Admission To The Masters Of Social Work Program Admission Essay Examples

In today's world, many people struggle with poverty, disenfranchisement, helplessness and more. The rapidly growing elderly population is a serious social problem. The current economic crisis is exacerbating this situation as the government is cutting funding for elder programs. The problem resonates deeply with me, and I hope to work towards solutions that will provide the elderly and senior citizens with the resources they need to keep a high quality of life.
My childhood experiences are a significant contributing factor to my interest in the welfare of senior citizens. Growing up with my grandparents greatly influenced my values and personality; they taught me to be self-motivated and self-reliant. Their resilience and support has helped me to persevere even when confronted with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Because of their kindness toward me, I have a deep respect for them and senior citizens as a population. This one of the primary reasons why I pursued an undergrad degree in Social Work, and am further motivated to obtain an MSW degree.
I believe my life and training up to this point has prepared me well for the challenges of the Masters of Social Work Program at Delaware State University. Having studied Social Work at the undergraduate level at Iona College, I moved on to complete field work at an elementary school and the United Way. While at the United Way, I helped develop the 'HELPLINE' hotline, in which clients would call in to ask about services and questions they had regarding their various social and economic problems/crises. I found it extremely rewarding to see to their needs and to make sure these individuals were properly educated and equipped with the resources they required to help themselves. I found this very rewarding, as I would help clients create and restore a plan of action, in which clients would receive help with issues ranging from domestic violence to sexual battery and mental and physical health issues, to name a few. In addition, I volunteered for the Special Olympics, where I was personally fulfilled and empowered by facilitating the kind of success I saw in those I helped. This wonderful experience allowed me to embody social work's core values; being tolerant of differences as well as appreciating the differences that we all share. From these internships and my volunteer work, I have gained practical experience which I feel will contribute to my academic success and professional experience.
While I was able to help many of the residents of my community through these and other efforts, I felt there was more I could do, as budgets and political funding changes restricted my resources, as I did not have an MSW. As a result, it is my goal to earn that degree, and benefit from the knowledge and expertise I will obtain in that program. I wish to use this program to further my education and become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker; however, the MSW will also open up possibilities for work in healthcare, hospitals, and even governmental positions. The diversity and challenges of this field (as I learned in my work with the United Way) has helped to arm me for the struggles ahead.
I expect the graduate work at Delaware State will be challenging, demanding and ultimately rewarding. I very much look forward to the possibilities for learning and practical action I will be able to benefit from as the result of a Master's Degree in Social Work. I hope to learn and grow as an individual and a social worker, and I hope that I will be welcomed to do so at Delaware State University.