(no subject)
Well, I have been denied by the UW School of Social Work master's program I applied for. Bummer. Truly disappointed. It is funny, I hang on to this rather naive belief that if you want something really bad and try really hard, it will happen. I believed this for a long time, that all I needed to do was figure out what I wanted and focus my energy in that direction and it would transpire. I have seen it happen before. So when I finally decided to apply to this program and become a social worker, I was pretty confident that I would get in. I am a stellar student. I have overcome just the kind of obstacles they are looking for. I will be a great social worker. But, apparently, it wasn't enough. I think my main weakness was my lack of work experience in a social work field. Not that my essay was great, but I think the fact that I had only been in my current social work job for two weeks hurt my application. But maybe it was also the fact that once I started said job, I immediately began to doubt my desire/need to do this graduate program. First, it was the hesitation that I could actually hack social work. Then, once I began to love my job, it was that I realized how many social work positions can be obtained through three years of experience OR a MA. So, I began to question the necessity of spending $20,000 to learn some cool skills in the same amount of time that I could be working my way up to making essentially the same salary (which is meager either way). Not that I genuinely believe that after my application was turned in these thoughts and doubts transferred to the Decision Makers and my lack of commitment caused them to deny me. But I am confident that for whatever reason, I am simply not supposed to go to grad school this fall. Will I apply to the program again next year? I don't know. I would certainly have a much better chance, what with the dedication that would show and the extra year of work experience I would have. Could I handle another blow to my pride? Hmmmmmm...not too excited about that prospect. Will I apply to a different subject, maybe public health or teaching? Maybe. Will I trudge along in social work jobs until I find my perfect niche? Maybe. I am not sure. For the present, I am looking for another PT job in addition to my current one. And if I find FT jobs that pay better and seem enjoyable along the way, I will apply. We'll see where this all takes me.