Social Work Personal Statement Examples – With Writing Guide 2023
Even though it feels interesting to say it, your social work personal statement is one of the key parts of your application.
You intend to write it carefully, don’t you?
That’s where we come in to help.
You can learn everything there is to know about a social work personal statement from this blog.
In this article, we’ll discuss:
- What should be mentioned
- What and how to write
- Things to include and leave out
- Examples for inspiration
What is Social Work Personal Statement? Why Do You Need One?
It is a personalised statement wherein you address your background, previous activities, educational and professional plans, and whatever else is important for applying to a social work program.
- To interact with the admissions committee
- To state your aspirations and objectives.
- To get to know you and your abilities personally.
- To make a good impression.
- To help accelerate the selection phase.
What is a Personal Statement Prompt? Where Can You Find Them?
An essay that addresses a question that emphasizes an issue or topic is known as a personal statement prompt.
When Do You Need One?
- Whenever you submit a bachelor’s or graduate-level programme application.
- Every university has a different deadline.
- A personal statement is necessary if you want to enrol in a social work programme overseas.
- Write one after reviewing the conditions.
- You will submit this together with other documents.
Why Do Universities Ask for a Personal Statement?
Your social work personal statement is the best strategy an admissions committee could have to get to know you before you actually meet them.
Things that universities look at in your MSW personal statement are:
- The factors that led you to select this course.
- Your past and education.
- The hardships and difficulties you have encountered.
- Previous experiences.
- Reasons why you are a strong candidate for the programme.
How Long Should a Social Work Personal Statement Be?
The length of your MSW personal statement depends on your university.
Each university has different requirements to write it.
Word count –
500- 1000 wordsCharacter limit –
<5000No.of pages –
1-2 pagesMargin –
standard marginFont size –
12 pointFont style –
Times New Roman, ArielHow to Select The Perfect Sample? What Should be Considered?
When you are confused about your writing, what should you do?
Read a sample.
Right?
But what should you consider while selecting a sample for your social work personal statement?
Reliability
Your sample personal statement for social work should be credible.
Genuine and honest information should be included in the personal statement.
Structure
A standard structure and format should be used for the sample.
Depending on the contents, it should be broken up into numerous paragraphs.
Tone of writing
Writing should be in a positive tone.
The active voice should be used.
No negative attitudes or feelings should be expressed in the writing.
Content
The personal statement should serve its purpose through its content.
Your personal statement needs to address all key information.
Read more here:
Example 1 – MSW Personal Statement
In Kerala, talking to a transgender person will make people look at you as though you did something wrong. Those eyes are filled with contempt and wrath for such people. However, conversing with them can help you become more calm and quiet. Knowing that they promote the perception that they are a lady or man makes you wiser and stop, as you’ll learn how they are regarded in society. The online discussion that a college in Kerala held with one of its most well-known transgender residents serves as a perfect case. More than 1500 people attended that workshop, which was a big success. This led to its submission to the college’s YouTube channel. Later, reality stung me even more. The video was taken down by Christian College management because it didn’t follow their purported rules and regulations. It was once more shown that there are still people who reject them.
Of course, there was nothing we could do. The “gender” of the person ultimately decided the outcome, despite the programme receiving widespread praise. When I went to a temple in my hometown, a transgender woman was selling flowers in front of the temple. People were in awe as she circled the shrine carrying bouquets of flowers. They gave her a contemptuous expression as they examined her from head to toe. But what stuck in my memory was how honest she was in expressing who she wanted to be. I considered that great and remarkable, despite the fact that people opposed and avoided them. Since I don’t know, I cannot say with certainty. I’ve been getting older, and it’s only gotten harder.
I started to actively consider them while I finished my undergrad in social work. I wondered what I could do to make their lives better and boost their respect. Despite the fact that the modern age has undergone significant change, much work remains. I looked for a place that supported the LGBTQ community when I wanted to complete an internship for my degree. However, I couldn’t find one. I made the decision to act myself at that point. I can do that by working toward a master’s degree in social work with a focus on gender and sex and an LGBTQ specialisation. My dream is to build them a home.
For better outcomes, I must shape myself if I want to seek a master’s degree. Through online platforms, I have completed a number of gender and sex certification courses. It aided in my general understanding of society’s evolution and current state. I participated extensively in extracurricular activities in addition to my studies. I was a helper in a nursing home close to my house on weekends. It made me realise how my interactions with them could impact the end result as a whole. So I keep putting effort into honing my communication skills. A social worker needs to have empathy and compassion toward other people. I feel that I possess the qualities necessary to succeed in your master’s programme based on the many experiences I have had. They are viewed as unlucky by some individuals and as fortunate by others. Regardless of luck, they are still simply human. They are free and entitled to exercise their rights. I wish to reaffirm that notion through this course. If we don’t act in ways that indicate our superior intelligence to animals, what makes us human in the first place?
| Anesthesiology | Emergency Medicine | Neurology | Radiology |
| Dental School | Family Medicine | Internal Medicine | Urology |
| Dermatology | General Surgery | Psychiatry | Pediatrics |
| Ophthalmology | Medical School | Nursing Job | Pathology |
Masters of Social Work Personal Statement Sample
Life has taught me to trust in myself even in the face of adversity. That’s how I’ve always been, too. I don’t have any lovely family photos of my early years when I think back on them; instead, I keep having visions of social workers and walking through courtrooms. My father tried to halt my mother’s drug and alcohol abuse, but he failed. Divorce was the final result. She fought for the custody of my sister and me even while she was having trouble. My father, however, could not consent to it. It ultimately resulted in my siblings and I living in nursing homes with social workers. Even when I was a little child, at the age of six, I had so many issues compared to other kids. It took tremendous strength to confront and defeat them. But it strengthened and enlightened me anyway.
I learned how social workers can be of huge assistance to kids like me through the many social services and court actions that I experienced as a child. I was able to grow more sensitive and empathic toward other people as a result. My personal problems inspired me to be a social worker. I wanted to use my personal experiences to aid anyone who was going through a similar situation.
At XYZ College (name of institution), I’m presently enrolled in my final year of BSW study. I looked into the many elements of social work and how much it connects those with serious concerns, difficulties, and struggles. I interned part-time at a nursing home after finishing my intermediate studies. At this time, I am volunteering at a facility for children with disabilities. It has presented me with the chance to learn about an array of different service disciplines and has also offered me a glimpse of each of the disciplines that a social care programme would include. Working in various fields has given me more insight into how to treat each person I interact with respect and trust. Since I am an impartial person, I am mindful that each person has a particular set of concerns.
I discovered that social work requires sincerity, the aptitude for problem-solving, determination, and a great deal of patience and dedication. I was an NCC member and have gone to numerous camps, which introduced me to more people and places. The discipline and time management skills were a result of these activities. By organising departmental and college festivals, I improved my communication and organisational skills to a great extent.
All of these traits, which I developed through my personal and professional experience, make me a strong candidate for this degree. I want to pursue a career in social work due to my desire to help people achieve their own potential and become the best versions of themselves through utilising my skills and experience. In addition to giving people the tools they need to accomplish it themselves, I want to support them with problem-solving. By working in social services, I will be capable of dedicating my resources and time to helping people achieve their highest level of potential. I would consider working as a social worker to be my calling, not just a job.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Writing a Social Work Personal Statement
These are the steps to keep in mind if you want to understand how to draft a social work personal statement:
Write an introduction
A query, fact, or some interesting information are good ways to grab the reader’s attention when you start writing an introduction.
State your goals and expertise
Give details of any professional or volunteer experiences you have that are important to the field.
Describe the goals you hope to achieve in your social work career.
Establish your values
Define the driving factors that influence your actions and motivate you to seek a career in social work.
To explain those values, you can use examples.
Conclusion
In your concluding paragraph, reaffirm your worthiness for the course and also how you can advance the domain of social work if given a chance.
Proofread
Once you’ve finished, read your personal statement three or more times to check for any mistakes or inaccuracies.
For written work, proofreading is an important step.
Submit
It’s time to submit this document for application, along with other documents, once you’ve completed adequate editing and proofreading.
How to Arrange Social Work Personal Statement
Introduction
Main Body
Conclusion
Introduction
Make sure you create a positive impression while writing the introductory paragraph of your social work personal statement.
“It was my desire to have a positive influence on people’s lives that motivated me to pursue social work as a career. Concern for the welfare of those I interact with has always been a source of great enthusiasm for me. I believe that studying social work would help me put this desire into practice.”
Describe your identity
Give the reader all the details they need to know about you in a quick description of who you are and what you are doing.
What motivated you to enrol in this programme?
Provide a passionate and ardent explanation of why you wish to enrol in a social work programme.
Main Body
The main body of your essay should be captivating.
Give a detailed account of your background, experiences, and goals.
Do you have any volunteer or professional social work experience?
Positively describe your experiences and what you have gained from them.
What are your goals for your career?
Give an outline of your plans after the course.
What are your areas of strength?
Describe the strengths you possess that make you the ideal candidate for the social work programme.
Conclusion
The key points of your social work personal statement should be summed up here.
- Your short-term and long-term objectives
- Explain briefly why you’re the best applicant.
- Thank the admissions committee for the chance.
What Do You Write in a Personal Statement for Social Work?
Don’t worry if you’re unsure what to put in your social work personal statement.
Your personal statement for social work should include the following:
Goals as related to social work
Describe your objectives for the social work sector and how you intend to achieve them.
Experiences you have
Talk about any prior work experiences or voluntary activities you may have undertaken.
Your suitability for the course
Describe why you are a good fit for this course. For instance, it may result from interest or prior work experiences.
Your abilities and qualities
Describe your abilities and skills.
In particular, the critical social work skills like communication, multitasking, etc.
To support your claims, provide instances.
Give appropriate instances to support
Add relevant examples to support your statement.
What Should You Avoid in a Personal Statement?
While writing your social work personal statement, try to avoid these things:
Too many personal details
Personal accomplishments unrelated to your academic and career ambitions shouldn’t be mentioned in your personal statement.
False information
Avoid lying or exaggerating in your personal statement as they could find out later.
Complaining about the past
Stay away from whining about difficult circumstances or previous educational experiences.
Avoid repetition
The facts related to the application shouldn’t be included in your personal statement.
This will prevent the repetition of replies on official forms.
Irrelevant details
Since your personal statement is a chance to express your career and academic aspirations, avoid irrelevant information in it.
The Top Universities for Social Work Programmes for You to Attend
University of Michigan
Courses offered: Master’s Degree, Ph.D.
The University of Texas
Courses available: bachelor’s and master’s
University of Toronto
Courses offered: master’s and doctoral
Columbia University
Courses given: Master’s degree, Ph.D.
University of Washington
Degree available: Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, Ph.D.
End
Your social work personal statement will undoubtedly stand out from the rest if you stick to the suggestions and tips given above.
Positive impressions are made by applicants with strong personal statements. You can do it!
Please let us know in the comments if you find our blog useful.
All the best!
FAQ
Can you reuse your own personal statement?
You can use it. For each course and university, however, you must carefully review the guidelines and requirements for the personal statement.
Should you say thank you at the end of a personal statement?
It is not necessary to add a thank-you note. But if you want to add it, you can add it.
How do you sound passionate in a personal statement?
Following an expression of interest with instances of experience and work is the finest way to convey your passion.
Should I brag in my personal statement?
You can brag about yourself in the personal statement, but don’t exaggerate it.
Can you talk about mental health in a personal statement?
In your personal statement, you can mention any personal struggles that have affected your choice of qualifications. If not, don’t.
