Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Family And School Social Workers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Oakland Community College, Grand Valley State, Michigan State, and Grand Rapids Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Wayne State, University of Michigan-Flint, Lake Superior State, and Oakland University.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Andrews, University of Detroit Mercy, Wayne State, and Mott Community College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Spring Arbor University, Andrews, Kellogg Community College, and Glen Oaks Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Andrews, Calvin, University of Michigan, and Hope College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Adrian College, Hope College, Calvin, and Kuyper.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Michigan, Calvin, Hope College, and Michigan State.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Kuyper, University of Michigan, Ferris State, and Andrews.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Andrews, Calvin, Hope College, and University of Michigan.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Aquinas College • Grand Rapids, MI
Studying Sociology (completion in 2004)
• 9/29/2011
"I believe I received an amazing education and am very well-rounded due to my experience there. I would recommend it to anyone!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I believe that Aquinas did a great job of preparing me for a career in the real world. I would definitely recommend it to people interested in entering my field! |
| Program Reputation | 8 | As far as I know there is a good reputation for my school as a whole and for the major I received. We have a reputation for being a school were you work hard and learn a lot. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Aquinas College was a great school. I got a very well-rounded liberal arts education and since it is so small I received hands-on attention in most classes. I was also able to assist in a research project with one of my professors. |
| Instruction | 8 | I believe they prepared us for real world issues. We were lucky to have small classes and were able to know our professors. I think you learn more that way. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The school I attended was very difficult, not just in my major but as a whole. We were asked to write lengthy papers and take essay tests and do lots of work in the community. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Many of my classes required activities in the community such as attending meetings, conferences, speakers series etc. or they would require real world community service/internship type activities. All of these activities were very beneficial to the learning experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | My school did not offer many online classes when I attended. And sometimes it was challenging to get into courses. That could be improved upon. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | We had a very small library and it was somewhat limiting. I believe the school now has a bigger one but at that time that was the most limiting factor. |
| Social Life | 9 | Since it was a small college you knew almost everyone on campus and there was a great sense of community and school spirit. I made the best friends of my life there and am still friends with them all. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I was required to take several career classes and the career placement staff was always available to us. I believe they provided us with a good basis for job searching after college. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | There is a very strong alumni network. We receive newsletters and there are frequent gatherings. |
Western Michigan University • Kalamazoo, MI
Studying Social Work (completion in 2009)
• 1/29/2012
"I am very satisfied with my school. I would not have been able to complete if it had not been for the flexible schedules and the relationships I built with my peers."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a very good program for social work. It is geared toward working adults. Professors are professionals in the area and not just teachers. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Higher regard then other programs in our region. Night and weekend schedules were very helpful. |
| Program Quality | 10 | They had a very well received and credentialed program. Quality instructors, and flexible schedules were very nice. |
| Instruction | 10 | Instructors were thorough and flexible. They often worked in the field during the day, so had lots of first hand experiences to share. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Classes were challenging. It was difficult to balance classes and a 20 hour a week internship for two years. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Classes were very book focused. Required internship provided opportunity for hands on/experienced based learning as well. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Offers night and weekend classes. Offers classes at various locations throughout our region. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | I attended an off campus site. The computer labs were up to date and well utilized. We didn't have a library. Classrooms had up to date technology, and professors used powerpoint and other materials as needed. |
| Social Life | 10 | I attended an off campus site, so there were not planned activities. However, our class became very close, and continues to keep in touch to this day. |
| Placement Services | I did not use this service. I'm not aware of anything at my campus. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I haven't accessed it. They are willing to provide references for past students. |
Michigan State University • East Lansing, MI
Studying Psychology & English Literature (completion in 2010)
• 2/22/2012
"I am proud to be an MSU alumnus. I feel I contributed something in my time there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My degree was not geared directly toward my current career, but I feel it has allowed me to offer a unique outlook in my field. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | MSU is a well-respected research school. I was very pleased with the research I assisted in. |
| Program Quality | 9 | At MSU I had the opportunity to learn from great professors and play a significant role in research. |
| Instruction | 8 | The majority of my professors were experts in what they were teaching. They were generally interested in their students' success. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I believe that the work load was generally appropriate. While it wasn't as challenging as it could have been, I believe the level was adequate. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I believe MSU has ample opportunities for both hands on and book learning. This was ideal for me because both means of learning have merit in my opinion. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | I worked full-time and lived an hour away from campus for the last two years of my undergraduate time at MSU. I found the schedule not geared toward someone in my life position. But I don't blame them. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The resources available to students at MSU is incredible. The library system is amazing and the professors are generally very accessible. |
| Social Life | 7 | I enjoyed the athletic and school spirit at MSU. Big Ten sports teams are pretty exciting. I partied very little at MSU. I did not enjoy the party scene at school and would drive to other schools to party with other friends. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I've not received any assistance from MSU for job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I've never really noticed anything significant about the alumni network. |
University Of Michigan • Ann Arbor, MI
Studying Social Work (completion in 2011)
• 2/28/2012
"I found the school to be an important part of becoming a school social worker. It provided me with the necessary knowledge to be successful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I believe University of Michigan is a wonderful school that will teach you what you need to know to be a competent social worker. I will always recommend this school. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The University of Michigan is rated highly for its school of social work. They work hard each year to keep that top ranking. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The University of Michigan provided a strong supportive learning environment. I feel I became a better social worker because of their program. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors made sure to provide us with a breadth of information that would allow us to be competent professionals. There was a variety of course offerings for all aspects of social work, including family and school social work. |
| How Difficult | 8 | This program was challenging, but in a positive manner, as I became a competent social worker through the challenge. The workload was extensive, but not impossible to complete successfully. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | While book learning was utilized to obtain a variety of information, our internships allowed us to get hands-on experience. Our class discussions also revolved around real-life scenarios. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They offered evening and summer class options. The school also did their best to ensure we only had to attend class two days a week, which allowed for more flexibility in my schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The School of Social Work housed its own library, which contained a wealth of information. The school also helped you access a variety of learning tools available on campus. |
| Social Life | 10 | The school provided ample opportunity for social events. The social events offered allowed for networking, as well as learning and relaxation. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The school offers a variety of career placement activities, including strong internships. I can also receive career placement assistance online. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The school provides many alumni networking opportunities. The school also provides alumni events throughout various states, which is important. |
Grand Valley State University • Allendale, MI
Studying Social Work (completion in 2011)
• 3/27/2012
"Overall, I feel like I learned a decent amount in my undergrad program. I do feel, though, that my work experience helped me learn more in my classes than those without work experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I think that if you live in West Michigan, then you should consider GVSU. However, I think that if you live closer to other schools that also have the same program, it would probably be better to attend one of those schools instead. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | In the West Michigan area, Grand Valley State University is seen as a great school for social workers. However, on a more national level, I do not think that it stands out. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I feel as if the curriculum did not properly prepare me for work experience. I think the school could have done better by giving us more real-life experience, instead of book experience in the classroom. |
| Instruction | 5 | I really enjoyed the internship program within the social work program, as I felt that it gave me better experience than what was learned in the classroom. I feel that the professors are great, but that they are bound by what their bosses would like them to teach. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I found the classes and coursework to be very easy. Most of the papers consisted of writing about your opinion on topics, so there was no wrong answer. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I think GVSU is about 50-50 with hands-on and book learning. Most of the courses did require lots of bookwork, but we were also required to complete an internship. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | All of the classes were on Tuesdays and Thursdays; therefore, there was not much flexibility in making your own school schedule to fit with your life. The master's program is a bit more flexible than the undergraduate program. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I think that the resources are getting better. At Grand Valley, the social work department is booming and growing, so more resources are being offered every year. |
| Social Life | 5 | Most of the students at Grand Valley are commuter students, so the social aspect is somewhat lacking. Some students did have an active social life at school, but they had to actively seek out the opportunities. |
| Placement Services | I have never used career services or any job placement services. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I think that the alumni association is OK, but most of their correspondence is asking for money. I feel as though I would benefit from the alumni association more in the future, after I have been out of school for a longer period of time. |
Oakland University • Rochester, MI
Studying Psychology (completion in 2011)
• 3/21/2012
"I was pretty satisfied with my school. I feel that I have received a great education, and I have been able to find a career within the first 6 months after graduation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend my school to others pursuing my career, because the scheduling is very flexible for those having to work in addition to going to school. Most professors are very understanding and are very willing to help students through a variety of circumstances. I feel that my school leaves students well prepared and able to succeed in the real world, despite never having direct work experience. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Previously, my school was mainly viewed as a local commuter school. Currently, my school has high enrollment numbers and has recently opened a medical school. The program I chose is looked upon more favorably, because it offers more courses, including technical courses, and it has instructors with diverse advanced degrees. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I was satisfied with my school's psychology program, because I felt as though it was challenging and had a strong scientific base. I also felt as though the choice in coursework was very diverse and expansive. Although the school did not require this of undergraduates, it is very possible to choose your own "niche" or concentration within the vast topic of study. |
| Instruction | 8 | The quality of instruction, in my experience, was very good. Most of the instructors were at a doctorate level. I thought most of the professors were quite creative in their teaching methods. Each had done their own extensive research, which led to a personal spin on lesson plans. |
| How Difficult | 7 | My program of study was above average in terms of difficulty, but it was not extremely difficult. I felt that my classmates and I were often challenged, but there were many instances in which my peers and I did little to no work and/or participation and were still able to receive a passing score. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program was a mix in terms of hands-on vs. book learning. It depended greatly on the professor. About half of my professors did not deviate from the standard PowerPoint slides and 3-tests-a-semester form; the other half were very hands on, requiring us to learn within our communities, and they offered practicums within the programs they directed off campus. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | My school's class schedule flexibility ranks very high. All course levels or difficulties offer days and times that are on weekends, evenings, mornings, one day a week, etc. If one specific course is not available at a particular time or on a particular day, an equivalent or course filling the same requirement will be. There are also two summer semesters that offer higher-level courses and seminars. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school is quite affluent and in an affluent area. My program at the school had a great deal of resources and academic facilities. The university had quite a few satellite facilities available in surrounding counties, and students also had the option to take a course as a "guest student" at a different institution. Many resources were provided through donors. Students had many opportunities to study abroad, as well as participate in published academic research. |
| Social Life | 8 | Although the school's population is primarily made up of commuters, there were a great deal of activities on and off campus that many students enjoyed partaking in. The school also had fraternities and sororities that were enthusiastically pledged to, year after year. I made lasting friendships at the school, as did a great deal of other students. Many of the friendships I made were not made with people in my actual classes, but those I met outside of class, on campus. |
| Placement Services | 4 | My school's job placement and career services assistance is below average. This is because they do not personally engage students or make it widely known what careers are available in one's field of study. They do have a career services office, as well as job fairs. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I feel that the alumni network and support for my school is below average. I am a recent graduate, so I do not have much experience or knowledge of how fulfilling being an alumnus is, but I feel that most of the contact made by the alumni network is in the form of a mass-mailing and typically requesting donations or personal information. I think the graduates themselves are in much contact. |
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