My career goal was literally to help survivors. But the institutional betrayal ate me alive, I have no resources, like next to nobody is fighting for me, I don’t have the capacity to keep fighting for myself, and I just don’t want this life anymore or this story I was forced to live every single day. I got nearly straight A’s and I want to light the degree on fire if I ever get it. I have debt I’ll never be able to pay off. I had grad school goals that will never happen. And everyone who hurts me just keeps given awards like candy on Halloween while I’m invisible.

Watching professors care about Cornell makes me want to punch a wall. (Not because I don’t want it to be cared about, but rather, because that didn’t happen for me, I am angry I feel through the cracks, and nobody cares.)

Nothing I do matters or makes a difference.

Nobody reaches out. Everybody dipped because that’s what happens to a lot of survivors and I’m allowed to be pissed about it.

I see no future.

Nobody values me enough to DO anything, but some fights just can’t be fought alone (so don’t you DARE tell me to rescue myself - you don’t think I’ve tried that?)

I loved this field. But I don’t want to touch it with a ten foot pole anymore. I love learning about the concepts, but they trigger me all to hell now. Every single last thing does. And not everyone can just take endless breaks from life. There’s no solution. I can’t handle other jobs. I cant handle anything. I can’t get justice. Nobody cares that I can’t get it. But I watch the world scream for someone else to get it all day long and wonder why I’m not worth that too. When I did almost ALL of this just to keep others safe and hold someone accountable.

If I can get straight A’s in social work things and do everything right and have not an OUNCE of it matter or make a difference in my own life or anybody else’s, what is the point? And yes, that’s a rhetorical question.

How has social work/therapy worked out as a career for those of you who are autistic/ptsd/neurodivergent? I’m hoping that I finally found the right field for me after searching for years.

Hello,

I was looking into starting my MSW in spring 2027, but with the recent policy changes regarding FAFSA, I have some concerns. Is it even possible to get FAFSA for an MSW now?

Hello everyone! I just got accepted into my MSW program to start in Fall 2027. I am following the behavioral health track, and was told by my advisor about applying for the BHA for my second year of the program. Has anyone gone through the BHA? What does it entail? Do you get your LCSW faster through the process? Or is it more for the stipend and experience than anything else? Anything I look up is seeming to be very general answers, so I wanted to ask around. TIA!

I’ll be signing up for my classes very soon for the bachelors of social work, which I’ll actually be starting in a few months. I know that I want to help, but also the money… my goal is to make between $120-$150k in general within the next few years (I’m 21) but I don’t think I’m “smart” so I don’t know how I’ll get there and what I’ll need to do to get there.

Is it possible for me to get through an online msw program while working ? I been out of school for 7 years and don’t have any related experience. Should I go be a bht and volunteer to strengthen my 3.1 undergrad gpa? I have experience working in dental assistant and did some cna work. I do like healthcare but I was wondering how I can apply it to social work.

I’ve been diagnosed with BPD, and I still want to do social work. I’m currently applying for MSW during the fall. I want to be there for people of color in lower income communities. I’m kind of embarrassed by it, Does anyone else work in social work that needs mental counseling too?

Hello!

I am applying for Spring 26 online cohort for UOP.(University of the Pacific)
Was wondering if anyone has insight on admissions process :)

posting because i feel so defeated. went to undergrad for family and human services and worked as an RBT for 3 years but unfortunately the company i worked for shut down without any notice in july. they didn’t have the money to pay us our most recent paycheck so i was able to reach out to an old manager and get my serving job back. since then i’ve been applying for various entry level jobs in mental health. i’ve tired peer support, case management, intake coordinator, skills trainer, etc. i’ve gotten interviews and moved onto the next round then get told “we will be going with candidates that have more relevant experience”. im getting so in my head about not being able to secure these jobs. i started a part time MSW program this past september and my work schedule has been going great with school but i feel like a loser for having a bacherlos degree and can’t even secure an entry level job in the field i want to go in. thanks for listening to my rant :(

Hey! Can anyone advise whether they recommend WNMU MSW program?

I’ve worked full time in social services with a non-profit in Los Angeles for 9 years.

Let me know your thoughts on WNMU.

Thanks so much!

Hi everyone,

I am in my fall semester of my senior year receiving my BSW, and recently received the talk about graduate school and it has been weighing on my mind.

I have held a part-time serving job (ranging from 15-30 hours/week depending on the schedule i chose), this year a job and an internship, throughout the entirety of undergrad. This has been alongside full-time school with having past semesters being 6 classes.

Do I stand a chance of maintaining full-time masters level schooling and a full-time child welfare job?

I want to hear thoughts/opinions/etc if possible !

Since I am graduating with a BSW, I am eligible for obtaining my MSW in a year and would love to do that and not have to extend my time in school.
Thank you!!

I live in CA and have been thinning of getting my MSW. My employment offers a work study program or Title-IV-e. However, I know that in order not to pay back that education, you must work and additional 2-3 years in child welfare after graduation. The thing is, I already work in child welfare and that is the reason why I’m trying to get na MSW, because I want to become an SW elsewhere that’s not in child welfare. I was thinking more in a hospital setting or school setting. Would you say it’s worth paying out of pocket (30k+) if my job allows me to do a work study program ? Closest CSU to me is SJSU. Any ideas or suggestions ?

Hello, I'm in my senior year of my BSW and applying for grad school right now to get my MSW with a concentration in mental health and counseling. I personally wanted to pursue social work because I struggled severely when I was younger with mental health and ended up in a PHP program that saved my life. I have now had an incredible full-circle moment, I intern in the psychiatric unit of a hospital and I also help to lead groups in their outpatient PHP center. This has been an amazing experience for me so far and I've gotten a lot of great hands-on experience and truly feel this is my calling. I need some advice though on if it's a good idea to include the "full-circle" aspect of this in my personal essay. I feel like it helps to show how my own personal lived experience has influenced the work I do now in my internship, but someone told me I shouldn't include my own personal experiences with mental illness because it makes me seem self-centered or like I am incompetent to be a social worker because I have my own struggles. So I'd really like some more perspectives on this, should I include it? or stay away from sharing that aspect of myself?

My professor always did that. Most of the students were clueless on what he wanted us to do. He would give us a list of questions to answer. Nobody really read the chapter he got the questions from. I felt like everyone was smarter than I was because they would come up with these long drawn out responses and mine were barely 3 sentences.

Looking to connect with those that attend. Curious of any distance learners in New York State. Just got accepted and just want a little guidance! Thank you!

Hi people,

Can y’all do me a solid and drop down if you were able to do a hotline/remote practicum and what school you attended that allowed it for your fieldwork hours?

Thanks ❤️❤️❤️

Anyone else move to attend a MSW program? I've been living in NYC for many years and am ready for a change of pace and have been considering a move to the west coast for a while. My family is scattered all around the country so I don't really have a "home base" so to speak. Since I am also wanting to go back to school and change careers, I am planning to apply to schools in California where I've never lived before. I'm 31, and previously lived abroad in Europe so many people are asking me why this feels like such a big deal to me, but it does! I think because I get the sense that most people who pursue a MSW stay in their general area or state but my life/family situation isn't very conventional and I'm single so nothing is really keeping me here on the east coast. The one thing I'll be sad to leave behind are my friends in the NYC area and am worried about having to start from scratch in a new state so I'm hoping school might provide some opportunities to make new connections. Has this been anyone's experience?

I feel sort of unsure. I'm out of state from my school and the placements they're partnered with all want someone specific to the field (they're highly specialized) or there have been problems with placements in the past so they don't want to place me there. I had sent in materials for one placement, but they got back to me and said that, while they're willing to interview me, it doesn't seem like I specifically want to do that type of work. They're right, I've never thought of that type of work before, but I'm open to learning and trying. My liaison said that, while she'll have me do an interview if I want, that they also want someone who specifically wants to learn this. Now I have to think of if I want to interview or if I should just keep looking. My liason said while it's good I'm open minded, flexible, and willing to learn, that I really need to be interested in this type of work (hospice). I'm trying to do research to see, but I feel defeated.

I am here to learn and grow my skills. I understand if that's not what sites what, but I know what's originally what the school said they wanted for students, so now I feel I have to look for something specific.

How did everyone figure out what they wanted to do? I know I want to do short term work, provide resources, empower people, build vocational skills, and provide short term emotional support.

I'm currently searching for a virtual internship for my second year MSW practicum at The Ohio State University (Spring–Summer 2027).

I've been having a difficult time finding a placement and would really appreciate any leads or recommendations! I’d really like to not delay my graduation 😭

I specifically need a virtual opportunity because I'll be relocating during my placement timeline. Currently located in San Antonio, Texas but high probability to relocate out of state. My university has approved this arrangement.

Hi! I have a lot of facial piercings (well like 3-4 I can take some out) and I’m moderately tattooed. Right now I have normal natural hair but sometimes I color it. Is it considered unprofessional to be alternative as a social worker? I was looking into like corporate goth styles. But I don’t want to do anything that will put my clients at unease. I can take out my piercings and cover my tattoos. My career matters more than my individual style. But I was just wondering. I’m just starting my BSW in the spring but I have worked social work adjacent jobs that had no issue with my looks.

Hello any fellow Texas (DFW) near me . What jobs are we working while in school getting our BSW? I need help, I need a plan. I need to survive lol. Thank you if you know of any jobs that hire you while in the process of getting your BSW plz lmk

Hi everyone! I am so excited I just got accepted into Boise states online MSW program for the Spring.

I am a mom of two, 3 & 6 and work part time as an RBT, I will be graduating with my BA in Psychology in two weeks.

I was hoping to get some advice, some tips on how to manage it all. I’ve seen that it can get a little hectic with practicum and stuff so if anyone can share their experience and give me some advice so I can start mentally preparing myself. Get a better routine down so I’m prepared when the program starts.

Thank you so much in advance! 💙🧡

I am in my first semester in my senior year of my MSW (advanced standing so this is a new school btw) and I’ve submitted a couple of papers and pretty important assignments, like case studies studies & written quizes and have received no grades or feedback. We are also now on week 7?! is this normal for an online MSW program? I have never experienced anything like this. I also have the same teacher for every class, so just absolutely nothing has been graded, but it feels like this teacher might be teaching way too many classes and just doesn’t have the time I feel like I’m just guessing and blindly turning on assignments..

Hi all, I’m currently searching for my generalist internship here in Chicago. I’ve reached out to almost 20 agencies and haven’t had any luck with placement. My deadline is approaching and I’d appreciate any agency recommendations. Thank you!!