Description
The statement of purpose is an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of and fit for the social work profession, as well as your aptitude for graduate-level social work education. The Admissions Committee pays close attention to both content and writing skills. In your statement of purpose, please address each of the items listed below, in no more than five (5) pages, double-spaced, in a 12-point font. Your response to each of the items should be roughly the same length. If your statement of purpose does not clearly and directly address each of the items or does not follow the instructions, it may not be considered.If you have a compelling autobiographical story relevant to your application, but that falls outside of the items addressed within the statement, you may add a letter to the Admissions Committee. Your letter will be considered, but will not be scored.What type of work are you planning to engage with once you attain your MSW degree? Specifically, what are the issues, populations, and levels of practice you hope to work with after graduate school?The social work profession is rooted in social justice. Social workers adopt a stance of cultural humility and strive towards cultural awareness. Discuss a time when you realized that one of your personal or cultural identities influenced your reaction to a social situation. Reflecting on that experience, how might it influence your future social work practice?Social workers are self-reflective, strengths-based, and growth-oriented. Identify a strength that you possess and an area for growth. Discuss how you became aware of these, how they show up in your current professional practice, and how they may influence your future professional practice.Social work is a values-based profession dedicated to mitigating inequality and enhancing human wellbeing, especially for vulnerable, marginalized, and oppressed populations. From the core values and ethical principles identified in the NASW Code of Ethics, identify and discuss one that resonates with you and one that may challenge you.Why have you chosen social work? Your response should demonstrate a basic understanding of the social work profession, including what distinguishes it from other helping professions.
