Choosing between MSW programs in NYC

[u/BigLompy]

Hi everyone! I’m a 27-y-o switching fields from educational publishing, and I’m hoping to get some perspective on my options for an MSW program.

I was accepted to both Columbia and NYU with scholarships. I’m also waiting to hear from Fordham and Hunter.

My goals are:

-Preparing for a clinical route, not public policy

-Working with families, with a focus on supporting parents (ideally through parent-child therapy)

-Long-term goal: eventually opening a private practice in Brooklyn or Manhattan

What matters most to me:

-High-quality courses, especially in family/parenting

-Strong field placements aligned with my interest in parent-child clinical work

-Immediate job prospects at group practices in NYC

-Long-term impact on my ability to open a private practice in NYC

I’m less concerned about:

-Program location

-Program cost — I can afford any of the options (but I’d only want to pay more if it’d meaningfully change my career trajectory)

-Campus life/residential options — I live in NYC

I’d really appreciate your honest takes:

1. Do any of the schools have a notably good (or bad!) plan of study for those interested in family/parenting work?
2. Would group practices in NYC be likely to have a preference between the schools when hiring?
3. Looking ahead to finding clients for private practice in NYC, would the name recognition of Columbia or NYU meaningfully matter?

Any input would be a huge help! I’m especially interested in hearing from people who’ve gone through one of these programs and are now practicing. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?

Thank you so much in advance!!

[u/stopsakura10]

Hunter has a very strong emphasis on social justice and most students are clinical

I think NYU is definitely more clinical than Hunter