Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The UCLA Department of Social Welfare and the student-run Diversity Caucus
welcomes people of diverse backgrounds to the 2010 Diversity Recruitment Fair!!
The Diversity Caucus believes that a diverse student body is crucial to our program’s
goal of providing an enriching learning environment. The student body should reflect
the diversity of our larger environment, and represent the communities we serve. In order
to have a top-notch training program for social work professionals it is necessary to have
contribution and representation from people of all backgrounds who are able to bring
varying perspectives into the program to cultivate the critical thought, and cross cultural
awareness.
“What is an MSW?”
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DIVERSITY RECRUITMENT FAIR
November 13, 2010
[10:00am – 11:30am]
Welcome!
Cynthia Patiño and Sheila Modir, Diversity Caucus Chairs
Admissions Requirements
Gerry Laviña, LCSW – Field Faculty
Student Testimonials
Nikki Howell First Year Experience
Miguel Rodriguez Second Year Experience
Janet Beyan Dual Degree (MSW/MPH)
Diva Sanchez Student Alliance
Susy Ochoa Latino Caucus
Nikki Howell Black Caucus
Eva Hom API Caucus
Carlos Amador Critical Race Studies
Susy Ochoa International Caucus
Emily Hamilton LGBTQA Caucus
Diva Sanchez Christian Caucus
Melissa Andrizzi Gerontology Caucus
Diva Sanchez Legislative Lobby Days
Susy Ochoa Social Justice Caucus
Sheila Modir Diversity Caucus
Carlos Amador AB540 Students
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(Evaluations will be collected at end of session)
2) Two official copies of transcripts from each college or university attended in the
United States or abroad (Include both undergraduate and graduate academic records, if
applicable.)
3) Official copy of scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) earned
within the last five years. General test only (scores are sent separately by testing center
5) Résumé or chronological list (starting with the most recent) of all relevant
employment since high school, including summer jobs and internships you consider
significant. Please also include all relevant volunteer or other experience with service-
oriented groups. For each job or volunteer experience, please include your title, the
number of months and/or years you held the position, and the number of hours worked
each week.
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The personal statement should respond to the following:
a) Describe the significant relationships and life experiences that have influenced
your decision to seek a career in a helping profession.
b) What values affected your decision to enter the social work profession? How
are these values reflected in social work practice?
c) Describe your experiences with diverse populations and groups, and how those
experiences have contributed to your interest in social work. Which population
(defined by culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and
psychological and physical functioning) would you like to serve?
d) What are your expectations of graduate education in terms of your own
development? Indicate any problem or limitations that should be taken into
account in planning your graduate program.
A separate professional concepts and goals statement should respond to the following:
Reminder: You must also submit the UCLA Graduate Division Application along with
the Application Fee of $70.00 (for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents) or $90.00 (for
all other applicants). Application fee must be submitted either on line by credit card, or, if
necessary, by check or money order, before the application can be processed. Send to:
UCLA Graduate Admissions/Student and Academic Affairs, 1255 Murphy Hall, Box
951428, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1428. Please be aware that if you select the check
option, the initial processing of your application will be delayed by a minimum of seven
to 10 working days. The date your payment is received is considered the date your
application is submitted.
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MSW Program Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to the MSW Program in the fall quarter, which starts in late
September. Applicants must meet the following requirements for admission.
1. A BA, BS, or BSW degree obtained before the beginning of the Fall Quarter by
an accredited college or university.
2. Complete a total of seven (7) courses in the social Behavioral sciences (which
include: Sociology, Psychology, History, Economics, Geography, Political
Science, Ethnic Studies); and, one (1) course with Human Biology content (e.g.,
Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology).
3. A statistics course in any area with a grade of "B" or better.
4. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE)--General Test only.
5. GPA (Grade Point Average)--3.0 or better in the last two years of undergraduate
work.
6. Three (3) Letters of Recommendation. One from an academic source, one from a
work related source, and the third from either academic or work
7. Personal statement (two pages).
8. Statement of the applicant’s concept of social welfare (two pages).
9. Two (2) official transcripts from each school attended should be requested and
forwarded to the Department of Social Welfare.
10. In addition to the above items, the applicant must submit two (2) online
applications, one to the Department of Social Welfare and one to UCLA Graduate
Admissions. The applicant is also required to send a filing fee of $70 (subject to
change) to Graduate Admissions, payable to: Regents of University of California.
While the department can recommend whether a student should be offered admission,
the Graduate Division has the final authority in all admission decisions. For MSW
applicants, the final deadline for filing both applications is January 15, 2011.
However, early application is strongly encouraged. For students seeking merit-based
fellowships, all application materials must be submitted to Graduate Division and the
department by December 15, 2010.
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Graduate Division Application Tips
• The Graduate Division application needs to be filled out on-line before the MSW
program application can be completed.
• Additional Tips:
o You do not need to complete Part C of the supplemental forms as the
Departmental Application already requires this information on the Resume
and the Personal and Professional Statements that you will submit.
o Letter of Recommendation: in addition to the checklist, make sure to ask
your recommender to write a separate letter for you on letterhead.
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GRE Information and Tips
Items to Note
- You may take the test repeated times: once per month, up to 5 times per year. The
Department will use your best score for each section from different tests (mix and
match).
- Cost $150, Fee waivers are available – your financial aid office will let you know
if you qualify.
GRE Specifics
- Visit www.gre.org for detailed information.
- The 2008-2009 GRE Information and Registration Bulletin (pamphlet) also
provides detailed information.
- Register by calling 1-800-GRE-CALL, or by calling the test center directly.
- Multiple test centers in LA area, closest to UCLA in Culver City (310-337-6696).
- Use these codes:
o GRE Institution Code R4837
o GRE Department Code 5001
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the MSW program – people who score below this can get in as each candidate is
looked at holistically.
- Many GRE prep workbooks and computer programs are available. Here are just a
few:
GRE: Practicing to Take the General Test 10th Edition ($21). Order online
www.ets.org/store.html or call 1-800-537-3160 (this book is created by the
people who design the GRE)
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Personal and Professional Statement Writing Tips
• Please read our directions and use the outlines we have provided.
a) We ask for two pages, double-spaced so that is what we expect. Please do not
go over this or go under.
b) Use the outlines we have given you. While we encourage creativity, we expect
you to address the questions we have specified. Do not simply send us the
statements you submitted for another university.
• While most of the application asks you to submit objective information (GPA, GRE)
or the evaluation of others (letters of recommendation), the personal and professional
statements allow you to provide a unique description of yourself and help you stand
out. We read many applications so how can you make yourself noticed?
a) Be as open as possible. While your life story is not required (you only have 2
pages), we do want a sense of who you are and how you will fit into the
profession and into our program.
b) Write a lively and creative introduction, which grabs the attention of readers.
c) If you discuss life struggles, please tell us how you reached a healthy
resolution. Explain any times where you’ve had to overcome adversity. Talk
about what you learned from the experience.
d) Highlight what your career aspirations will be after you receive your MSW.
e) Avoid redundancy. Do not cover the same material in both statements since
you have limited space. You want to maximize the 2 pages you have for each
statement.
f) For the professional statement, research social welfare and provide us with
your interpretation. Do not provide us a “grocery list” of different roles a
social worker can play since we know this. Give us a sense of your
understanding of the profession and how you might fit into it.
g) Show an interest in the populations that social workers work with (i.e. people
with disabilities, child and families, mental health, etc.). Show that you’ve
consistently worked with one (or more) of these populations.
h) Be specific about your social work experience. Give the committee a sense
about whom you worked with and what you learned from your experiences.
Don’t just list vague volunteer or work-related experiences.
i) Demonstrate that you have an understanding of and sensitivity towards
diverse populations.
j) If you have a low GRE or GPA, explain why, especially if it relates to any
challenges you were experiencing at the time.
k) Give the committee an idea of what your focus is within social work. Make
sure you have an understanding of what the mission and definition of social
work is, and what groups you might want to work with.
l) Explain what your values are.
m) Talk about when you’ve shown leadership and initiative.
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• Technical ideas
a) Please spell check and edit for grammatical errors. In reviewing your
statements, we are trying to assess your ability to complete assigned papers in
classes and agency documentation in your internship.
b) Remember to use transitional sentences to connect your paragraphs.
c) While you might have someone review your statements, please retain your
own unique style. Will this person be around to write your papers while you
are in the program?
d) For both statements, especially the personal statement, please pick a theme
and/or make a thesis statement to tie your thoughts together.
e) For the professional statement, avoid ‘cutting and pasting’ the NASW’s code
of ethics. Focus on a few values and why they are important both in your life
and in the profession of social work.
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Tips on How to Get Good Letters of Recommendation
Selecting Recommenders
Select recommenders that can really attest to your talents and abilities. The title or
position of the person is not always the best reason to ask for a recommendation. The
recommenders are those who know you well and can provide an evaluation of your
ability to perform and succeed at the graduate level.
Some possible recommenders include:
- Professors
- Faculty advisors
- Internship and work supervisors
- Someone in a leadership position of an extracurricular or volunteer activity
- Teaching Assistant (TA) who knows you well and can point out your specific
abilities and achievements. Bear in mind that sometimes a professor will be
willing to co-sign a letter written by a TA, or will simply adapt and then sign a
letter written by a TA.
If you plan to take some time off before going to graduate school, do not wait until you
want to apply to graduate school to ask for letters. You can ask professors for a “general”
letter of recommendation before you leave undergrad and place their letters in a safe
place. When you are ready to apply to graduate school, you can contact professors again,
and ask them to update your letters. Also, most professors keep copies of letters filed or
saved for future reference.
For those of you who have been out of school and no longer have contact with former
professors, try contacting them first. As stated earlier, believe it or not, most professors
keep records on classes and students for years. In addition to professors, you can ask
your employer who can attest to your work habits. Another alternative is to enroll in a
graduate course, extension class, or community college course (as a non-matriculated, or
non-degree seeking student), perform well, and then ask the professor to write on your
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behalf.
For current undergrads, if you are planning to attend graduate school, take every
opportunity to get to know and talk with your professors: go to office hours, ask
questions in class, do independent research or study with a professor, select a small class
and/or take more than one class from a professor.
Additional Tips
- Shortly before the letter of recommendation is due, confirm with each
recommender that the letter/form has been completed and sent.
- Send a thank you note to each recommender a week or two after your request.
- Keep your recommendations updated.
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Resume Writing Tips
- If you utilize a standard resume format, please make sure you clearly specify the
number of hours per week and/or if it was a full or part-time job. If it was a short,
time-limited job or activity, please give us the total amount of hours completed.
Please include the beginning and ending month and year.
- Include agency name, your job title, and a job description and/or list of activities.
You might also include your supervisor’s name and title.
- Please include every service related experience. Err on the side of including too
much and let us decide its relevance. Your resume may also be more than one
page, unlike a standard business resume.
UCLA Career Ctr. has a good website that allows you to get a resume critique online:
http://secure.career.ucla.edu/Resume/Contract.aspx
There is an option for those who are UC graduates. It also lets you specify the type of
resume you are writing, and “graduate school” is one of those options.
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Financial Aid, Scholarship, and Stipend Information
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Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program
- Federal student aid program that allows a student to borrow up to $10,000, if in
addition to $8,500 Federal Stafford loan, or up to $18,500 when there is not
Federal Stafford Loan eligibility.
- The federal government does not pay interest on this loan while students are
enrolled in school.
Federal Work Study: $5,500 maximum (If your internship agency is willing to sign off
your hours, it can qualify as your work study site.)
Federal Perkins Loan Program: $4,000 maximum- Federally funded loans that the
government will forgive a percentage of for some students once they receive their MSW
and are working in the field. You will want to discuss this with your lender if you are
awarded this loan.
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a commitment to working with, or who have a special affinity with Native
American/Alaska Native or Hispanic/Latino populations in the United States.
Deadline: March 2011 (check with website)
- For deadlines and more information visit the NASW website:
http://www.naswfoundation.org
2. Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF): The purpose of HSF is to assist Hispanic
American students in completing their higher education. Scholarship applications are
open to undergraduate and graduate students.
- Application Available: August 1 to October 9 of each year.
- Application Deadlines: August 15 to October 15 of each year.
- Website: http://www.hsf.net
3. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) – The
Lillian & Samuel Sutton Education Scholarship: The program provides $2,000
stipends to NAACP members who are full time graduate students. Scholarship packets
are available upon written request. For more information please contact:
United Negro College Fund, Scholarships & Grants Administration, 8260 Willow Oaks
Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031. Attn: Kimberly Hall
http://www.naacp.org or http://wwww.uncf.org
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Student Group Contacts and Caucus Representatives
2010 – 2011
Gerontology Caucus
Cynthia Patiño: cynthiapatino@ucla.edu
Melissa Andrizzi: mcandrizzi34@gmail.com
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