Essay on Master of Social Work
Purpose:
Your personal statement must be five to seven pages, typed and use a question and answer format (type the full text of the question followed by your corresponding answer).
• Five to seven pages, typed and using a question and answer format (i.e., type the full text of the
question followed by your corresponding answer)
• Double-spaced, 12-point type, Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins
• Include your full name and the page number at the top of each page (e.g. Matty Matador 1).
Personal Statement Content:
Each applicant is required to complete a personal statement which will be used
for the purpose of evaluating your application to the MSW program. This statement is an opportunity for you to
describe your interest in social work and to demonstrate how your academic, personal, and professional
experiences have contributed to your choice to enter an MSW program. Please answer ALL six of the following
questions:
1. What brings you to the field of social work?
2. What barriers or challenges do you anticipate in working with diverse populations?
3. What do you envision a social worker’s role in addressing a social justice-related problem that concerns
you?
4. What professional and/or personal experiences have you had in dealing with:
a. forms of oppression (such as ageism, homophobia, racism, sexism)?
b. your own biases?
c. your own privilege(s)?
5. What interests you about the CSUN MSW social work program’s urban community focus?
6. Given your education and life experiences, what is it that you hope to unlearn in this program.
NOTE: Please include any additional information you would like to bring to the attention of the MSW Admissions
Committee.
1. What brings you to the field of social work?
Ever since I attained socio-political consciousness, it has been my motivation to undertake meaningful contributions to the attainment of social justice. I understand that social justice is about the humanization of productive forces of the economy, the equalization of economic and political opportunities, and the reduction of all forms of inequalities by diffusing access to resources, but I am uncertain as to the concrete measures that should be undertaken to realize the aims of social justice. I desire a society in which no person will worry about her next meal or whether he will be able to pay for his medical care. These are some of my motivations for pursuing further studies in social work and hopefully becoming a professional social worker in the future.
Moreover, it is my considered view that social work plays a very important function in ensuring that the institutional means of realizing personal and cultural goals are accessible, regardless of the race, age, gender, economic status, and nationality of the person. I think that every person desires to improve their life situations, and inequality arises when access to the needed resources and means to facilitate upward social mobility is limited to the wealthy few. Social work empowers people by ensuring that they can effectively access resources and opportunities.
