Happy start of the school year! Perusing social media, I came across a NASW blog article called “Guide for the First Year Social Work Student”. This post provided lots of great information tailored for new undergraduate students interested in studying social work.

I wanted to take that NASW post a bit farther and compile a list of tips specific to graduate students pursuing a masters in social work (MSW). In my opinion, graduate school is a completely different experience from undergraduate, so my hope is that these tips will serve to be beneficial.

Tips for New Social Work Graduate (MSW) Students

-Don’t worry about grades so much

When I was in graduate school, one of my professors told a story about a straight A student who committed suicide several years after graduation. His point was that given the people we need to work with, we social workers need to focus less on being perfectionists (as demonstrated by obsessing over grades and test scores) and work on being empathetic and competent practitioners. Indeed, some of the WORST social workers I have worked with were those who claimed on their resumes to have graduated with honors or perfect grades. 

Unless your intention is to get a PhD or DSW, you do not need to get straight As. Grading in graduate school is easier, and that is due to the assumption that most graduate students are mature enough to take responsibility for their learning. Don’t focus on “what’s on the midterm” and instead pour your energy into learning and becoming the best practitioner possible. I guarantee that you will still pass your classes and end up a better social worker as a result.

-Network with your classmates

This is not law school or medical school. Your classmates are not your competition (see above in Don’t worry about grades so much). Unlike other fields of study, social work is extremely collaborative which is reflected by curriculum, which will be discussed below in Prepare for many group projects.

Social work is a small world. Many of your classmates will end up your future coworkers. Some of them may even end up your managers someday. Network with and befriend your classmates and internship colleagues. You’ll have textbook swap and study buddies, friends to unwind with on Fridays, and people who will tell you about job openings someday.

-Prepare for many group projects

I can guarantee that you will have a group project in each of your classes. This makes sense because social work is a collaborative field, and we will spend our careers working with fellow social workers and other disciplines. While many groan at the idea of group projects (I know I do), this is a perfect opportunity to practice collaboration and potentially conflict resolution skills. Who knows, you might make some friends! I have fond memories of late nights with classmates eating snacks and celebrating after completing a project.

-Go to office hours

I found many of my graduate school professors extremely approachable and understanding, which makes sense because most of them are social workers. If you’re having trouble grasping certain concepts or simply want to chat about issues pertaining to social work, then go to office hours. This is a great way to get extra help and develop a working relationship with a professor. They might even give you useful career advice or a letter of recommendation for that PhD.

-Invest in some good work clothes

None of my jobs in undergrad required formal attire. Going into grad school, I basically owned two pairs of ill-fitting slacks and a blazer. In fact, I recall meeting with my internship coordinator wearing a floral skirt and a tank top - hardly business attire. Afterwards, I spent the first weekend of graduate school shopping for new work clothes. 

In my opinion, a few pairs of slacks, a blazer or two, blouses, and a pair of COMFY shoes (especially if you have a hospital internship) should suffice for graduate school internships. Given that you’ll be spending 8+ hours in these clothes, I recommend something that’s comfortable and of decent quality. While my wallet was screaming after buying all these clothes, I continued using them for post-MSW job interviews and jobs. 

-Read up on current events

Social work and current events go hand in hand. In many of your classes - especially policy - you’ll have class discussions on current events and how they relate to the material you’re studying. Read the news and familiarize yourself on various news sources across the political spectrum (even if you don’t agree with what they say). It's good to learn about various political arguments and why people have them, as at some point you'll likely end up working with and coexisting with colleagues and patients with viewpoints contrary to your own.

Furthermore, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of paying attention during social policy class, specifically the part when you study the NASW Code of Ethics. Too many social workers ignore or forget their Code of Ethics, causing them issues later in their careers. Our Code of Ethics is like the physician’s Hippocratic Oath. Learn it and ingrain it in your mind.

-Speak up in class

I'm not only saying this because many social work schools grade you on class participation. This is good practice for speaking up against superiors to advocate for your patients (and yourselves). As someone who spent undergrad hiding behind my laptop, I made it a personal goal to speak up at least once per class meeting.

-Get familiar with your school library

While I never used my school’s library to study, I went there frequently to check out textbooks. This saved me hundreds of dollars in book costs. Familiarize yourself with library services such as interlibrary loan (my favorite), course reserves, and academic journal access. It could save you a lot of time and money.

-Find a favorite place to study

As I’ve previously, I never studied in the library, as it was too quiet for my tastes. In graduate school, my favorite place to study was a cafe next to a light rail station. While many people did not like the noise, distraction from the train, and smell of coffee, I always seemed to get the most work done there. Every person is different and thrives under varying environments. Experiment by studying at different places and find one that works!

-Don’t forget self-care

Graduate school is busy and exhausting on its own. Many of us have to balance work and family responsibilities on top of that. Make sure to take a little bit of time each day for yourself, even if this means going for a walk or taking a long bath. One of my favorite things to do was get happy hour appetizers and unwind with my classmates after class. Developing those self-care skills now will help combat burnout and increase longevity in this stressful field.

Do you have any other tips for new social work graduate students? Please comment below!

To all the new social work graduate students out there, congratulations again on starting your MSW and joining this noble helping profession. Best of luck this year!