Accepted to Multiple MSW Programs? Here’s How to Choose the Right One

How to Decide on an MSW Program

We spend a lot of time here at MSW Helper supporting people so that they can get into their dream Master of Social Work (MSW) program. It’s so exciting to hear back from applicants who have been admitted to multiple programs – that their hard work paid off!

Choosing between multiple programs can lead to some difficult, albeit exciting, decisions. To help you make this decision, this blog post will review key factors to consider when choosing where to complete your MSW. This includes reviewing your main priorities in pursuing an MSW degree, your career goals/interests, and practical considerations.

Reflection Question #1: What Are Your Main Priorities?

Taking time to consider what you are looking to get out of an MSW program is an important step in choosing which university to attend. After I applied to MSW programs in 2023, I ended up in a position where I was deciding between three different schools. Each one had valid pros as well as cons (as they usually do), which made it difficult for me to make a decision. Through this process, it helped me to write out my top program requirements. This is a process that will look different for all of us, so I encourage you to set aside some time to consider what’s important to you in this choice. You might even want to reflect on your priorities before deliberating with friends or family. This way you can be clear on the aspects of an MSW that are most important to you.

Here are some examples of things you might reflect on:

·       Faculty Expertise and Research: You might explore the faculty page of the program site to see what research or specialties professors in the program have, to see if this aligns with your interests.

·       Practicum Opportunities: MSW programs require students to complete a significant number of hours in a field placement. It’s important to think about what skills you want to learn in a practicum. For example, you may have a specific setting in mind that you want to gain experience in. From here, you can look into what affiliations the school has and where past students have completed their practicums.

·       Curriculum Structure: many programs can be offered in a hybrid, remote or in-person format. Depending on your preferred style of learning and schedule, this will be important to consider in your decision.

·       Support Services: MSW studies can be grueling. You will likely be writing many papers, making presentations, and completing a field placement. Sometimes, support is needed to navigate the stress of graduate-level studies. As different schools offer different wellness services, this could be a useful non-academic component to look into when considering if a program is right for you.

From here, you can explore the different program websites to see what schools are offering in each of your main categories.

*Note: I also encourage you to reach out to the program advisor with any questions you can’t find on the website! This can be an amazing resource, and they can address any niche questions you might have about the logistics of the program that may not be on the website.

Reflection Question #2: What Are Your Career Goals?

Now that you have considered, more generally, what you are looking to get out of an MSW degree, you can align these factors with your career goals.

Most of us are pursuing graduate-level education to pursue career opportunities in an area that interests us. Given this, when choosing an MSW program, it’s important to think about what your main career goals/interests are, and what programs will offer to support you in exploring this area of interest. For example, I was very interested in learning more about clinical work with children and families. When I was deciding on a program, I reached out to the different program advisors, inquiring about taking electives focused on this area. Some programs were flexible about taking courses from different faculties to satisfy this interest, while others were more strict. Reaching out about this to advisors helped me make a decision that supported my career goals.

Reflection Question #3: Practical Factors to Consider

Lastly, it’s important to consider the practical factors present when choosing an MSW program.

MSW programs can vary greatly in structure, cost, and format. So, of course, we can’t disregard the role that more practical factors like finances, location, and flexibility all play in making this big decision. At this stage, it can be helpful to reflect on the lifestyle changes (moving, part-time work) that you are and are not willing to make to pursue this degree. Certain programs may require you to make more lifestyle changes than you might be comfortable with, or maybe you are looking to make a big change with this new chapter. Regardless, it’s helpful to reflect on both your negotiables and non-negotiables before making this decision.

*Note: At this time, it can also be helpful to reach out to the scholarship department at the universities you are considering. Sometimes, they have information on less-advertised grants or scholarships that prospective students can apply for.

Conclusion

I’ll wrap up this blog post by first saying – congratulations!! As someone who has been through this process, I empathize with the hard work it takes to apply to different MSW programs. You did it! This is an exciting time, and I hope you can enjoy the process of deciding which program to attend. You may not only be choosing where to invest in your education, but you might also be choosing where you will spend the next year or two, maybe even moving to a new city! All that to say, pursuing higher education is a lot of work, while also being such a privilege, so I hope you can soak up all your chosen program has to offer. I truly hope this blog post will help guide you on how to decide on a program that aligns best with your life, interests, and goals!