How important is Grad School?

Graduate School
1

<p>I just graduated with my B.A. last semester and am now interested in pursuing a career in Social Work. I am currently employed as a Case Manager with a large non-profit but would ultimately like to be a LCSW with the V.A. That being said, there seems to be tons of MSW programs out there with only a dozen or so that offer a concentration in Military/Veterans Social Work. How important is the Grad School one goes to in the long run? I've heard that going to a program that places students at the V.A. for their fieldwork is a great advantage if wanting to be employed there in the future. Am I better off going to a program that offers such field placements and has specialized coursework that deals with Veterans/Military issues? </p>

<p>Would love to hear from anyone who is doing their field placement with the V.A. or is employed there. Is anyone else looking to go into Social Work with Veterans population? If so, where are you going/have you applied?</p>

<p>I've heard great things about University of South California's program and have seen that the Catholic University of America, University of Central Florida and George Mason University also offer specialized coursework/fieldplacements.</p>

2

<p>I think your placement has a lot to do with employment - I am friends with a few social work grads who ultimately ended up in their placement or a related organization - but taking coursework specifically related to veterans is not. It’s nice if you can get it, of course, but the majority of social workers who end up at the VA have probably not had any specialized coursework related to veterans. A lot of that stuff can be learned through experience, which is why placement with veterans (or volunteer work with veterans) is important.</p>

<p>I don’t think it’s worth it to incur large debt just so you can take a few classes on veterans - especially in a field where median salaries are below the national average. You’d be better off concentrating on programs that offer placements or are located nearby VA hospitals and other veterans’ service organizations.</p>