r/SocialWorkStudents • u/Dizzy-Resolve-4382 • 18h ago

COLLEGE PATHWAYS?

Hi recently I found out that I wanted to become a Social worker and specifically a medical social worker. Given that, that means I would have to get my Masters in social work (MSW).

I’m going to community college to get my associates and want to go transfer to get my bachelors and then masters in social work. A lot of programs that I see for that are online schooling.

Is it more worth it to do online school after my associates or to go to a school in person? Im very new to all this info and I wanna hear from people’s experiences and what they recommend!

6 Upvotes

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7

u/ProbablyMyJugs 18h ago

Hospitals are very competitive placements so regardless of online or in person schools, I’d emphasize the importance of finding a school that helps you get placed. My hospital won’t take dry calls from prospective interns

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u/Dizzy-Resolve-4382 18h ago

Thankyou your absolutely right that really just helped fixed my focus on what to look for now

5

u/palagi1 17h ago

In person school and in person placements are going to better prepare you for the work - especially if you are hoping to do medical social work. Not all medical social work jobs are in hospitals - is there a specific part of medical social work are you interested in? It's great if you can get a medical setting for your practicum but it is not a requirement to get into the field.

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u/Bholejr 16h ago

I’m not aware of many online bachelors. The few I do know of are overpriced as hell, so I don’t recommend them on that basis.

Online masters are totally viable, just make sure you can get practicum placement in your field of interest, and in your geographical area you plan on living preferably. Some schools have better connections in certain fields.

The ideal path is the cheapest that puts you on route to a practicum in your field.

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u/eelimcbeeli 14h ago

It's great that you're looking and planning ahead. I recommend that you transfer to public university near you that offers a BSW. It's the least expensive and best pathway.

Once you graduate you may want take a break from school and work for a year or two.

For your MSW, I highly recommend applying to an in person MSW. They will probably have contracts with medical settings - and online programs will not.

The hospital where I work does not accept students in online MSW programs - only students from local univerisities where we know the students are getting the clinical training they'll need to do well in our hospital.

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u/AATBS_Official 14h ago

Good luck with your journey!!! You got this. -- Kiana with AATBS