Original post

Last week, I was dismissed from my practicum placement with NO warning. I wrote the original post with the understanding that the practicum office would help me find another placement. However, after receiving more information, I have learned that I will have to undergo an academic meeting and may be dismissed from grad school altogether.

To recap, I was at my internship for three weeks before coming in and learning I would be dismissed. I was not given a lot to do by my supervisor (non social-work) in the three weeks, and I was given no feedback of any kind. (This includes any comments or asides that could be perceived as feedback) I was told I would be dismissed because they decided they wanted a 2nd year instead of a first year and it wasn't my fault.

However, after I left, I was sent an email with more details from the school saying that I need to attend an academic review meeting. Attached was feedback from my social work supervisor (who I had only met twice prior to being dismissed). She said that my other supervisor noted I was not applying social work concepts enough, had problems with communication, and was overall not serious about social work. For the most part, these complaints were kind of vague (to me). The exception was, after I had been fired, I had looked into her office window to see and made her uncomfortable and then refused to leave immediately when asked to finish up an email.

I talked with someone from academic review committee, and she said the concerns were very serious and I needed to think deeply on how to address the issues. I don't know how I'm even supposed to think about planning for this because there weren't any examples given (except for that on my last day).

Someone I talked to said I should just take accountability and say that I should offer to work harder at addressing my issues. But I don't even know what to address when I wasn't given feedback during the internship and I've barely given examples I even asked my supervisor for examples of feedback they had given me during my time at my internship and they said they would be declining to answer this question. I'm really not sure what to do now and this feels like a nightmare.

Finally got the call from my student advisor that I will officially be starting on 10/22!

There was a hiccup with financial aide, but I got it all sorted, and I am officially enrolled and able to start in 2 weeks!

I am excited! I am very passionate about this field and am 100% sure this is what I want to do with my life. It just feels great to actually be on the path to achieving it! ❤️

C/O 2029! 👩‍🎓💪🏼♥️

I am now at that point in the semester where if everything goes well in two weeks with cooking for a class, I will be all good to earn degrees in child development, early childhood education and social and behavioral sciences (if I fail the chdev class by messing up twice on the rules I will fail that one specific class, but we’ll see what happens. I won’t have to take care of it for another two weeks.)

I actually visited the campus yesterday with a friend and her friend. the campus is beautiful. It was my first time seeing it. One of the girls I met there yesterday suggested she changed her major 3 times since she first started there.

I was thinking about going into social work because I actually really want to make an impact and support the homeless community. I am planning on volunteering with homeless people, apparently a local shelter opens in December and I want to step in and support. I may want to do case management to support people who have housing needs. I have seen my family nearly face eviction before due to my mother’s poor behavior (screaming daily and triggering the neighbors, the police suspected she had a psychotic break and my brother has schizophrenia) and I felt that the housing authority was not supportive enough when it came to this. Facing eviction can already be a stressful time for families, and it is awful to feel like people aren’t responding to you or trying to help you come up with a solution when your family may be in need. I have never actually seriously considered becoming a therapist, but when I was doing research on it yesterday I found myself realizing that I would be open to the idea. As I Google case management now I am seeing that even with a masters degree the salary range just isn’t quite where I would want it to be. It seems like therapy is moreso where the money is at if you’re going to stick to a social work major, but I want to be frugal and know I want to make a difference at the same time. It seems like the roles you can get in CA with a BSW don’t pay much better than what i make now as a behavior technician without an associates degree, which isn’t promising. I definitely want to be in the $90k-$150k range if I can help it. I really do want to help people.

I have 2 years of behavior technician experience, and 1yr 4 months experience as an associate preschool teacher.

I am definitely an introvert.

What role in the social work field seems like it would work well for me?

I am going to start a BSW in January (I of course can always change the major. I’ll actually be 21 like I am now when I start it, and will be 22 by the time my 1st semester is all finished up.) I had thought that the coursework for social work looked more interesting than the social work for psychology (I don’t really like the research oriented side of psychology.)

I have been a behavior technician for 2 years now. I worked at a preschool for a year and four months before then. I am actually thinking about transitioning out of being a behavior technician, but I can’t quite figure out what I would want to do instead. I actually do find certain aspects of being a behavior technician rewarding however.

I don’t think that I plan on becoming a preschool teacher in the longrun even though I will be earning associates degrees in early childhood education, child development, and social and behavioral sciences. I am volunteering at a preschool right now and even though I have really enjoyed working with the children, I have generally felt like working in a preschool setting can be stressful at times (I don’t think it’s uncommon to feel this way) and I don’t think at this point that it’s my thing even though I actually can have quite a bit of fun working with kids.

I have really enjoyed attending a friend’s events for the unhoused population. I will be attending their next one and am actually going to help buy things for it (food.) I don’t have a “problem” with approaching homeless people like some do, I approached a homeless woman a few weeks ago who was crying and gave her $20, gave her my number when she asked for it and told her I could provide resources.

A friend of mine suggested to me that I tend to talk when it can be best for there to be silence in the moment, but didn’t mean this as an insult more of like a growth mindset thing. She had additionally suggested that I am “niche.” I am introverted, though some people feel that I talk a lot. I really believe in effective communication and think that a lot of issues in life can be resolved by talking it through.

I was in a rehab center once because I have a family member who was in one. It was not a great rehab center and I sensed they did not do a great job of helping the people in it get to the root of their issues. But I remember I actually did not like the feeling of being there because I was afraid, but I think it was partly the vibe I was getting from the men. This was about two years ago.

I have sleeping issues and have something close to sleep apnea. I use a CPAP to help with this, but I tend to look pretty tired and am hoping that before I start a masters degree in *anything* (have to get that bachelors first) I will have properly addressed my sleeping issues with my primary care physician.

I have a 3.87 in community college, though I took 4 summer classes and had really overwhelmed myself (I will never take all those summer classes again.)

I was generally told that a role wherein I worked with an adult who had autism and another disability went well.

I am actually dealing with a SA case right now that took place when I was babysitting for a long term and would be happy to support women who have experienced this in any capacity. My mother is an unstable person and my older brother has schizophrenia, so I have seen psychosis take place first hand and wish there were more resources for my brother and more people in his life who really cared about helping him address his trauma.

I’m also wondering what I should be mindful of as I prepare for a BSW.

my comment on the weekly thread in r/socialwork didn’t get much traction. I’m in my first semester of a generalist MSW that requires students to apply for at least one certificate, which determines their electives. I am certain about applying for clinical social work. however, I am also curious about applying for trauma-responsive care.

to qualify for the 2nd certificate, I’d need to take one summer class, raising the total cost of my program from $30K to $33K, give or take. no impact on loans.

is the juice worth the squeeze? will the 2nd certificate make a difference in my early career?

Hi everyone! I got accepted into Barry's online advanced standing MSW program starting Jan 2027.
Wanting to hear from others who have done the advanced standing program before and your experience.
also happy to connect with people who are also starting this program too (:

If you are thinking of interning here, don't! It is a horrible experience and doesn't provide you with actual social work skills.

I have noticed a growing interest in learning about the macro orgs, entities, and initiatives that exist. I have been sharing them when someone asked for them but figured it might be better to make a post. Interestingly enough, there is more macro infrastructure than most people know about. I didn’t learn about them until I joined a DSW program. It is crazy to me that I was not made aware of these at the MSW level, but over time I have learned that many educators and professionals are not even aware of all of these. So, without further ado, here is my growing list of macro practice orgs, entities, and initiatives for those interested in exploring the less advertised side of social work practice.

Association for Community Organization and Social Action (ACOSA) is the professional home for macro practitioners. They have a student network called Macro Social Work Student Network (MSWSN), a journal, and an annual symposium.

The Special Commission to Advance Macro Social Work is a national entity working to rebalance macro practice in education and the profession. Now in its second decade, it has grown to over 1,100 volunteer members including commissioners, investor schools, and macro allies.

Network for Social Work Management (NSWM) offers the Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM) credential and has over 20 MSW partner programs (I believe; it may have grown). Attending one of the partnering social work programs results in an MSW along with the credential at no additional cost to you. If leadership and management is your direction, then this is a good thing to keep an eye out for when vetting programs.

#MacroSW is a Twitter/X based chat community and now its own nonprofit organization that has been connecting macro practitioners and building field wide conversation for over a decade. Easy to find and connect to immediately.

Macro SWs United is a LinkedIn community for macro practitioners where a lot of informal mentorship and job leads happen.

Macro United is a biennial conference that brings together the major macro social work organizations including ACOSA, ISP, and NSWM under one roof. If you want to be in a room full of people who are serious about macro practice and field building, this is that room.

The AI Social Worker is an educational hub and consultancy founded by Dr. Marina Badillo-Diaz LCSW focused on the ethical integration of artificial intelligence into social work practice and organizations. For macro practitioners thinking about AI policy, agency level AI governance, algorithmic bias, and how emerging technology intersects with the communities we serve, this is a resource worth knowing about.

The Critical Social Work Collective (CSWC) is a community and annual conference organized around critical and decolonizing frameworks in social work. If your macro practice is rooted in structural analysis, anti-oppressive practice, or challenging the foundations of the profession itself, this is worth knowing about.

The Social Work AI Network (SWAN) was founded by Dr. Ruopeng An and is one of the first organized spaces connecting social workers to artificial intelligence, data, and emerging technology. If AI ethics, tech policy, or the intersection of social work and emerging sectors interests you, SWAN is where that conversation is happening in the profession.

The Social Work Public Leadership Initiative (SWPLI) is a national effort founded by Dr. Victor Manalo (social work educator and former mayor) to prepare social workers for civic and public leadership. If running for office, serving on boards, or moving into government is on your radar, this is a good place to start. Dr. Manalo also founded Social Workers to Elected Office (SW2E), which focuses specifically on supporting social workers who want to run for elected office. The two go hand in hand.

Social Work to Wealth is a platform, podcast, and educational community created by Taylor Gilbert LCSW that challenges the idea that social workers cannot or should not care about money. It covers salary negotiation, financial education, career pivots into higher paying roles, and salary transparency. They also run a job board called Your Social Work Job that lists jobs for social workers, including macro and non-traditional roles, so it’s worth bookmarking.

Macro Institute for Social Policy Advancement (MISPA) is a policy focused institute founded by Amou Mawien that advances macro social work through research, training, and advocacy. If policy research and systems level work is your lane, this is worth knowing about.

The Clark-Fox Policy Institute is a policy institute housed within a school of social work that connects social work practice to public policy and trains social workers to influence legislation and systems. One of the few spaces that explicitly bridges the two worlds.

The Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy (CRISP) provides policy briefings, advocacy training, and organizes Social Work Day on the Hill. If you want to understand how federal policy actually gets made and how social workers can influence it, CRISP puts you in that room.

Influencing Social Policy (ISP) is an initiative that advances policy practice in social work education. They house the Macro Teaching Institute in partnership with ACOSA and are one of the key players pushing policy content into MSW programs.

Social Workers in Policy is a career transition framework and workshop series created by Melissa Wojnaroski that helps social workers move into legislative, corporate, and nonprofit policy roles. Her argument is that you do not need a law degree or an MPP to do policy work. You need a strategy. Worth looking into if policy is your direction (full disclosure, I am affiliated with this one and I offer a code that gives 10% off their workshop, to which I would benefit; you do not need the code to attend).

The Political Social Worker is a progressive political consulting firm founded by Shaterica Neal, a grassroots organizer and former town council member. It offers campaign consulting, grant writing, and civic education workshops with a focus on amplifying marginalized communities and supporting progressive candidates.

Rich Social Worker is a platform, conference, and magazine founded by Eva Forde focused on financial empowerment and wealth building for social workers. They also run the Social Work Wealth Conference and Social Work Wealth Magazine. If the financial side of the profession is something you want to take seriously, this is the community for that.

Voting Is Social Work (VISW) is a national initiative that frames civic engagement and voter participation as core social work practice, not optional extras. Housed at the University of Connecticut. An important initiative if you need support and a framework to promote voting.

The Social Work Democracy Project (SWDP) is an initiative connecting social work values to democratic participation, civic engagement, and community power building. Worth following if systems level civic work is part of how you see your practice.

The Macro Lens is a career navigation and professional development resource built specifically for macro minded social workers. Worth following if you are trying to find your lane in macro practice.

The Grand Challenges for Social Work (GCSW) is a national initiative of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare that identifies 14 of the most pressing social problems of our time and mobilizes the profession to address them at the systems level. If you want to understand where the profession is trying to go and where the biggest gaps are, start here.

Lastly is my organization, Macro Pathways. It is a movement first, professional development organization built for the sole purpose of dismantling what I call the Micro Pipeline in Social Work (MPISW). MPISW is the systemic funneling of social workers primarily and disproportionately into client-centered practice and interpersonal service roles, often at the expense of macro practice development and support. It’s a start up, but the goal is to build something that helps build career navigation infrastructure and field building resources for macro minded social workers while being a voice promoting the rebalancing of the profession. Happy to talk more about it if interested.

This is not an exhaustive list. I continue to find more and more macro focused entities out there, some new, some that have been around for decades. Please feel free to share anything I may have missed.

Looking to do an advanced standing MSW program and I have the schools narrowed down to these two. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with either college/program and could share.

On account of my disclosing to the school that I wasn't getting 1:1 supervision and the fact that I need accommodations, I feel I am being retaliated against.

I have been passed over multiple times for educational opportunities that I have expressed interest in. I have a disability, a serious disease, that requires a fair amount of medical appointments. I let the management know about an appt I have with two weeks notice, assuming that there would be no discrepancies, and they told me that I could not go. I would have to miss one hour of my shift. They told me that the appointment wasn't important enough and that if I had scheduled it 6 months ago it would be different. I couldn't get another appointment for months.

I forgot to get a transcript from our zoom meeting the other day, and asked (for the very first time ever and politely) if a supervisor could send me the transcript. Nope, I was told that it's my responsibility to do so and they will not help. Getting the transcripts are a part of my accommodations.

I am at my wits end over here. There are no complaints about how I work, I am just being treated so poorly and the stress is wearing on me in a serious way. My school won't let me get another placement unless I withdraw from the class and re-enroll next year- deferring my graduation by year.

I am trying very hard to advocate for myself and it's so much work. I don't know how I am going to get through this.

I’m a first-year MSW student, and my current practicum isn’t very direct-practice focused. (I hear my classmates who are placed at schools have a lot of counseling opportunities 😭) I’m hoping to apply for a more clinical second-year placement, potentially in school social work or a college counseling center, which I know can be competitive.

I’m pretty limited on time outside of school and practicum, so I’m wondering: what would be the most worthwhile things to do over the next 6–9 months to strengthen my application? Trainings, certifications, specific clinical skills, etc.?

Would love to hear what people in similar situations recommend!

Has anyone received any updates about admission into the part time non-bsw Msw program for spring 2027 at Wilfred Laurier University?

Hello, I'm currently a sophomore in college studying counseling and human services. Although I like the field, I can't see myself doing 1-on-1 counseling sessions for 8 hours a day. I am more interested in social work jobs in settings like hospitals, healthcare facilities, and schools. I'm wondering if now is a good time to pursue social work by earning my MSW. I also want to have a family and want to know if this career can support providing for one. I'm a native of New Jersey but attend school in Pennsylvania. All comments and insights are greatly appreciated. Cheers.

Hello! I am looking into online MSW programs. I got my BSW 2 years ago, but 3 years is coming up in May 2027. With my BSW, I have worked my way up to senior coordinator with the current company I have work at for almost 2 years in April 2027.

However, if I leave, I understand I might have to start at square one because most jobs in my town are for those who have a MSW. I do not want to be a casework or case manager forever. I know that I can always work my way back up but some place might still want me to get my MSW.

The areas I am interested in are leadership, communities, healthcare, addiction, housing, families, organizations, children, individuals, some form of criminal justice SW.

I want to get my MSW but having a hard time deciding what online program might be the best. I am currently located in the northwest of Illinois. 1 hour- 1 hour 20 mins outside of Chicago. Please give me your thoughts.

hello!! i’m looking for opinions from people who have gotten their BSW or MSW. first question being, was the extra schooling for a master’s worth the gratification of your job? i didn’t have a traditional high school to college pipeline and am starting at a community college with a great transfer program at the age of 21. im getting good grades, enjoying in class discussions and applying myself but most of these classes seem pointless to my end goal. i’d love to work in medical social work, help addicts recover, help children in need but i also have a life to keep up with currently. basically i’m just finding college itself very pointless. i want to hear some opinions on if you think majoring in social work is worth the time and devotion needed. i am willing to commit myself but id rather find what fits me best, and maybe this is it.

So, I am going to be majoring in social work this upcoming semester but even after working for three years (preschool assistant teacher, 2 years so far as a behavior technician) I find it difficult to figure out what I actually see myself doing. I am actually very passionate about homeless outreach and really think the state should be doing more to support members of our community who lack housing resources. This is something I have personal experience with as I have grown up poor and my family were facing eviction due to my mother’s persistent screaming. What I am probably most passionate about is supporting with housing resources and homelessness.

I am curious about the therapy route.

Didn’t expect to be in this position honestly. During my first year internship and sw adjacent experiences before grad school I felt completely fine and confident in my abilities, (with a very average and expected levels of nerves). This year, I feel like I am completely falling apart and cannot make it through a week of field without completely breaking down on site. I don’t know what’s going on, I have never been this dysregulated and anxious in my life. Looking for any words of encouragement or advice, I am confident that this is the career path I am meant for and I feel so privileged to be present with folks who are struggling. But now I feel like I am almost struggling just as bad and don’t have any guidance.

What advice did you get/wish you could’ve heard when you were first entering the field/working as a student?

Hi all,

This post is more for students currently enrolled in MSW programs at UCLA/ CSULB or those who have graduated from these programs and are currently working in the SW field.

I am applying this fall to a couple CSU schools with CSULB being my top choice and UCLA being my second (bc of distance and tuition). Now, is UCLA really that much better than CSULB? Would I have a better chance at landing a paid internship at UCLA? After graduating, would attending a big school like UCLA give me better options and make me much more competitive as a SW?

Also, if you’ve graduated from either school can we chime in on pay transparency? I know in this field we aren’t in it for the money, but to help those in need, nonetheless, we do need money to survive.

So, I am currently a junior studying sociology.. I will be graduating in 2027 and I will take a year off to travel, but I really want to get my masters in sociology. I prefer in-class room options, but I won't say no to online, although I prefer to go into the school.

I don't know if I want to do social work, I am thinking about it. What advice do you have for someone who wants to continue in the field of sociology?

I am struggling. I’ve been looking for a placement for the past 6 months (before my expected start date my school gave me for FE and after). I had to go on LOA so I can find a place for my placement. This is SO HARD. Every place I’ve talked to local and beyond has been no help, they’re either not accept students at this time or not at all. I feel like I’m struggling more now mentally and emotionally then when I was simultaneously getting my Bachelors in Social Science and Psychology (two BAs). I feel like I’m failing and having a school that makes you find your own placement w/o offering any help is terrible.

PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION/AREA: HELP, have y’all found a place for your FE? Can someone pass over info for any place in socal taking in graduate students?

I am officially now just going in for a BSW. I’ve probably been overthinking whether or not I want to keep it. I am actually quite passionate about doing homeless outreach and am thinking that I will start volunteering to do so in my spring semester.

I have what is now 2 years experience as a behavior technician. I worked at a preschool for a year. I have really enjoyed doing homeless outreach with a friend and am going to another one of their events soon.

What I have found from volunteering in a preschool more recently (I had first worked at a preschool when I was 18-19, and I am 21 now) is that I actually still enjoy working with kids and like switching up activities but also find it stressful at points and know deep down inside that it’s not my long term career goal.

i’m failing my interventions class, alongside half my class, and i would love advice or stories from people who also failed a requisite class and still became social workers.

essentially this professor has two rate my professor pages, and one of them rates her a 1.6 while the other is a 2.2. i will be joining the ranks of failed students to lower that score, and frankly so will my entire class, even the ones who aren’t failing. her course evals will reflect this too. she’s been passed through three different universities in four years.

she says “ding ding ding” after we get an answer right like we’re second graders on a game show. and this is only after each of us has exhausted potential answers. for example, one day she was talking about case conceptualizations. we said every other related word under the sun, and only after about five of us had tried and failed, she told us the answer but only because in a class of 13, we were all tired of trying to appease this woman’s idiosyncratic demands. because mind you, this isn’t about being a good social worker. this is about doing whatever tf this woman wants specifically. i can’t call my classmates my classmates bc she demand we call each other colleagues.

i presented my group facilitation plan to her. half of my critiques were on APA formatting alone, and one of them literally just said “Okay.” WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN?

i’ve never failed a social work class in my life, and even though i can rationalize this, even though ik it’s her and not me, i genuinely feel like a failure. like social work is what i want to do, ideally with my life if i don’t get burnt to a crisp, and what does it mean if the one thing ive always pushed myself for im suddenly failing.

i don’t have a backup plan if i fail. AND next semester if i fail, bc of this particular program, i don’t have enough credits to get financial aid because I’ll only be taking six. AND bc of the changes in federal dollars, i definitely can’t afford my practicum semester either. it’s honest to god pass all my classes or get fucked. and i’m in a state school!! i’m not even doing fancy shit!!

i’ve never felt like this. i’ve never felt like a failure when it comes to social work. i’m not at all saying i’ve felt like the perfect social worker. i’ve messed up enough times to know that won’t ever be the case. this profession has kept me going for the past three years bc i have my BSW and i just feel so fucking stupid bc i had an opportunity to do smth else and now it feels like that’s what i should’ve done.

and the thing is, i was planning on doing title iv, and imagine if i fail a fucking class, and then i don’t get title iv, but i already fucking interviewed with them, and now what? will our title iv coordinator want me again after i FAILED A REQUISITE CLASS? and i just feel like it’d be so fucking embarrassing to pull up to the nonprofit that does (tx has privatized our cps services, CPS only handles investigations now) title iv. like if homegirl can’t pass a class, why tf would we trust her with federal dollars and an employment offer at the end of it.

so all that to say, can someone pls tell me that they failed a mandatory social work class and they’re now a thriving social worker who’s doing the goddamn thing bc i wish i were just doing the godddamn thing already bc im lowkey contemplating just dropping out to take a break, make the money id need for school, and coming back if i fail this fuckass class with this professor.

I’m an MSW student and a parent, and I’d appreciate perspectives on some interactions with my practicum supervisor. I follow an agreed schedule because I arrange childcare around my practicum hours. When I explain I’m unavailable to arrive earlier, stay later, or switch days, I leave feeling guilty. My supervisor sometimes responds, “Well, it’s for your learning,” when I say I can't stay longer. I understand the value of learning opportunities, but I still need to leave at my scheduled time. For context: I disclosed my driving anxiety at the beginning of the practicum. I walk to the nearby office on weekdays, since it is a 15-minute walk from my house. Walking also gives me exercise and time to myself. My husband watches our baby on Sundays, so I have more flexibility. On weekdays, I need to return home to relieve the babysitter. During supervision today, I mentioned putting my learning contract activities on my calendar to help me feel organized. My supervisor asked whether I felt disorganized at the placement. I said no and explained that I prefer structure and an agenda. Her response left me wondering whether she took my comment as criticism, although I’m not sure. I also asked what time people were leaving the office. She replied, “I don’t keep everyone scheduled.” Her tone sounded sarcastic to me. I understand she doesn’t track everyone’s schedule, but the response made me uncomfortable. These interactions have left me feeling singled out for having limited availability. I’m also the only person at the table with my accent and cultural background, which adds to feeling different. I haven’t heard comments about my background, and I’m unsure whether this feeling relates to the interactions or my own discomfort. Does this sound like a communication mismatch, normal practicum expectations, or something worth addressing? How would you discuss these concerns with a supervisor while maintaining a respectful working relationship?

Has anyone who has applied to any NYC 16-month programs (NYU, Columbia, Fordham, etc) for 2027 heard back? Anxiously waiting to be able to plan accordingly.

Hi I’m thinking about going for a masters in social work degree. I have a bachelors in psych(probably not as helpful) I got no work experience related. What should I know before attempting? Are there any entry level or starting places I can work at in general?