undergrad degree is in psychology and criminal justice and i had a 2.8 gpa.

I just Graduated with my BSW (like literally 3 days ago), and I have been fortunate enough to be hired into an amazing position for a Non-profit organization as an ISDP (Independent Skill Development Practitioner). They’re paying me $40/hr now that i’ve got my degree, I make my own scheduling, I get paid for driving time and documentation time as well. So basically, I love my new job (Been working in the position since February for a lower pay) and I feel so incredibly grateful to have such a good opportunity immediately after undergrad.

My problem is, everyone is urging me to go into the MSW program. My school is an accredited university and has one of the Top 10 MSW programs in the US. The only thing is, as of now I have no desire to become a therapist, a clinical social worker, or really anything that actually requires me to have a Masters degree. I just feel like I should go into the MSW program for my future even though I have no plans of leaving my current job as an ISDP anytime soon at all.

Pros: Since I did my undergrad at the university for BSW then my Masters program would only take me 1 years (3 semesters), It will open up future opportunities for me later on, and I still have the curiosity, academic drive, and skill set currently to do the program more successfully than if I waited.

Cons: I need to figure out sooner rather than later because if I wait longer than 6 years I’ll have to do 2 years of masters instead of just 1 including re-taking classes I already took in undergrad, Going further into debt without an actual plan for my future, I am burned out, with no desire to become licensed & may eventually move states which affects licensing procedures as well.

So, is it really worth it? Are there options for me if I get my MSW that isn’t one of the careers I mentioned? How important is getting licensed? For those who waited more than 5 years to go into the MSW program, was it harder? Do you regret waiting?

Hi all,

I posted before about how many practicum opportunities that were coming up for me were faith-based. I got a lot of good advice and have just started at a faith based organization that I thought would be fine. Full disclosure, for many reasons I couldn't afford to be picky. I grew up Christian and the culture isn't too foreign for me, even if I don't share the belief system.

During the interview process, they never asked a single question about my values nor did I communicate in a way that suggested I was a Christian.

I started two days ago. I thought everything was fine and was gratified to learn they do not discriminate against queer/trans clients (young adult population). So far, so good.

As part of my orientation, I've been reading all the organization's materials. Trying to not be too identifying, but it turns out they do discriminate in who they partner with. They are also pro-life, which makes me very uncomfortable. I did have to dig pretty deep into the materials to find this info.

Everything has started off so great and my supervisor has talked about me working for them eventually. Unfortunately, there is no way in hell I will ever call a queer couple and tell them they don't qualify for a program. This is how they suggest handling inquiries from queer people. It is SUCH bullshit to me that what is ok for the client population is not ok for partners in a position of relative privilege/power. Literally gross.

I feel slightly ill and am very disappointed. It's mostly a great organization but this is a deal breaker for me. This is obviously kind of a vent and a bid for similar stories but I also have one question:

Would you tell them? When?

I'm planning on letting them know in the exit interview why I can't work with them in the future. I hate staying silent for so long! But I really need the position/reference. I have some hope that my immediate supervisor won't hold this against me. She has made some very inclusive statements, but is obviously still willing to work for them.

I won't make this mistake again because this sucks so bad...

I went to SJSU for undergrad and I’m returning for my MSW. I got into SDSU but I’m really nervous I made the wrong choice, but the damage is done. I already committed to SJSU anyway. (There’s more context between my decision in my previous posts too.)

SDSU is ranked in #3 for MSW programs in CA and have higher ASWB exam pass rates. Maybe I just need some reassurance that I’ll be alright :(

I’m worried I’ll feel stuck in my undergrad/early 20s self. I have a lot of history in downtown SJ, specifically around friendships that I’ve fallen out with, so there are a handful of ghosts of my pasts there. I’m trying to reassure myself I chose well and my life will be totally different at SJSU, but maybe I was craving a fresh start…

I’ve been trying to process letting go of a great school, but idk… I’m feeling like I’ll regret my choice :(

my msw practicum will be working at a mental health hospital. I will be drug tested and I have THC in my system, do you think they will care?

I’m in a situation where I’m pursuing an MSW because I don’t know what else to do in life (well I do have ideas such as creative endeavors such as probably nail tech, tattoo artist, model, social media influencer , make up artist—- but I keep thinking these are not realistic paths and don’t make money for real)

So yeah I think I basically pursuing MSW to survive in this world and to make sure I don’t get into poverty.

And to live comfortably…as im a teacher assistant right now and I don’t feel comfortable at all

Is anyone in the same boat??

Hello!

I plan to start my MSW in 2028, but are there any degrees I could pursue in the meantime that would complement it?

I already have my masters in public policy (mpp), but I was looking at an MBA or masters in community out reach (with a concentration in Spanish).

Is there a specific degree you would recommend?

I am fortunate where my employers will cover the cost and work at the va/case management

Thanks for reading

I had an interview for a practicum internship, and they told me that they were going to send me onboarding papers that night and made it sound like I was already offered the position. It's been a few days, and I haven't heard back. Should I ask for an update on the position, or should I assume it was already offered and report back to my college?

Hello,

I was recently accepted into an MSW program and the classes are in person classes which what I prefer. I'm currently in a dilemma whether I should enroll Full time which would take 2 years and its 15 credit per semester or Part time, which would take 3 years with 6-9 credits per semester. I also plan to take summer classes while working part time.

I'am 32 years old and I do want to have kids one day however, I'm scared I won't may not be able to due to my age and by the time I graduate from the program I'll be either 34 or 35 years old depending of the route I take. Another concern is feeling overwhelmed by the course load since it's a graduate level coursework will be different from my bachelor's program. How do you stay on top of it while managing and not feeling overwhelmed? I have ADHD so it's hard for me at times and I am medicated as well.

My main concern are future family plans while avoiding feeling overwhelmed. At the same time, I also want to finish the program as quickly as possible.

Hi everyone,
I’m currently in my first month as a social work intern at a public library, and I’m trying to get a better sense of my role moving forward.
This is my first internship in my BSW program. My initial field placement preference was at an outpatient treatment center focused on addiction care for adults; however, that opportunity ultimately fell through, and as my deadline for securing a placement was approaching, my options became more limited. At that point, I pursued this library placement to ensure I was able to meet program requirements and begin my field education on time while still gaining meaningful experience in a community-based setting.
The library does not currently have a licensed social worker on staff, so my position feels a bit unclear at the moment. So far, I’ve mainly been focused on orientation—getting to know the staff, learning how the library operates, and understanding the general services they provide. While there is currently no social worker on staff, the library has previously employed social workers and is familiar with supporting social work practice in this setting. My supervision is provided by the Executive Director, who holds an MLIS and has previously served as a field supervisor for BSW students. The library has also recently taken on an MSW intern, which further supports the structure and learning opportunities within the placement.
I’m starting to wonder what my role could look like once onboarding is complete. I don’t often see patrons coming in specifically requesting social services or resource support, which may be related to the fact that the library is in a relatively well-resourced suburban community.
For those who have worked in similar settings, what kinds of tasks, outreach, or programs did you take on as a social work intern in a library? How did you identify needs in the community and create meaningful ways to contribute when direct service requests were limited?

Any advice or examples would be really appreciated.

Hi all! I'm planning to apply to MSW programs starting in 2027 with hopes to eventually become a LCSW. I have a BA in Advertising & PR - the industry I've worked in for the last 3 years before deciding to make this switch. The only related experience I have is about 4 years of volunteer experience with a social service organization that helps refugees and immigrants resettle in the US.

I'm wondering if I'll have difficulty getting accepted into programs with a completely unrelated bachelors degree and career experience up until this point. For context I'm planning to apply to several California schools including CSUN, SDSU, CSULB

Hi, I am currently a psychology undergrad student. I decided about a year ago that I wanted to pursue an MSW after graduation (my undergrad school does not offer social work as a bachelor's degree, though they do have a minor program I am in now). My goal is to go into medical/hospital social work. I honestly haven't done a ton to prepare for it, not for a lack of trying (I am disabled and have been unable to drive reliably until this last semester and there is no public transport in my rural college town). I will start my senior year in august, and be working as a sort of case management intern at a home health organization, working in an undergrad psych lab, and volunteering when I can. What I am wondering is if I should drop one of my courses to make more time to volunteer, or just do what I can as is. My top three programs of choice aren't known to be insanely difficult to get into as the application rates are very low in my state. There are no minimum volunteer hour requirements at any of them. Currently I volunteer at a hospice organization, an animal welfare organization, and on occasion a food bank. My hours are low at all of them due to balancing school, work, and a disability.

How many hours are recommended for a school that is not insanely competitive? I don't want to give myself burn out, but I also really want to get into my top choice school. Is it okay to have less if I have experience in case management from the job I'll be starting next semester? Just looking for a ballpark goal.

hi guys i’m having a hard time picking a field placement for next year. i’ve received offers from two places. a) is a school-based mental health program about a 30 minutes away from my school. this is the place that is closest to what i want to do with my career and what i am the most interested in and passionate about. i’m very passionate about mental health and i might to work in a school in the future so i think this is the one i want to do. b) is a family services program about 40 minutes away from my school. i am somewhat interested in this and i have done similar work to this in an internship last summer so i feel like i could do good at it.

the only issue is that i need to get 450 hours by the end of the year and im worried about that with the school placement. this amounts to about 16 hours a week. it would only be tuesdays and thursdays, and it would only be 6 hours a day, so 12 hours a week. it also doesn’t start until the end of september so i would get a late start. since it’s at a school and i live in a cold and snowy area, i would also have to worry about losing hours to snow days. the hours would also be restricted to school hours, so there isn’t much flexibility.

the family services place is a lot more flexible with the days i can come in and the hours i work. they have morning, afternoon, and evening hours. i could also go in any day of the week if i needed to. if i did have to lose a day due to snow days, i could make the hours up another day very easily.

which one should i choose?

Let's get real about it: today, I got lambasted for how late my documentation was, and I feel like hot garbage as one of my two supervisors. I discussed it in supervision today, and I had to admit I've never learned how to do documentation. The documentation I knew how to do at my previous job in housing recovery was so atrocious and poorly done that someone important needs to take a look at that organization for non-compliance. And as they were putting me over the fire, my supervisors had something very interesting to say: "This is something she hears frequently, so let's talk about it." Those of us who are trying to go into clinical work and are at clinical placements, did you have any experience doing things like SOAP or DAP notes?