The personal statement is your opportunity to speak about how you personally are a good candidate for the BSW program and for social work as a career. We assess two things through this personal statement: Your goodness of fit for the BSW program and for the social work field, and your ability to write well. Social work is about effective communication with others, and writing is a powerful representation of your communication skills.
Please write the Personal Statement in essay form, using APA format and documentation from professional literature where appropriate (area 4). Please attach your Personal Statement to the application to the BSW Program.
Describe what influenced your interest in the social work major (i.e., family, friends, clergy, social worker, teacher, volunteer/work experiences, academic experiences, personal life experience, etc.). Be certain to explain why the social work profession is your career choice vs. other helping professions.
What are three strengths that you possess that will help you as a social worker, and how will you continue to develop them?
Please identify aspects of yourself that you might struggle with as a social worker, and what you plan to do to improve in these areas.
Describe what you consider to be one of the most pressing social problems. How pervasive is the problem? What, in your opinion, causes this problem (document scope, causes, implications, etc., using information from social work literature)? What does the social work profession have to offer in order to find a solution to this problem (document from social work literature)? What qualities, skills, and attributes do you have that would contribute to the solution of this problem (be specific)?
What additional information would be helpful to the Admissions Committee in processing your application?
