M A Social Work 2012

Hi

I'm in the process of applying for M A Social Work for 2012 and I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread for those who are applying for the 2012 intake.

Anyone out there also applying for the 2012 intake?

Hey,

I am applying to start 2012 Social Work MA at Chester. Sent of all the forms and now nervously waiting to see if I can get an interview. I did apply to start  last year but had to resit maths. Anyone else applying for Chester??

hey,

I am applying for Chester MA in 2012, sent of al the forms now just waiting anxiously to see if they will give me an interview :S Anyone else applying for Chester?

Hi there!

I sent my UCAS application last Thursday for the MA Social Work for 2012. How are you doing with it?

Regards,

Ashley

Hi, I'm applying for social work 2012 as well (in Scotland tho). Where are you thinking of applying to? Have your submitted your application yet?

Good Luck x

hey,

ive applied for chester, anyone else? :)

Hey,

Sorry for all the replies, didn't know they had posted :S So yeah hi to all who are applying and good luck. I have sent of my forms just waiting to hear back ~tiss nerve racking :P~ 

It all depends on what you want to do.  Many courses now offer the Diploma in Social Work and the MA is an add on.  It is not essential as long as you have your Dip SW you can enter practice.  When I did my Dip SW about 15 years ago I was offered the MA as an additional part of the course, which involved completing a 20,000 word essay on top of everything else.  I opted not to do this and chose to do another placement instead.  I didn't regret it and the post qualifying training these days is sufficient to meet your needs.  If you want to do the MA later you can always do this although you may have to pay for it yourself.  However, if it's there for free at University take advantage of it.

 

Ps - You didn's state if you already had a first degree or whether this is the Degree Course with the optional MA addition at the end of it.  If the MA is at the end, you may be keen to enter practice after all that study so the MA may no longer be important to you.  But if you are still interested find a subject you want to study first and research it thoroughly before you start as you want to be doing something original.  It's best to go into these things prepared.  When I opted not to do mine it was because I heard that the government were planning to undertake their own review into the subject.  I'm still waiting for them to publish their research. 

 

Good luck.

I'm applying to Plymouth, anyone applying to Plymouth?  I haven't sent my application yet, I'm still not happy with my personal statement. Any suggestions? I applied for 2011 but didn't get in because I didn't have Maths so I sat for the June exams and passed so I'm ready to apply again.  I really want this so bad I'm scared to send my application.

Good luck to everyone applying.

Hi Everyone! Good luck to all applying for 2012 :)

I was an eager beaver and applied ridiculously early, I have an interview for Warwick but have not said which date I would like yet. Waiting on Lancaster, Durham, York and East Anglia.... see how it goes! Quite excited! Although worried about how NQSW are finding it hard to find work..

xx

I've applied to 5 universities: University of Manchester, Liverpool John Moore's, Manchester Met, Salford and University of Central Lancashire.

So far I've been asked to send an extended personal statement to LJMU for next stage of application, really hope I get an interview!

What has everyone been doing for the relevant experience?

Hey all,

I know how you feel Belles99 I had to resit maths and was gutted last year when I applied and had to resit :s Got it done though and now ready to go.  Te only problem is due to my housing situation I NEED to get into Chester, its Chester or bust ;)  AshleyF91 I am currently volunteering with a mental health charity providing support and referrals to mentally unwell service users. In the past I have been a teaching assistant with children who had learning difficulties, provided drama, dance and music workshops for vulnerable young people, given drug education sessions to young people, been an event facilitator with the mental health charity Im working with,  worked with The Princes Trust, organised a charity fundraising event for another mental health charity, helped provide training to 16-25 year old in a youth hostel, and I am also currently delivering an art project that I have designed that helps service users to consider their future in a more positive light as well as helping them to think about the importance of their own involvement in their recovery. I also have had some pretty complex life experiences dealing with family members with substance misuse issues etc (but aient everyone had complicated life experiences lol :P) think that's all :P What experience are you thinking of getting? When/if I qualify I would love to work with people suffering from dual diagnosis of mental health and substance misuse. I feel really passionate about it :D But any opportunity that arises to help vulnerable people and better the lives of others would be great (even though I am aware of the negative aspects that can be involved in social work :S)

What kind of experiance is everyone else trying to get? Hows everyone elses applications going, and is no one else coming to Chester :( Let me know.

Andy

• Filed under: Chester university 2012 experience

Amonius, you seem to have quite an extensive experience within the health and social care sector and in my opinion, that's a big plus for your application. I have experience in the older people care and have been working for a learning disability  charity for a few years now. Like you, I can only apply to Plymouth because that the only uni within commuting distance of where I live.

AshleyF91, you seem to have quite a wide choice of unis, you'll probably be offered a place by more that on uni. Which one is your first choice?

Good luck everyone.

 

WoW! Amonius, you have an awful lot of experience, I don't see why you wouldn't get a place at all!

I have done various volunteering, I went to Romania to work in an orphange last year with children who had mental and physical disabilites, and I am currently a volunteer at Wigan and Leigh Hospice on the in-patient ward. At the moment I am doing a council run course with Wigan's Children's Preventative Services so that's a big bonus. It trains me up to be a volunteer support worker so in November I'll be able to be matched up with referrals from social services :). I'm also involved in a charity called me2you bereavement and I've completed their bereavement training for working with young children who have suffered some sort of loss. It allows me to go on grief camps that the charity organises. I am also aiming to get more training in order to do some direct work with the children, and help in assessing children who have been referred to the charity.

Yes, I do have a lot of university choices, I live in a very very good place that is in the middle of a lot of universities as I want to commute aswell rather than live in. My first choice is University of Manchester as I am currently studying Psychology here, but I wouldn't mind LJMU or UCLAN.

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the positive feedback made me smile :D AshleyF91 I have to say WoW right back at you. Impressive experience there and I am sure you will get into your first choice :D Working with the terminally ill must be very rewarding and harrowing so I dip my hat to you, I dont know if I could do that but I am sure I will be challenged (and hopefully meet the challenges I have to face ;))

As a side note, I completed my first degree in 2004 (BSc in Social Science) and did intend to gain the MA earlier. However due to family crisis etc I have suffered from some mental health problems, which are now completely under control. Has any one else had similar experiences and how did their applications go. I am just praying that the health problems I faced in the past don't prohibit me from practising. If anyone else has any advice or similar experiences please share :P

Also working in Romania, wowsie. I recall the controversial BBC programme regarding ther care of orphanages there. I hope things have improved??

Andy

• Filed under: mental health Chester University MA

 

@ Amonius

Defintely a good thing having had all that work experience, be it paid/voluntary/whatever.

Although I had some experience volunteering in a hospital ward and at a mental health charity on a befriending programme with a service user, with hindsight it just wasn't close to being anywhere near enough experience.  I went on a MA Social Work programme in 2008 but ended up withdrawing from it - going into the course and placements lacking knowledge, life experience and confidence and ending up with the conclusion that at this moment in time/in my life, I'm not cut out for the social work profession.  The stresses/strains/workload would finish me off, physically and mentally!

Good luck.  You seem to have a wealth of experience there, plenty of knowledge to draw upon, and with knowledge and such experience comes the necessary confidence.

I think it's crucial that people go onto the social work programme, knowing that they've made a very well-informed decision to do so.  With hindsight, I didn't and that was naivety and immaturity on my behalf.  Mind you, I did learn and gain alot from my experiences on the course, even though I ended up withdrawing and not gaining a professional qualification.

I'm applying this year too. I'm hoping to get an offer at LJMU so that I can just commute in each day. :) Sadly circumstances at home make it highly unlikely that I would be able to move away, so I'm limited to the uni's I can apply for. :(

Just got to do everything I can to impress at the interview. :)

Kitty_el I sent my application 2 weeks ago and last week I received an email from LJMU saying they wanted me to send an extended personal statement of 1000 words for the next stage of application.. They sent guidelines for it in the email. It's still not been updated on UCAS yet though, so I'm a bit concerned about that :/. Have you applied yet?

Amonius I think your own personal experience of mental health issues wouldn't hinder your application at all, if anything it would encourage it! I really think that a personal experience is really relevant for something like this because it shows that you're really aware of the problems people can face and you know exactly what is going on in their minds. Don't worry about it lowering your chances, it definitely won't.

Oh and I didn't catch the programme to do with Romania. It is pretty shocking the things you see when you're there, I guess the state of the care system is still dreadful but has more than likely improved since the 90s. I would recommend anyone to go over and help out though. It is quite obvious that their country's morals are not up to speed with ours and it is quite heart breaking when you're there. I wanted to bring all of the children home! :( Very challenging experience.

Hey Ashley, no I havent applied yet, I have pretty much completed the UCAS form just finishing off the personal statement and hoping to get it sent tomorrow. One question though : my manager is going to write my reference for me, but she hasn't done it yet, can I send off the UCAS form before her reference and then she sends that off separately? 

Thank you :D x

Hi Kitty,

I'm not sure you can send off your application until every section has been completed. I don't think it will let you press pay/send until all sections are ticked. Don't worry about it being too late for application though because I was just being a bit eager sending it so early. I like to be organised to the point where it could be considered a little obsessive! Haha. X

Hi folks,

I'm Jon-I'm applying to Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Worcester and Warwick, I have an interview at Worcester and have been invited for a comprehension test at Wolverhampton. I have been out of the 'uni scene' for a long time as I'm 37, lived in Korea for 8 years as an English teacher I have an unrelated 2:1 degree. Since I've been back I've been working for West Mercia Police as the supervisor of a witness care unit. I have also done some counselling studies, been working as a Samaritan and also helping an MS sufferer as a volunteer support worker.

I have absolutely no idea what my chances are!! Anyone any thoughts?!

 Looks like I'm gonna have to get reprints done of my GCSE certificates, Worcester Uni said if you dont have them your application gets refused! Anyone have any experience of this problem?!

Cheers and good luck to all...

heyy!!for some reason cnt seem to figuire out how to post on the wall!!but ive still not sent my ucas of yet, but looking at leeds met, liverpool, salford and two in london!!pretty nervous as not got crazy amounts of experience compared to others part from working at the ymca and a secure hospital!does anyone what the interviews are guna be like??has anyone started reading text books prior to it?

I got my interview date, its on the 18th of Novemeber.......all I can say is EEEEKKKK!!! :d

Well done you! I told you you'd be fine :). I have an interview at Preston on Wednesday too.. getting a little nervous now!

Good luck Amonius!!

Hi all, I have an interview at Worcester for MA Social work on the 11/11..anyone else?

 

And can anyone recommend any good intro to social work books etc ... not that I enjoy reading...just thought it might be a good idea :-p

I have an interview on 11/11 at Worcester for MA in Social Work....and waiting to hear back from Oxford Brookes also ...

Yeh if you dont have them they literally cancel your application! ....rudenesss

good luck too, let us know how it goes :D

Hi everybody, l applied for the MA in SW last year because l wanted to do it straight after my undergrad but l was in for a huge shock lol l had not anticipated how hard getting on a social work programme can be for someone young and inexperienced like me (22 and i only had bout 3 months experience). l applied late (May) so that didn't help my case very much either. Bradford told me point blank that l had no life experience. Went to Leicester Uni the interview went horrific, Worcester and East Anglia said i didn't have enough experience . And then Keele invited me for an interview but for the waiting list. The interview went great i just over emphasised how the little experience would help me and i got in and i had done a lot of reading!!! However no places opened up in Sept :( but they just interviewed me again (it was just a mini interview not as intense as the first one) on the 3/11/11 and confirmed my place for next year which l'm over the moon about ;) My advice would be to prepare a lot for the interviews ..Neil Thompson's book (Understanding Social work) is a great book they need to see that you have researched stuff in the field and make sure yu know all the key social works buzzwords e.g anti discriminatory practice, personalisation and the like and most importantly why you want to b a social worker in the first place. The interviews are about selling yourself to the Uni so be confident and most importantly over emphasise your experience and how it relates to social work even if you have little experience. And finally don't get discouraged if one uni does not like you just move on and try the next one and learn from your previous interviews and see what you can improve. Good luck to everybody :D

Thank you so much for the advice NaturalChica :). I'm an undergraduate who is applying to do the MA straight after I graduate next year and was worried about how they would perceive me as I'm so young (20). I've had quite a bit of relevant experience, I think, and I've read the Neil Thompson book you recommended as I believe it's a really good book for the beginnings of social work. I'm just wondering if you experienced any interviews where you had to pass a written assessment and then have a group interview? This is what I have on Wednesday and I thought it was a little strange when I received the letter with the info in!

Thanks a lot :)

hi AshleyF91, with Keele l had to pass a written exercise in order to get to the next stage which was a one to one interview. It was just an article about poverty in the UK and you just kind of had to relate it to Social work. When l went to Leicester we did the written exercise first where you had to choose 2 questions. But it wasn't necessarily that you had to pass the written exercise first so you go to the group exercise. They just assessed everything as a whole the written exercise, group interview and the one on one interview. But with Keele you did the written exercise first then they send you away for about an hour whilst they mark your work and then they tell you whether you are going to the next stage or not.

But its nothing to worry about because theres no right or wrong answer with the written exercises just try and relate it to social work theory, values throw in a  few examples and anything you have read if it applies etc. l am sure you will do fine :) you should not worry about your age just over emphasise the experience you have and how it relates to social work in the interviews. When l went for my Keele Interview they told us that they take on different people onto the programme. people from different backgrounds, different ages etc so its not really true that they are looking or favour mature students only. 

All the best for Wednesday :)

Neil Thompson is awesome, I'm trying to get through that book as we speak and writing loads of notes. Wish they had given more time to prepare for the interview :S If anyone out there has an interview at Chester on the 18th let me know, and good luck to all, lets hope we all manage to get a place. Oh and I got my first dictionary of social work through the post today WOOT! :D Not sure what Im gonna do with all the books I now have about the topic if I dont get a place:s Ill just have to keep on trying :P

• Filed under: Chester university 2012 experience Social Work MA

Thanks for the advice NaturalChica :).

Yeah, I was the same with the Neil Thompson book, loooooooads of notes :O. I thought that for my interview aswell, couldn't believe how soon it was! I got accepted onto the course at Preston by the way.. It's such a relief knowing that I don't have to worry too much about any other interviews I might get! Good luck for tomorrow Amonius :D You will do great though with all of your experience!

Thats brilliant news! Congrats :D My interview is Friday after next so fingers crossed :S

Hey,  I also have an Interview at Chester on the 18th Nov.

Hope all went well Amonius. And good luck n your interview Katyeh!

I have another interview in January for Salford. Hope everyone is doing well in the application process. I would definitely recommend anyone who hasn't sent off their application to do so as soon as possible. It's more advantageous than you would think to get it in early!

 

Hey there, glad to hear someone else is gonna be there :) I am dreading the interview bit, but thinking the group discussion should be interesting. Fingers crossed it goes well for both of us :D If there is anything I can do to help with your prep let me know and maybe we could grab a coffee during one of the breaks?

Hey, thanks Ashley i too have an interview in Salford in January on the 12th. Chester would be my first choice though.

Amonius, it would be good to have a coffee with you and try to relax the nerves on break. Good luck and I will see you on Friday,