MSW Admissions

Application Deadlines

  • The priority deadline for the Advanced Standing program is February 1st.
  • The priority deadline for Fall MSW applications is March 1st.  There is no admission to the matriculated MSW Program for the spring semester.

       To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by the dates above.  Applications received after these dates may not receive full consideration.

Application Requirements

A GRE (Graduate Record Examination) test score is NOT required for application.

In order to be considered for admission, applicants to the Graduate School of Social Work must have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited undergraduate institution. The minimum grade point average is a 3.0/4.0 and applicants who do not have this minimum GPA should address this in their Personal Statement. Applicants must have a broad liberal arts academic background. Social work experience is not required but is advantageous.

An introductory undergraduate course in statistics that covers descriptive and basic inferential statistical procedures with a grade of C or better is a prerequisite for the advanced part of the program but is NOT a requirement for admissions. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will be admitted on a conditional basis and may not move to the advanced part of the program until this prerequisite is satisfied. Once admitted into the program, students may sit for an examination to place out of this prerequisite.

Admission Procedure

To apply for the MSW program please visit http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu.  All MSW applications are submitted online. You may monitor your application status online. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all materials are submitted to the graduate admissions office by the application deadline.

The admissions process for the School of Social Work is facilitated through the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions and the Office of Student Services at the School of Social Work in New Brunswick. This means that all application materials should be sent to Graduate Admissions Office in New Brunswick even if you are applying to take classes at our Newark or Camden campuses.

MAIL ALL ADMISSION SUPPORTING MATERIALS TO:
(including materials for applications to the Newark and Camden programs within the School of Social Work)

The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
18 Bishop Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8530
Phone: (732)932-7711

Applications are considered complete and will be reviewed only when ALL of the following materials have been received:

Graduate School application - Applications are available and should be completed online through Graduate Admissions.
A non-refundable $65 application fee - Instructions for paying this fee are on the Graduate Admissions website.

Three Current, Professional Letters of Recommendation
A form for recommendation letters is provided on the Graduate Admissions website (under supporting materials) and although we encourage you to use this form, it is not required. Letters of recommendation should be current and come from individuals who are familiar with your academic and/or professional experiences and abilities. If you are a recent graduate or are currently enrolled in school, we recommend that you seek letters from faculty members. If this is not possible or you have been out of school for more than a short time, consider asking individuals who are able to address your current work, abilities and your potential to succeed in graduate school and in the field of social work.

The most valuable letters come from those individuals who you have worked or volunteered with in some capacity. We are looking for specific information regarding your academic and intellectual abilities, work performance and potential. Letters from friends, family, or professionals that you know on an exclusively social basis are not encouraged.

Letters of recommendation may be submitted after the application is submitted. Letters may be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office or they may be sent to you to forward on to the University. We request that the envelope seal be signed by the recommendation letter writer to ensure confidentiality. Note that the forms provided do have a box for you to check if you waive your rights to access these letters. (Please see the recommendation form). Unless expressly indicated otherwise, applicants have waived their right to access their recommendation letters.

Official Transcripts
Applicants must submit one copy of their official transcripts, from all post-secondary institutions that they have attended, directly to the Graduate Admissions Office. Please send transcripts for any colleges attended or non-matriculated courses you have taken in addition to your bachelor's degree transcripts. If an applicant is finishing undergraduate course work during the application process then they should send a current transcript. However, an admission decision will be made conditionally, until the receipt of final transcript. Once coursework is completed, an applicant must send another official transcript from the school that includes the final grades and degree conferred. If you have attended and/or graduated from Rutgers University, you must ask for your transcripts to be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office. Although it may seem burdensome to ask the Rutgers Office of the Registrar to send your transcripts to another department at Rutgers, this is necessary to ensure confidentiality of your transcripts. Likewise, if you have taken any Professional Credit Courses through the Continuing Education Department, you must also specifically request transcripts to be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office. Please do not assume that we have access to these records.

Personal Statement
The personal statement is a critical part of your admission application because it gives us the opportunity to review your writing skills and provides us with a great deal of information about you, your experiences and goals. We do not offer individual meetings or interviews and often the personal statement will determine your success in the application process. You may submit the personal statement online when you complete your application or you may mail this personal statement separately to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Questions for Personal Statement
Respond to the following questions in a three to five page typed narrative; add any additional information that may be helpful to the admissions committee.
  • What are your reasons for applying to the Rutgers School of Social Work?
  • Discuss your personal values, philosophy, knowledge of social issues, and the professional and community experiences that have influenced your decision to enter the professions.
  • Comment on your skills, strengths and weaknesses.
  • Describe your reasons for choosing a particular focus in the field of social work.
  • Discuss your plans for a career in social work
Make sure that the personal statement is well written in your own words. There is no particular format required except that the statement is typed.

TOEFL Scores
TOEFL scores are required for international students who received their undergraduate degree at a school where English was not the primary language. Additional information is listed under International Applicants.

Resume
Although a resume is NOT required, you are highly encouraged to include a current resume with your application materials.