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 Kingsborough Community College, Touro College, Hostos Community College, and Erie 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 Long Island University-Riverhead, Touro College, Mercy College, and College of Staten Island.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider The College of New Rochelle, Long Island University Brentwood, and Daemen.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Hostos Community College, The College of New Rochelle, York College, and Long Island University Rockland.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Long Island University-Riverhead, Long Island University Rockland, The Graduate Center, and Long Island University Westchester.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Columbia, NYU, Skidmore College, and Yeshiva University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of St Lawrence University, Siena College, Skidmore College, and SUNY Cobleskill.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Columbia, NYU, University of Rochester, and Binghamton University.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Columbia, Hunter College, Lehman College, and Brooklyn College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Yeshiva University, Skidmore College, St Lawrence University, and Rochester Institute of Technology.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Fordham University • New York, NY
Studying Social Work (Specialization In Children And Families) (completion in 2007)
• 8/27/2011
"It was important and useful. It seemed overpriced for some of the feedback and support I got."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It has a great reputation. Doing social work in New York is a great experience. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It is a well known school. When I mention it to people, they know it and speak highly of it. |
| Program Quality | 7 | There was a variety of professors. Some people got away without doing much work. |
| Instruction | 8 | Really knowledgeable teachers. Some were only part time, so were not as dedicated as I would have liked. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was easy for people to pass. I did not have to work hard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We processed the work we did. It was all applied to our jobs and goals. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I was able to go part time and finish in 2 years. They were willing to let me keep my job. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The professors were a great resource. I did not have to use the technology much, but the e-mail system and library services were excellent |
| Social Life | 6 | I did not spend much time there, so it is hard to judge. I was able to meet some people in classes. |
| Placement Services | 6 | It is good to mention I went there. It is not helpful on its own with finding me services or job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | They reach out to alumni, but they are not consistent with their follow through. |
New York University • New York, NY
Studying Clinical Social Work (completion in 2004)
• 9/19/2011
"I am very satisfied with my experience getting my MSW through NYU. I feel that I gained the skills and knowledge that I was looking for."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I got everything I wanted out of my NYU experience. I would absolutely recommend it to those looking for the same. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | NYU is a well-known school. It is also known to have a very good social work program. |
| Program Quality | 9 | NYU has an excellent social work program and has several satellite campuses for convenience. The classes and professors were great, and I gained a lot of skills and knowledge from this program. |
| Instruction | 9 | I had many different professors but they were all good teachers. Some were funny, some were serious, some were strict, some were kind... but I learned a great deal from all of them. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The coursework was somewhat, although not extremely difficult. The most difficult part was completing the daily work. There was a very large amount of reading to be done, and long papers to write. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program has a perfect balance of hands-on and book learning. There was a rigorous amount of book-learning for the courses, as well as hands-on learning at my internship (through NYU). | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I took my coursework at a satellite campus, so the class schedule was only somewhat flexible. However, if I had attended the main campus, I believe that I would have been able to be much more flexible in my class scheduling. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | As I attended a satellite campus, I was unable to avail myself of many of the main campus' resources. However, I was still able to easily access all of the media that I needed, and my professors always made themselves available outside of class hours. |
| Social Life | 5 | My social experience was average, but that was fine, as I was not really looking for a social experience. People were friendly and pleasant, though there was not much socializing outside of class (which again, was fine by me). |
| Placement Services | 5 | I have not utilized NYU's job placement and career services assistance. I am aware of their career services assistance, but I am unsure if they have a job placement service. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I get occasional mailings from the NYU alumni network. However, there is not much contact. I believe I could call them if I ever had any questions as an alumni. |
Columbia University • New York, NY
Studying CSW (completion in 2014)
• 9/22/2011
"I welcomed their practical hands-on experience and World-Class faculty. However, my experience was hampered by some in-class fighting. Also, they haven't been very helpful with job placement post-graduation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If someone wants to study social work, I would suggest considering their NYC school. The branch worked for me as I was getting an MDiv from Yale at the same time. But I think one would have a more thorough education if they went to NYC. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | |
| Program Quality | 3 | When I attended Columbia, it was undergoing a massive transition and disruption of leadership. Hence, more time was spent dealing with power struggles than actually teaching us what we needed to learn to succeed in the field. |
| Instruction | 7 | Columbia has a top flight faculty. They are among the best in their field with published credentials to prove it. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Columbia is an Ivy League school and has a rigorous program. Some of my fellow students did not possess the academic chops needed to do this work. At times that slowed down the classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | One of Columbia's benefits is their field education connections. They are able to provide top ranked field placements that put someone in a position to get hired upon graduation. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Columbia didn't really seem to think that they had an obligation to get us work. All of my leads I secured on my own. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | I was at the extension office in at SUNY-Purchase. Hence, I didn't really utilize their NYC facilities, which I understand were much better. |
| Social Life | 2 | This was a commuter school. So we went in, took our classes and went home. I would have liked an opportunity to better network with my colleagues. |
| Placement Services | A degree from Columbia will get your interviews. People respect this name. | |
| Alumni Network | 6 | Columbia School of Social Work has some networking events. The major advantage is the alumni center in NYC which is available to all alumni. |
Empire State College • Albany, NY
Studying Human Services (completion in 2003)
• 9/25/2011
"Empire State College allowed me to complete my Bachelor's Degree while being a single mother and working full-time. Without this opportunity, I would not have been able to complete my education and work in the field of my choosing."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My current field only requires a Bachelor's degree, and does not mandate what field that degree must be in. I have seen many caseworkers hired from different fields and struggle to complete the tasks necessary for this job or handle the stress level because their educational background did not prepare them. My degree in Human Services taught me proper interviewing skills for a variety of counseling needs, as well as ensuring I was able to self care and avoid burnout. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I know of other people who are currently earning their degree through Empire State. While it is not a traditional school, it does have a good reputation and a mix of programs and learning techniques available, such as traditional classroom setting, group work, online study or studying on your own. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I was able to schedule around my work and parental duties while earning my degree. My degree qualified me to work in the field I desired. |
| Instruction | 8 | Most of the work was completed on your own, without formal classroom instruction, which made the material more difficult. However, you were able to work around your own schedule to suit your needs and there were wonderful staff advisors available at all times. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The work itself was not difficult, especially considering it was in the field I was interested in. The sheer amount of material to cover was strenuous. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were a variety of classes offered in different settings to suit your individual needs. For some who are not as goal-oriented or self-motivated, traditional classrooms settings were available. For people like myself, who can self-motivate and stay on task, most of the work could be completed on your own and submitted via the internet for grading. Staff was always available for your needs and were accessible enough to meet for coffee on your lunch break from work to go over your most recent paper. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to work a full-time job, Monday through Friday and nine to five, while raising a two year old on my own and was still able to work the schedule to suit my needs. Without this ability, I would have been unable to complete my degree. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Empire State College is not a traditional college and has no fixed campus, they have multiple small offices throughout the state and rent space from more traditional colleges for some of their classes. Most of the work is completed and submitted on-line. Staff was always available to assist in any needs you had. |
| Social Life | 1 | Given this untraditional model of schooling, I had very limited interactions with other students. I only took one traditional class during the two years I worked with Empire State College. I also had a few small study groups. The main reason for this was that this school setting was designed to serve adults returning to complete their education. They focus on things the traditional teen/early 20's college student is not worried about. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not need assistance from my school in finding work. I was easily able to pass the civil service exam needed for my current field and was working within six months of graduation. Other students who did utilize this service appeared happy with the results they received. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I receive occasional mailings. Nothing more. I am not interested in devoting my time to alumni networking. |
Long Island University • Brookville, NY
Studying Social Work (completion in 2005)
• 10/1/2011
"I wish I went to a cheaper school. My student loans are very high and I feel like I would have received the same quality education. I feel like my prior school experience helped me land my position. Overall, I am happy to be a social worker. I know I make a difference in student's lives every day."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If you can afford the high tuition. The location was convenient, but the program was not exceptional. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | This is a very expensive school, though I do feel it prepared me for my position through my internships. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I brought my previous experience into school and have implemented action plans the school did not have in place before. I wish there was greater value set on leadership potentials within the school. |
| Instruction | 9 | The curriculum is relevant. Being able to practice techniques with classmates added a hands-on element. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Difficulty was average, it wasn't exceptional in any regard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was mixed. We had hands-on practicum experience, in class to practice with one another. We also got feedback from professors. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I took a class in the summer which helped me to finish the program in a reasonable time. There were no options for online classes which could have been a nice option for me since I have a child. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | My classes took place on a hybrid campus which did not have the benefits of a full campus. It had one part-time career counselor, and didn't have the warm campus feel. |
| Social Life | 1 | There was no social experience on our hybrid campus. Therefore, I did not participate in social activities. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I did not receive any job placement or intern placement options. I also did not receive any career services assistance. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | The only calls I get are for donations to the school. I have not participated in any alumni activities. |
Roberts Wesleyan • Rochester, NY
Studying MSW (completion in 2008)
• 10/3/2011
"I can not imagine another school being able to meet my needs like Roberts Wesleyan did. I believe my knowledge surpasses many in my field and I attribute this entirely to Roberts."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a well-rounded school. There is a terrific support network. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | In the Rochester area Roberts has an outstanding reputation for social work and their Master's program. When I mention the school everyone seems impressed. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The school supported me in every way I needed and provided stimulating classes. |
| Instruction | 8 | I always feel more knowledgeable than my co-workers. I attribute this to my education. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The course made me work hard and taught me a lot. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The internship was a big part of the program. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I had to work while I was going to school. The different schedule options were very accommodating. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | There was a variety of resources. All the resources were helpful and easy to access. |
| Social Life | 1 | The social aspect was completely up to me. Since I was an older working, single parent student, I did not stick around to socialize. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I am not really aware of the process. I had a job and part of my keeping the job meant that I needed a Master's degree. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I have never been contacted by an alumni network. I am not aware of any support. |
Columbia University • New York, NY
Studying (completion in 1997)
• 10/3/2011
"Overall I had a good education. Columbia provided me with a good foundation of social work and the name helped in landing interviews when I first graduated and needed experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The social work program at Columbia will provide a quality Ivy League education for anyone who wants to pursue social work as a career. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The university has a good reputation based on the name and prestige. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I am satisfied with my program of study. I chose the administration specialty program but wish I chosen clinical instead. |
| Instruction | 8 | For the most part I had good instructors, but some were better than others. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Some classes were not difficult at all as long as you studied and remained focus. Other research courses were more. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a good mix of hands-on and book learning because the program had a clinical internship component which required a lot of hands-on experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The social work program provided a lot of flexibility for students working full-time. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The social work program provided a lot of academic resources for students to be successful. There were a lot of students and professors who volunteered their time to help students out. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not participate in any extra-curricular activities. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not utilize career placement services. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I am not part of the alumni association, but I receive a lot of mail requesting that I donate money. |
Cornell University • Ithaca, NY
Studying Biological Sciences (completion in 2011)
• 10/21/2011
"I loved my overall experience at Cornell. I do, however, wish it wasn't so competitive and difficult to do well. I think in certain aspects, it actually destroyed my self-esteem and confidence in many subjects."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would highly recommend my school and my program only to those who are capable of self-disciplined, hard work and overcoming challenges. This school is definitely the easiest ivy to get into, but the hardest to get out of. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Biology is one of the most competitive majors at my school. It is also one of the most well-known programs in the US. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My school is extremely competitive since it is an ivy league institution. I believe that the educational quality could have been improved if professors at my college cared a bit more about teaching quality instead of pure research. In that aspect, I felt slighted as an undergraduate. |
| Instruction | 6 | I definitely think I learned a lot while attending Cornell University. However, the teaching material was extremely difficult and at times almost irrelevant since our professors were all world-famous leaders in their field, so they enjoyed challenging us with the newest research topics, and the most difficult problems. In this way, I almost felt like it hindered me because my basic foundation was not as solid as it could have been. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The academic environment at Cornell University was extremely cut-throat. It was normal for a midterm to have a mean of 50%. All means were curved to a B- (2.7 GPA). |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | While hands-on learning opportunities are abundant at my school, there often isn't much time to venture into that aspect of learning since we are often loaded with so much book-work to complete on a daily basis. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There are many classes to choose from at Cornell. There are also many time slots for almost every class--thus it is difficult to find desirable classes that fit one's schedule and needs. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I think the facilities and resources available to my program are extremely vast and well-endowed. The only drawback is that the professor are not as accessible since they are generally more swamped with research work. |
| Social Life | 10 | Greek life is extremely popular at my school. More than 30% of the student body is in a fraternity/sorority. Students are also extremely friendly at my school so I definitely enjoyed the social scene while I was there. |
| Placement Services | 8 | They have a center in every college dedicated to career placement. They are also available to serve you even after you graduate. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I believe graduating from Cornell gives me a mass resource to tap into since Cornell is one of the oldest universities in the US. There are also many world leaders in every field who are within my alumni network. |
State University At Buffalo • Buffalo, NY
Studying Social Work (completion in 2003)
• 12/9/2011
"I enjoyed attending the school and I learned a great deal. I would have liked more opportunities for hands on learning."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I feel it was a quality education and great foundation to move onto a master's program. Classes were easy to find. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | I think that it is a good program and well-known in the area. The Bachelor's program seems to be a popular pre-program for Master's students. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The teachers were knowledgeable and very helpful. There was a vast range of classes available to choose from that were interesting. |
| Instruction | 8 | I prefer hands on learning compared to lecture teaching. More emphasis on what is available in the community would have been helpful to learn about. The curriculum otherwise prepared me for the field. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I found it challenging when writing research papers for numerous classes, especially psychology. However, some other classes were fairly easy to get through. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I received more book learning than hands-on experience. The hands-on experience occurred mostly in the last semester with an internship. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I was able to take night, summer and day classes while at school. I am not sure about weekend options. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | There is one library that had all resources together. I do not remember a section dedicated to social work in particular. Professors always provide handouts with their availability and phone number. They offer alternative times if you could not meet during office hours. I did not go to study groups and was not sure if anyone participated for my program of study. |
| Social Life | 7 | I was aware of social events but did not participate in social experiences. I went to school and left since I was working as well as caring for a young child at the time. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I used the career services after graduation and found it helpful. I have not searched on there currently for positions but I was aware they had listings that were not available elsewhere. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I get mailings from the school every so often. I know the school offers career services to alumni if you reach out to them. |
Sarah Lawrence College • Bronxville, NY
Studying Child Development (completion in 2002)
• 12/4/2011
"I loved Sarah Lawrence College. I just don't belong on social work because the emotional demands of foster care are not suited to my personality."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would not recommend my school to anyone who anticipates living on a social worker's salary because Sarah Lawrence tuition is beyond expensive. Nor would I recommend the program for prospective social workers because I did not complete a social work degree. |
| Program Reputation | I really don't know. Sarah Lawrence College is well known for its writing faculty and progressive views. It is an extremely rigorous school, intellectually. I haven't a clue about how the Child Development program is viewed, though. | |
| Program Quality | 5 | I studied Child Development, not Social Work. Given that your HIT focuses on social workers, it's important to point out that my education was not meant to be utilized in the field. I don't think I can answer because I don't work in a clear "child development" capacity. |
| Instruction | 7 | Career preparation and relevance to the field of social work/foster care cannot be assessed fairly because the program was not designed to educate social workers. I learned a lot. When I graduated my reading, writing, and observational skills were sharp. Sadly, none of those skills have been valued in the field. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The more work my instructors gave me, the happier I was. I took on extra courses and two research assistantships just so I could be exposed to more theory and research. I loved the scholarship at Sarah Lawrence College. I wish I was still there. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There is no one-size-fits-all at Sarah Lawrence. If a student can present a well-researched, carefully reasoned justification for a specific learning modality, the school community will support that student's growth. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | We did not do weekend or evening classes. I wanted that kind of inflexibility so the structured class schedule was perfect for me. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Sarah Lawrence College faculty members are superb. They are not "experts" because they are part of a community of thinkers which form a body of collective knowledge and ideas. |
| Social Life | 10 | I met my life partner at Sarah Lawrence eleven years ago. We've been together happily every since. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I received some minor assistance from Career Counseling but I'm not sure. About a month before graduation my partner and I went to a library in South Jersey and spent the day reviewing want ads. That's how I found my job with the foster home program. Career services was not part of the picture. |
| Alumni Network | I don't know about the alumni network or support. When I was accepted for doctoral study, I submitted the news to our alumni magazine, but my news never made it to print. |
SUNY (State University Of New York) At Albany • Albany, NY
Studying MSW (completion in 2009)
• 1/12/2012
"My school provided an excellent education. Now that I am a licensed social worker in the field, I find I use the information provided often, and it was definitely "field based" education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UAlbany provides a quality MSW education and is ranked very highly compared to other schools. At the same time, it is extremely affordable - approximately 25 - 30% of the cost of a private college. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | UAlbany was ranked #11 in the US the year I attended. It is a public state university, competing with top private schools such as Berkeley and NYU, so this rating was impressive. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UAlbany was very student-focused and did an excellent job of advising students. They hired adjunct professors who worked in the field in various areas of expertise, which provided us with real-world learning, not just academic. |
| Instruction | 10 | The college had in-person, online and "blended" classes (a combination of in-person and online classes). They offered day and evening classes, a full-time program and a part-time program. Their flexibility was outstanding. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program was not as difficult as I expected, but the workload was challenging. I was a full-time student, worked an internship two days per week, and worked at my job three days a week, so I found it challenging in terms of workload. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We used all the textbooks that were assigned to each course, as well as handouts and journal articles. At the same time, many of our adjunct professors had expertise in the field and shared this with us in group discussions and role plays. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Online classes, in-person classes and blended classes combining the two, were all offered. Students could attend days, evenings, full-time, part-time, or "Advanced Practice" year-round (for BSW students pursuing the MSW.) The access to classes was extremely flexible and doable for working students and parents. |
| Academic Facilities | I rarely accessed the resources and facilities, but I do know that they were all available. | |
| Social Life | 10 | I loved it! I was in my fifties when I entered the program, and my cohort of young fellow students embraced me as though I were one of them. They invited me to parties, and they even elected me the student graduation speaker! |
| Placement Services | 3 | The school was good about passing on and posting requests for social workers if they received them, but there was no placement office that gave us advice. This is the one area I felt the program was not above average in. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The school makes an effort to engage alumni through newsletters and email. However, like most alumni associations, it does not have a significant membership or activity level. |
Adelphi University • Poughkeepsie, NY
Studying Substance Abuse (completion in 1995)
• 1/17/2012
"The school got the job done and after graduation the experience mattered more than what school you went to. They also provided a work reference when needed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | When getting into this field the most important thing is to have the degree. It is very convenient for local students and they do provide work experience through the internships. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | It was not challenging to get in and from what I understand, it still isn't. We have a local SUNY school that is much more competitive because it was cheaper. |
| Program Quality | 7 | It was a while ago and I had no real problems with the program. I felt ill prepared to deal with clients when I was out in the work force, but I'm not sure that is fault of the program. More practical experience would have been better for me. |
| Instruction | 8 | I enjoyed the professors that had considerable experience in the field. The professors that had the most experience with teaching and research I found less helpful. The internship was the most useful. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Not the most challenging. I was never worried I would fail. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I felt the learning was split. Like I mentioned before, I would have preferred more hands-on experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Because it was such a small program you had to take classes when they were offered. I gave this a 4 because the classes were in the evening. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Access was limited. The Poughkeepsie campus was made up of a building for classrooms and use of the library at Vassar College. The library was good, but all other resources were located on Long Island. |
| Social Life | 3 | All of the students were MSW students. It was good to experience this program with others, but there were no athletics, parties, or organized activities. Our local graduation was in a church basement. |
| Placement Services | 3 | The only assistance I remember getting was a billboard with jobs posted on it. Everyone was pretty much on their own. Some students were hired by their agency of internship. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I guess the alumni program is OK. It would be more useful if the alumni network was more specific to social workers and not the entire university, which is based on Long Island. |
Hofstra • Hempstead, NY
Studying Child Development (completion in 2011)
• 1/24/2012
"It was the best four years of my life. I want to go back for my masters."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The social life is great and they help you find a job after you graduate. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | The school is better known for other majors. Also, there isn't as much money in the program as is needed. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The teachers were great. They helped me find a job after college. |
| Instruction | 8 | I felt my coursework is almost exactly what I do now. The teachers helped me learn real from world situations. |
| How Difficult | 2 | I majored in this because my dad was a social worker. I think it was a little too easy to get the degree. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We learned much of our course material through observation. The program was very hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I took classes when I wanted. The classes fit around my internships and job. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | The school has more resources for other majors, although they have a lot of literature on the subject. |
| Social Life | 7 | I loved my time there. The social life was great and I made so many friends. |
| Placement Services | 8 | They found me a job after graduation. I also had a few internships throughout college. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I currently work for an alum. That is how I found the job. |
Villa Maria College • Buffalo, NY
Studying (completion in 2014)
• 2/23/2012
"Villa Maria has turned out to be an above-average school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend Villa Maria as a good low-cost school with a small classroom environment. |
| Program Reputation | 2 | Many people think a liberal arts degree is useless. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The liberal Arts program at Villa Maria is quite good. |
| Instruction | 5 | The school needs more resources for students to find careers. |
| How Difficult | 3 | My program is overall pretty easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It depends on the class. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Very good flexibly. I am able to be full time and still work. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Very little resources and small buildings. |
| Social Life | 2 | I am not a very social person. |
| Placement Services | 2 | I only have used the service once and found it barely helpful. |
| Alumni Network | I am not an alumni yet. |
University At Buffalo • Amherst, NY
Studying Social Work (completion in 2004)
• 3/5/2012
"I felt that I had a great experience at UB. I made lifelong friends and gained a toolbox of knowledge and experience that is really the backbone of my career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I enjoyed my time at UB and felt that they gave me a priceless education. I learned so much about myself and how to be a great social worker. It is a great place for anyone who wishes to enter the field of social work. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The social work program at UB is really one of the only ones in the area, and as such, most of the social workers I know attended UB. However, their reputation is fantastic, and the professors are outstanding. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My program provided a wealth of knowledge and learning experiences, including 2 field placements. |
| Instruction | 8 | My professors were extremely helpful and dedicated. They were engaged in helping us learn and become more self-aware. We were provided many tools and given lots of practice on techniques that we would need in our careers. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The workload was challenging academically. There was a lot to learn, including theories, DSM criteria, statistics, assessment and treatment planning, etc. However, the challenging aspect was around really learning how to relate to others, how to get past personal biases, how to stay self-aware and how to always challenge yourself. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would say the program is more hands on than book learning, but there is a mix. So much of the program focuses on practicing techniques and learning in a field setting; however, there is a lot to learn academically as well. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | As a full-time student, I didn't require much flexibility, but they do offer a part-time program. There are many students who are parents and work full-time, and the school provides evening classes and some online courses as well. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Although UB is a large school, the majority of social work classes and staff offices were located in one building, which made for a close-knit social work community. Our professors were frequently available and easy to contact, and anything we needed was pretty much there for us. |
| Social Life | 5 | As a graduate student, I really wasn't much involved in a social aspect of school at that point. I had more social experiences as an undergrad at another school. However, I did feel very socially connected to my peers and am still close friends with many of them today, as the program encouraged us to aide our peers in bettering themselves. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Although I didn't receive a ton of help to find a job, it was available to me. Also, because they place us in 2 field settings, many of my friends easily obtained jobs where they interned. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The alumni network is great. They are always sending emails, updating their Facebook and keeping in touch through events and programs. |
Hunter College School Of Social Work • New York, NY
Studying Casework (completion in 2008)
• 3/13/2012
"Given the above comments, I am very satisfied with my school and learning. I feel that I was well prepared for the LMSW exam as well as knowing what to expect at a full time job."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, I recommend this school - they will work with you once accepted to reach your goals, as long as you give effort and are dedicated. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The current rating and reputation of school is very good. We are listed highly on the US World and news report. However, the focus of this school was on community organizing and group work, not so much on individual casework. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I am very satisfied with my educational program. First off, Hunter is an outstanding school ranked highly in the nation. Second, the field instruction was outstanding, with excellent support and supervision. |
| Instruction | 8 | I feel that as far as clinical counseling goes, my school could have done a better job, but it's focus is not on clinical social work. |
| How Difficult | 8 | As a master's level program, the challenge was there. The work load was not impossible, but many hard and long hours were needed, especially during field placement hours. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Classes were a good mix of both hands on and book learning. We used campus pack booklets which were professor selected articles and other recommended readings. Emphasis was placed on technology by using powerpoint and SPSS. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There were not many course offerings on the weekends, however, the year I graduated I noted some changes. However, I will give it a rating of 5 because they offered me some online classes which I took advantage of. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I will state that resources and facilities were very good. The library needs some updating. The availability of the writing lab was good as I used it a few times. Academic advisors were available to meet at least once a week to check up on us, and professors were very available. |
| Social Life | 7 | I joined several student associations. We were able to run our own programs 1x a month instead of classes to promote extracurricular activities, associations, and fundraisers. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I rate this a 10 as I found employment within 3 months of graduation. The school offered me resume preparation and licensing study exam preparation. |
| Alumni Network | I did not yet have a chance to visit the new SW building and staff upon graduation. however, I will say that I received some information about our alumni network. |
SUNY Buffalo State College • Buffalo, NY
Studying Social Work (completion in 2011)
• 3/27/2012
"I am extremely satisfied to be a graduate of Buffalo State. The quality of the education compared to private schools made this school stand out."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Most definitely. The school is the least expensive in the area. The quality of the instructors is unsurpassed. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The program is highly sought after. The department chair goes above and beyond to help the students. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The school tuition is the cheapest in the area. The school has a great social work department and staff. |
| Instruction | 10 | The staff is very helpful. The curriculum is current and resourceful. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The courses can be challenging due to the laws in New York. The challenges can bring great rewards. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Due to the nature of this field, learning has to be very book. For instance, students need to understand the laws and regulations surrounding this field. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Due to budget cutbacks, the flexibility has diminished. Upper-level courses are hard to get into. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The classroom sizes are comfortable. The library being open 24 hours is very beneficial. |
| Social Life | 10 | There was always something happening on campus. Just this last year, the college had its first flash mob. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The ORCA website is very useful, providing not only internships, but available jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | There is a website database called ORCA. This website links alumni and available jobs. |
State University At New Paltz • New Paltz, NY
Studying Psychology (completion in 2006)
• 4/8/2012
"It was very difficult to do business with this school. Their administrative services regarding billing, ID, schedules, etc. were all run by inept personnel."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend because it is the closest University to my town. It did the job. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | This school has a good reputation in New York State for Psychology. I have no knowledge of any negative criticism. |
| Program Quality | 7 | New Paltz offered a wide variety of class options for a major in Psychology. They also included some that could be completed online. |
| Instruction | 5 | The instructors were provocative and knowledgeable. I was given a typical education that did not exceed any expectations nor did it lack. |
| How Difficult | 7 | While working full time I found it difficult and stressful to complete the workload. Some of the expectations were unrealistic for working students. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the learning was book learning. However, the hands on learning that we did do had lots of impact. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | This school did offer flexible class options. I utilized evening and online options. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The facilities were typical of what I expected from State University. The were acceptable and useful. |
| Social Life | 2 | I did not interact much with others. I was not given much information about organized events. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I didn't even get a list of possible jobs to looks for with a Psychology Degree when I graduated. I'm not sure if the school had a job placement program. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't pay any attention to alumni information or requests. I rate it average because I do receive some literature and/or emails from the alumni association. |
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