Applying for Your Master of Social Work When You Have No Experience

by Michelle Bruxer, MSW, RSW

     When I was applying for my Master of Social Work, I often found myself scouring forums and comparing myself to others. I was worried that I didn’t have enough experience to stand out. Comparing myself to others had the opposite effect of what I wanted it to—it just made me doubt myself and feel more anxious about my application.

     As someone who works with MSW applicants daily, I can tell you with confidence that having more experience doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a better application. It’s far more important to show admissions committees that you have the skills and insights they’re looking for.

     If you’re worried that you don’t have enough experience to get accepted into the MSW program, keep reading to learn how you can show admissions committees that you have the skills they’re looking for—even if you don’t have so-called relevant experience.

You have experience.

     Let’s get one thing out of the way. If you’re applying to grad school, I can guarantee that you have experience. If you’ve ever had a part-time job, internship, or worked in another field, you have experience that you can leverage in your application.

     For example, I worked at a popular fast food restaurant during the summers between school breaks. At first glance, this doesn’t seem at all related to social work.

But let’s take a look at some of the transferable skills I gained from this job.

  • I gained skills in communication, teamwork, and leadership.
  • I got great at thinking on my feet in a fast-paced environment.
  • I learned skills in patience and managing my own emotions when facing irate customers. (If you ever worked in customer service, you get it.)

     Now, would you look at that? These are all amazing social work skills!

     Action step: If you’re applying to a Master of Social Work program, try to go deeper than talking about how you took orders and flipped burgers, and uncover the transferable skills you gained from your past jobs that will help you in your social work career.

Your uniqueness is an asset.

     Applicants often worry about how their application will stack up compared to someone who took a more traditional path to their MSW. The thing is, I have found that those with a unique background often stand out.

     For example, I worked with someone who had a background in marketing and worked as a reporter in another country. In her personal statement, she talked about how her role as a reporter made her aware of social justice issues. As a reporter, she felt as if she wasn’t making enough of an impact, so she wanted to pursue an MSW so she could go from reporting on social injustices to fighting against them.

     Action step: If you took a less traditional path, ask yourself what you bring to the table with your unique background.

Talk about your insights.

     One of the key things admissions committees are looking for is for you to demonstrate your critical thinking skills.

     One way to stand out in your personal statement is to demonstrate your critical thinking skills by uncovering your insights and connecting them to the bigger picture. This gives the admissions committee the impression that you're driven by your mission to become a social worker and contribute to the field in a meaningful way.

     Here’s an example:

     Experience + insight: “As a South Asian woman, my depression and anxiety went on a lot longer than it should have, because the stigma and shame I experienced from my family and the inability to find a therapist who understood my culture prevented me from getting the help I needed.”

     Connect it to the bigger picture: “The research shows that people from South Asian cultures are more receptive to social workers from the same background who understand their needs. Yet, there is a lack of South Asian social workers to meet this need.”

     Action step: Demonstrate your critical thinking skills by uncovering your insights from your personal and professional experiences, and connect them to the bigger picture with research.

Market yourself with the personal statement.

     Admissions committees aren’t just looking for applicants who have the most experience. They are looking for applicants who have the skillset needed to contribute to the social work profession in a meaningful way.

     You can do this even if you don’t have so-called “relevant” experience. Use your personal statement to highlight the transferable skills, insights, and strengths that make you unique.

     If you’re applying for your Master of Social Work, be sure to check out this 30-minute webinar on writing an MSW personal statement that stands out.

Michelle Bruxer, MSW, RSW, is the founder and CEO of MSW Helper, where she helps Master of Social Work applicants write top notch personal statements for grad school. Michelle understands how stressful applying to the MSW can be and strives to help applicants feel confident about their applications. Check out her website to learn more: http://www.mswhelper.com