This is our second newsletter for interested MSW applicants.  Last week we looked at how to create your online Social Work CAS application page. I hope the link to the short video on how to get that started was helpful. This week, I thought it would be helpful to provide advice about requesting your letters of recommendation and some thoughts about why a part-time MSW program might be the right choice for you. 

At Samuel Merritt University, we offer a part-time MSW degree program that opens doors to a range of exciting opportunities. The part-time nature of our program makes us unique in the Bay Area. Unlike traditional MSW programs that require students to be in class or field placements 8 hours per day and five days per week, our part-time program is designed to give you time to manage your other life responsibilities while earning your degree. The extra year of our program allows you to spread out course work and take fewer classes each semester. Beginning in the second year of the program, field and internship placements offer three options for accumulating your critical internship hours. If you are working for a social service provider who has an MSW on staff, you might be eligible to complete one of those placements with your employer.

If a part-time program is right for you, then I hope you are working on your MSW application on the Social Work CAS website. Once you have created an account and entered your contact information there are two things you should start working on. First, have the system request your student records from your undergraduate programs so that we’ll receive them soon. Second, begin requesting your letters of recommendation. 

Here is a short article on how to request a good letter of recommendation.   A few of the highlights:

1. Ask someone who knows you well enough that they can address your specific strengths.

 2. Make a formal request. 

3. Give your reference some details to help them help you – send your resume, share your personal statement, provide a list of accomplishments you are proud of, remind them of the work you did together. 

4. Most importantly, allow your recommender time to get their letter finished. Don’t wait to the last minute to make these requests. As soon as you have registered on the Social Work CAS website, send out your reference requests. 

Please remember we are here to support you in preparing your application, we offer Q&A sessions every Tuesday evening from 5:30 to 6:30 pm and webinars every other Saturday. You can also sign up for an individual meeting with a program faculty member who will review your application with you. The MSW department is here to support your journey.  

Stay tuned for our next email, where we will share more about financial aid opportunities available to Samuel Merritt students.

Warm regards,

Ben

Ben-David Barr, PhD, MSW 

MSW Department Chair
Samuel Merritt University