30+ years old student, starting new life, in recovery for 3.5 years
Community College
AA Psychology IGETC (60 units) 4.0 gpa
AS Alcohol and Drug Studies (45 units) 4.0 gpa
Internship at addiction treatment center 250 hours
University of California (in progress)
BA Psychology
BA Criminology
45 units at time of application, currently 12 units done with 4.0 gpa, hopefully will keep my gpa high
internship 200 hours (case management at an agency)
Work
6 months full time at addiction treatment facility as support staff
I’m just trying to think of what else I can do to be a competitive applicant, so please help. These grad schools in the CSU system are competitive, roughly 700 applicants for anywhere from 30 - 100 seats. I’m applying to CSUDH, CSULB, CSULA, CSUF and UCLA. Also I’m not taking the GRE because it is optional for these schools if you have a GPA over a 3.4, and I don’t want to try to re learn all that stuff when I’m totally consumed with more than full time school and internships.
Please share your thoughts, and thank you !!!
Sorry, I know nothing about admissions at these schools, but I wanted to write and encourage you. I have a BSW and MSW from NYU, graduated a million years ago. You look, to me, like an excellent candidate, and the kind of person an MSW program would see as valuable. I don’t think you have to worry. If I had to suggest anything for you to do in the next while, the only thing I could come up with would be for you to diversify. Social Work programs will be alert to people who are going into the field to heal themselves, if you know what I mean. So, if you can do any more internships or volunteer work, or paid jobs, do them in an area that isn’t too heavily focused on substance abuse issues, like community organizing, medical, family support, etc… Maybe make sure, too, that you are getting counseling/therapy; you will want to write in your application essay about your recovery, and it may look more thorough if it’s not only through 12-step programs.
Congratulations on your new life. It looks very solidly promising.
I should add, don’t rule out private schools. You very well may be a perfect candidate for a good scholarship.
Just made my day thank you so much !