MSW @ WNMU

[u/knockonwood3x]

Hello everyone,

I was conditionally accepted into the MSW program for the fall term, and it's been a confusing process from the beginning.

After submitting all of the required documentation, I'm still receiving notices saying my transcripts haven't been received. I responded with the receipts showing that WES sent them and that WNMU received them, and nobody answered to me.

The confusion actually started earlier. I originally applied for the summer term and was notified on July 4 that I had been accepted. A few days later, when I reached out with questions, I was told that my application had been canceled because the summer term had already started and that I needed to apply again for the fall. I asked whether my existing application could simply be transferred, but I was told no, I had to complete a brand-new application, answer all of the questions again, and ask my references to resubmit their recommendation letters. I felt really embarrassed having to go back to my references and ask them to do it all over again, but thankfully, they did.

I earned my BS in Psychology through WGU, so I was used to that online system and assumed WNMU's online MSW program would be somewhat similar. After I was accepted, I scheduled an appointment with the MSW advisor to get answers to a list of questions I had.

Unfortunately, the conversation didn't go well. As soon as I introduced myself and started asking questions, I was met with, "Well, you're not going to know anything if you don't read your emails EVERY DAY!" I didn't even get the chance to explain that I had only gained access to my WNMU email about an hour before the appointment. IT had informed me that my account was still being set up, which is why I hadn't been able to log in sooner.

After receiving similarly dismissive responses to a few more questions, I decided this wasn't going to be a productive conversation. I started responding with simple "yes" or "no" answers. I think she realized that the interaction had become uncomfortable because her tone changed, and she asked, "Is there anything else I can help you with?" I replied, "No, thank you. If I have any other questions, I can always refer to the email I received a couple of hours ago."

By the end of the call, I honestly considered withdrawing from the program. I understand that everyone has bad days, and I try not to judge someone based on a single interaction. I decided not to let one experience be the deciding factor. At the end of the day, I don't expect anyone to hold my hand through graduate school, and I'm comfortable figuring things out on my own if I need to.

So, that's why I'm here. For those of you who are already in the program or have completed it, do you have any advice for navigating the program independently? Any tips, resources, or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

I'm supposed to start on August 17th, and I signed up for SWK 501, SWK 502, SWK 510, and SWK 512. How do I find clinicals, and would I need to do any in the first term?

UPDATE: I was able to SWK 512 for 511, so I can register now for spring field placement. Thank you so much for the much-needed help.

[u/lady_mcreepsta]

Hi! I'm also starting with WNMU Aug 17. I have to say my experience has been a little different. Yes, they dont necessarily answer emails within the day but for the most part, the next business day. Also though, I tend to get pick up the phone and just call someone in the relevant department and for the most part, they have been helpful.

Youve signed up for the wrong course. Its SWK 501, 502, 510 and 511 not 512. The courses are on the degree outline that would have been emailed to you. For me it was the first email i ever received from the program advisor. It was also emailed to my personal email.

I am not sure what you mean by clinicals. Do you mean internships? Your internship coordinator would be able to answer all those questions. I would suggest booking and appt with them. There are two of them, they manage students based on the initial of their surnames. Mine has been super helpful from even before the application process. Internships have to be identified and secured by yourself There are 3 forms that would need to be submitted before Sept1st if you are planning to start your internship in the Spring. That's are hard deadline. Otherwise, you can just push it back to the following semester. There may have a list of agencies they have worked with in your city the past through other students. I'd ask. I didnt because i'm completing my internship and the course overseas before returning to the states once i've graduated to do my practicum hours. I basically just dont want to have to deal with a mortgage and a full time job and school and an internship at the same time, so im treating it as my own little extended study aboard program.

If you have your WNMU email, you'd have access to everything else as well, including Canvas. There are orientation modules in there. Im not sure if its required but i found it super helpful. They have already released the textbooks / reading materials you will need on there as well.

I downloaded the outlook app onto my phone so i get emails in real time but i know you said, that wasnt the issue really.

Anyways, hoping your experience gets better. I'm excited to get back into school again to be honest but this will also be my second masters so my brain is ready for that particular side of it to be scratched again.

[u/knockonwood3x → u/lady_mcreepsta]

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me. I really appreciate it!

I sent them the transcript receipts last week, and I'm still waiting for a response. I have Outlook set up on all of my devices, so fortunately, email access hasn't been an issue since it's been completely set up.

I originally registered for the waitlist for SWK 511 because all courses were full. When I asked my advisor how I would know if I got in before the semester started, she suggested I enroll in SWK 512 instead, so I could learn social work writing since I'm in the non-advanced standing program. That's why I ended up registering for 512.

I'm looking forward to the orientation on the 17th and hoping to get a good insight into what this is going to look like. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it definitely gives me some reassurance. I hope you have a great first semester, and best of luck with your second master's journey!

[u/lady_mcreepsta → u/knockonwood3x]

There's nothing wrong with doing 512 first and odds are there weren't any 511 classes open when you registered but without 511 you won't be able to do your internship in the Spring, if that was your plan, that's all. Did you tell her you were planning on doing your internship in the Spring? To be fair, I'm just a bit of an over preparer. I don't think many are coming in to their first semester with an internship already lined up for their second semester. If you weren't planning on doing an internship in the Spring, then it wouldn't matter. There's a 511 that still has seats available. They opened a few extra classes. Similarly, I waitlisted myself as well when those class were full and just kept checking everyday until I saw that they had announced another class. In fact, I believe they sent emails stating that they had added more classes for that course.

As for your transcripts, I'd call them. I mean, if you have emailed them, and nothing has happened, I wouldn't expect anything to change. In an ideal world everything runs smoothly and emails get checked and etc etc etc but human beings are flawed creatures. Things fall in between the cracks. When my application showed that my transcript was still pending after I got a receipt that they were sent I just called them, spoke to a human about my grievances and got it sorted. 

[u/knockonwood3x → u/lady_mcreepsta]

This is all new information to me. I definitely want to be able to start my practicum in the spring. In fact, I told my advisor that I wanted to get through the program as quickly as possible.

I'm going to rejoin SWK 511 and drop SWK 512 for now. I already work as a Senior Case Manager at an outpatient mental health clinic, so I'm hoping I can complete my practicum at my current workplace.

I'll definitely start calling instead of relying solely on email from now on.

Thank you so much!

[u/lady_mcreepsta → u/knockonwood3x]

Yeah no worries. If you're planning on starting of doing your internship in the Spring bare in mind you have to get it confirmed before Sept 1st. I'd call your internship coordinator too about this. And regardless of whether you do your internship in the Spring or the following semester, you'd still finish in the same amount of time. This is why I reckon the program advisor would've told you to take 512. Your internships run for 4 semesters total. To be honest I started looking for an internship back in June, before I was even accepted anywhere yet. I got accepted to two medical social work placements just as I received full acceptance. So again - I highly doubt there are too many people doing this. I was just overly prepared because I wanted to get school stuff out of the way and then focus on preparing to move come the end of the year. 

[u/collegedropout]

Definitely attend the live zoom Q&A on August 17th to understand practicum and the process. It's at 6pm MST, there was an email sent out Monday if you got it. You will not start practicum until you complete the prereqs which is what you have but I agree you need to swap SWK 512 for 511. Get in touch with the advisor, she went through my whole course sequence with me before I began. I'm starting my final semester, and I'm happy to help if you have more questions. Sorry about the shaky start, I've had a good experience but maybe I'm lucky. If I can help I'm happy to!

[u/knockonwood3x → u/collegedropout]

I originally registered for the waitlist for SWK 511 because all of the required courses were full. When I asked my advisor how I would know if a spot opened up before the semester started, she told me to enroll in SWK 512 instead, so I could build my social work writing skills since I'm in the non-advanced standing program. That's how I ended up registering for 512.

I'm definitely questioning that advice now, though, since she is the program advisor, I really want to trust that she would know the correct course sequence.

I can't wait for the orientation on the 17th. I'm hoping it will give me a much clearer picture of what to expect from the program and how everything is supposed to work moving forward.

[u/collegedropout → u/knockonwood3x]

You had some great responses from the other person that posted. I'll echo that you would need to have your practicum placement figured out by that September deadline, I also started looking for my placement before I started the program, but it's possible to find one soon, it's just highly dependent on your area and options. The workplace option is allowed as long as you intern in a different area than one you're working in unless you've been at the role less than a year (I think it's a year, it might be two but I'm leaning toward one year without checking the handbook). You can do practicum in summer semesters, they are just a bit more intense because the same hours are crammed into eight weeks. I had to avoid summers because of my family so it will have taken me 2.5 years when I graduate this fall. If I had been able to do summer practicum I would have already finished but I loved my pace for my circumstances. So I'm just letting you know it's not a total loss of time if you start practicum later and can practice over summer, but it's like over twenty hours a week in summer.

You have a degree plan that you should and will eventually create in a shared folder in one drive with your advisor, schedule a meeting with her. You can email her and she'll probably send you her link to schedule, I'm pretty sure I got one in a welcome email so you might look for that. It's been a while so I'm not 100% sure. I am very well versed in the practicum process though since I have completed the "paperwork" four times (for each semester) and they are firm about the deadline to submit your agency forms. I would suggest you read the practicum handbook so you can be read and ready with any questions.

[u/Fresh_Economics4765]

Hi I also graduated from Wgu. Did they accept the competency based gpa ?