Essay Instructions: Instructions for Completing your Personal Statement:
Addressing each of the following statements, prepare an essay of approximately 1,000 words discussing your interest in social work. This essay should be typewritten, double spaced, and grammatically correct. Be sure to include your name on the cover letter. Please organize your essay using the following headings:
Part I:
1. Why are you seeking a graduate degree in social work at this time? (I am seeking a graduate degree at this time to gain licensure into the field of Social Work).
2. Explain why you chose your macro administration and community practice concentration to focus on for your advanced year studies. (I would like to further my career and education in the community and administration forum, although, I still desire to work to help the needs of women and their children)
3. What specific career goals and aspirations do you have following your graduation from the Master of Science in Social Work Program at University of Texas - Pan American? (I would like to work with women, children, families, and the elderly)
4. Why have you chosen to apply to University of Texas - Pan American, Department of Social Work to pursue a master?s degree in social work? (Answer this question as you may)
Part II:
1. Discuss the personal, vocational, and educational experiences you have had which have helped you define your choice of social work as a field of graduate study. Include a description of relevant human services practice experience. (I have a bachelor's degree with three depth areas: nursing, psychology, and sociology, Master of Arts in Human Services, I am a licensed Vocational Nurse, since 2007, I have volunteered, shadowed over a 100 hours in a senior rehabilitation center and through various surgeries and I am in the process of applying for volunteer experience with the local VA center in McAllen, TX...Add whatever else compliments my educational experiences)
2. Examine your personal strengths and limitations. Explain how your personal characteristics support, inhibit, and generally influence your ability to pursue graduate study and to establish a professional career in social work. (My personal strengths are: kind, compassionate, empathetic for others, determined, ability to complete assignments on time, team oriented, some other areas to consider are: Evaluating the situational motivation and actions of individuals, groups, organizations, communities and society, and how they interact in a given environment. Selecting and implementing proper strategies for positive interaction outcomes. Understanding the major human systems and what influences the deviation and alteration to proper functioning, as well as cause?effect relation and adopting specific methods of crisis management and treatment. Understanding and applying proper interventions models to help clients improve a given situation and attain a desired outcome. Interventions may include assistance, referral, advocacy, or direct counseling. Exhibiting consistent behavior in selecting intervention methods and crisis management models that are consistent with the highest values in Human Service profession. If you demonstrate the above listed qualities, you are considered a good social worker, without a doubt. But if you add compassion, thoughtfulness and kindness to everything you do and to the way you approach your job and mission, you will be considered a great social worker and human services specialist. - See more at: http://online.brescia.edu/human-services-news/what-makes-a-good-social-or-human-services-worker/#sthash.i31bdsTp.dpuf
Part III:
Briefly identify and discuss any special circumstances that you believe the MSSW Admissions Committee should consider in evaluating your application. (Examples: military service; single head of household; primary caretaker for a family member with disability; special abilities) Special circumstances should be indicative of your ability to overcome obstacles or your potential to succeed in the MSSW program. (I have moved alot because I grew up in a military family and married young to a military soldier and was divorced and a head of household, single parent for most of my adult life and have experienced many issues that young mothers face and the difficulties of maintaining independence and stability for their families. I hope to specialize in a helping young mothers with children to develop themselves emotionally, spiritually,and financially to reach their most optimal health state.