I have just submitted my application through UCAS and have applied to do MA in social work at warwick,worcester,wolverhampton,keele and leicester. Many people are telling me you have to have loads of experience, and all though I have some I dont know if it is enough! can anyone help?
I have submitted this personal statement: I put an extensive amount of thought and research into what it was exactly I would like to
have a career in after I had completed my A-levels, but I was still unsure so decided to go toUniversity and study for a degree. I am approaching the end of my degree in Education Studiesand Working With Children, Young People and I am confident that I would like to pursue acareer in Social Work as I feel my passion lies in helping those who are less advantaged. Mydegree has benefited me greatly in my decision to become a social worker and it has providedme with excellent opportunity's such as a work placement and a wide variety of modules tostudy. The modules I have studied on my course include SEN and inclusion,youth and crime andthe importance of children's services. The option to complete a 150 hour work placementallowed me to gain invaluable experience, I chose to go to a family centre which offers refugeto vulnerable families and children, supervised contact visits and support for pregnancy.Since completing my placement in April 2010 I was fortunate enough to become a volunteer andnow currently volunteer weekly, developing my interest and knowledge further. Volunteeringallows me to be involved in a variety of things at the centre, from assisting with familycontacts,simply just being a friend or babysitter to any service user who may need respite.Volunteering has allowed me to develop many new skills one being an advocate, I feel this isparticularly important as it promotes a person's choice and freedom whilst also not forgettingthe individuals personal needs, wishes and beliefs. I understand that undertaking postgraduatestudy will be a challenge, having first-hand experience of the challenges of universityeducation especially when it involves a placement has helped me to make my decision aboutstudying social work as I know that to be successful it requires excellent time keeping,perseverance and great commitment. In the 3 years I have spent studying for my degree, I havebeen working part time on weekends and also volunteering, so I feel I could succeed and thatmy time management is particularly good. To widen my knowledge and experience further I wasfortunate enough to pass the testing and interviews to become a Special Constable for WestMidlands Police which involved volunteering for a minimum of 4 hours a week, and I am due tostart 4 months of training sometime in 2012. I thought that this would be an excellent insightinto the community and society whilst also expanding my passion for helping and listening toothers. I class myself as a people person who is confident in communicating and feel thatstudying Communication Studies at A Level allowed me to develop this further. My part time jobworking on the Checkouts involves the communicating with the public regularly and has allowedme to develop skills such as problem solving, this is particularly important and I feel Iwould find it extremely rewarding in seeking a solution to individuals problems. What isparticularly attractive about a career in social work is that you have the ability to changeindividual outcomes and an opportunity to break the barriers of social exclusion anddisadvantage. The chance to make a difference in society would definitely outweigh anychallenges I may face if given the opportunity to study to become a social worker. Anotherexciting prospect of a career in social work is that no single working day would be the sameand you would not know what it was you were going to be faced with each day. I am very muchlooking forward to continuing my study after completion of my degree and feel it is the rightthing to do as I am familiar with university structure and challenges which may be presented.Ideally I would like to pursue a career in social work with a particular interest in Children,young people and Families as I feel previous experience has allowed me to develop a realinterest in the welfare of this particular group.
Sorry, couldn't read that - no paragraphs
I found this quite difficult to read because of the lack of paragraphs, as Selks says. I will give it another go when I'm home from work and have a decent stretch of time on my hands.
However, from a quick browse, I can see that some areas can use developing further. For example, you say you did an 150hr placement as part of your course - great, but where was it, what skills did you develop, and how can these be related back to social work? Don't assume that an admissions officer will be able to infer these things; you need to be very clear about how your experience relates to social work. I've read about social work applicants (both on this forum and another I use) who have had under the requisite amount of experience for a course but have written brilliant personal statements where they relate back and show a level of insight and of reflection upon this experience that has gained them a place. In some places, your statement is in danger of reading like a list of things you've done rather than demonstrating this.
Charlotte2012: I have just submitted my application through UCAS and have applied to do MA in social work at warwick,worcester,wolverhampton,keele and leicester. Many people are telling me you have to have loads of experience, and all though I have some I dont know if it is enough! can anyone help? I have submitted this personal statement: I put an extensive amount of thought and research into what it was I would like to have a career, in after I had completed my A-levels, but I was still unsure so decided to go to University and study for a degree. I am approaching the end of my degree in Education Studiesand Working With Children, Young People and I am confident that I would like to pursue acareer in Social Work as I feel my passion lies in helping those who are less advantaged. My degree has benefited me greatly in my decision to become a social worker and it has providedme with excellent opportunity's such as a work placement and a wide variety of modules tostudy. The modules I have studied on my course include SEN and inclusion,youth and crime andthe importance of children's services. The option to complete a 150 hour work placementallowed me to gain invaluable experience, I chose to go to a family centre which offers refugeto vulnerable families and children, supervised contact visits and support for pregnancy. Since completing my placement in April 2010 I was fortunate enough to become a volunteer andnow currently volunteer weekly, developing my interest and knowledge further. Volunteeringallows me to be involved in a variety of things at the centre, from assisting with familycontacts,simply just being a friend or babysitter to any service user who may need respite. Volunteering has allowed me to develop many new skills one being an advocate, I feel this isparticularly important as it promotes a person's choice and freedom whilst also not forgettingthe individuals personal needs, wishes and beliefs. I understand that undertaking postgraduatestudy will be a challenge, having first-hand experience of the challenges of universityeducation especially when it involves a placement has helped me to make my decision aboutstudying social work as I know, that to be successful it requires excellent time keeping,perseverance and great commitment. In the 3 years I spent studying for my degree, I havebeen working part time on weekends and also volunteering, so I feel I could succeed and thatmy time management is particularly good. To widen my knowledge and experience further I wasfortunate enough to pass the testing and interviews to become a Special Constable for WestMidlands Police which involved volunteering for a minimum of 4 hours a week, and I am due tostart 4 months of training sometime in 2012. I thought that this would be an excellent insight into the community and society whilst also expanding my passion for helping and listening toothers. I class myself as a people person who is confident in communicating and feel thatstudying Communication Studies at A Level allowed me to develop this further. My part time jobworking on the Checkouts involves communicating with the public regularly and has allowedme to develop skills such as problem solving, this is particularly important and I feel Iwould find it extremely rewarding in seeking a solution to individuals problems. What is particularly attractive about a career in social work is that you have the ability to changeindividual outcomes and an opportunity to break the barriers of social exclusion anddisadvantage. The chance to make a difference in society would definitely outweigh anychallenges I may face if given the opportunity to study to become a social worker. Another exciting prospect of a career in social work is that no single working day would be the sameand you would not know what it was you were going to be faced with each day. I am very much looking forward to continuing my study after completion of my degree and feel it is the rightthing to do as I am familiar with university structure and challenges which may be presented. Ideally I would like to pursue a career in social work with a particular interest in Children,young people and Families as I feel previous experience has allowed me to develop a realinterest in the welfare of this particular group.
I have submitted this personal statement: I put an extensive amount of thought and research into what it was I would like to have a career, in after I had completed my A-levels, but I was still unsure so decided to go to University and study for a degree.
I am approaching the end of my degree in Education Studiesand Working With Children, Young People and I am confident that I would like to pursue acareer in Social Work as I feel my passion lies in helping those who are less advantaged.
My degree has benefited me greatly in my decision to become a social worker and it has providedme with excellent opportunity's such as a work placement and a wide variety of modules tostudy.
The modules I have studied on my course include SEN and inclusion,youth and crime andthe importance of children's services. The option to complete a 150 hour work placementallowed me to gain invaluable experience, I chose to go to a family centre which offers refugeto vulnerable families and children, supervised contact visits and support for pregnancy.
Since completing my placement in April 2010 I was fortunate enough to become a volunteer andnow currently volunteer weekly, developing my interest and knowledge further. Volunteeringallows me to be involved in a variety of things at the centre, from assisting with familycontacts,simply just being a friend or babysitter to any service user who may need respite.
Volunteering has allowed me to develop many new skills one being an advocate, I feel this isparticularly important as it promotes a person's choice and freedom whilst also not forgettingthe individuals personal needs, wishes and beliefs.
I understand that undertaking postgraduatestudy will be a challenge, having first-hand experience of the challenges of universityeducation especially when it involves a placement has helped me to make my decision aboutstudying social work as I know, that to be successful it requires excellent time keeping,perseverance and great commitment.
In the 3 years I spent studying for my degree, I havebeen working part time on weekends and also volunteering, so I feel I could succeed and thatmy time management is particularly good.
To widen my knowledge and experience further I wasfortunate enough to pass the testing and interviews to become a Special Constable for WestMidlands Police which involved volunteering for a minimum of 4 hours a week, and I am due tostart 4 months of training sometime in 2012.
I thought that this would be an excellent insight into the community and society whilst also expanding my passion for helping and listening toothers.
I class myself as a people person who is confident in communicating and feel thatstudying Communication Studies at A Level allowed me to develop this further.
My part time jobworking on the Checkouts involves communicating with the public regularly and has allowedme to develop skills such as problem solving, this is particularly important and I feel Iwould find it extremely rewarding in seeking a solution to individuals problems.
What is particularly attractive about a career in social work is that you have the ability to changeindividual outcomes and an opportunity to break the barriers of social exclusion anddisadvantage.
The chance to make a difference in society would definitely outweigh anychallenges I may face if given the opportunity to study to become a social worker.
Another exciting prospect of a career in social work is that no single working day would be the sameand you would not know what it was you were going to be faced with each day.
I am very much looking forward to continuing my study after completion of my degree and feel it is the rightthing to do as I am familiar with university structure and challenges which may be presented.
Ideally I would like to pursue a career in social work with a particular interest in Children,young people and Families as I feel previous experience has allowed me to develop a realinterest in the welfare of this particular group.
OK, who are you and what have you done with Shirack?
Cheers Shirack!
Hi Charlotte,
I did do a proper read through and correction session of your statement but this won't help you, seeing as you've submitted it. As I said in my previous post. I don't think your experience level in itself is a big issue, but the way you have sold it might be. There are several places where you use cliches or informal language in what is a formal application, and other areas where you really could have illustrated your work better with an example. If you want me to send you a copy of the corrected version I can do, so you can see what I mean.
Good luck with your application.
JB1
Its okay, but you should have taken advice Shirack to apply how your experience relates to the social work profession. I wouldn't have put in the application that you have become a friend or babyitter to the parents who attend the day centre. Social Work is probably the furthest profession away from being friends or babysitters to children in need and their families. This is known from experience.
I wish you luck
Fingers crossed.
swsoutheast: Its okay, but you should have taken advice Shirack to apply how your experience relates to the social work profession. I wouldn't have put in the application that you have become a friend or babyitter to the parents who attend the day centre. Social Work is probably the furthest profession away from being friends or babysitters to children in need and their families. This is known from experience. I wish you luck Fingers crossed.
Thanks Everyone. Paragraphs are hard as the personal statement only allows 47 lines. Other course mates also submitted theirs without paragraphs! Thanks for all your opinions, fingers crossed!
Sorry Shirack... should have read 'from Shirack!!
Its okay, but you should have taken advice from Shirack to apply how your experience relates to the social work profession. I wouldn't have put in the application that you have become a friend or babyitter to the parents who attend the day centre. Social Work is probably the furthest profession away from being friends or babysitters to children in need and their families. This is known from experience.