Personal Statement for Graduate School Course: Social Work (Masters)

Things to Consider,
1.Reason for applying

2.Experiences that support your application (Worked in the health field for 8 years) 3.The kind of person you are like your interest eg hobbies, sports, musical interest etc.

Your personal statement should address and answer the following questions:

  1. How has your personal background and experience influenced your decision and preparation to become a social worker? If you have faced adversity and/or challenges in your life (e.g. trauma, addiction, immigration/acculturation experiences, mental illness, etc.) please explain how you have overcome these challenges and are now prepared for graduate studies. (
  2. How has your professional background and experience influenced your decision and preparation to become a social worker? More specifically, what have been your experiences with and/or thoughts about working with diverse populations to promote social justice? Examples of diversity may include, but are not limited to, people of different abilities, sexualities, races, countries of origin, genders, and/or socio-economic status
  3. Describe some of the harms and/or opportunities you have experienced because of your identities, as an individual and as a member of communities and groups. Examples may include, but are not limited to, experiences of privilege and oppression based on race, class, gender, sexuality, ability and/or country of origin.(Race-Black).
  4. What are your professional goals? In light of those goals, discuss what your contributions will be to society or the profession, especially in terms of our program’s mission emphasizing culturally competent (culturally sensitive) practice with Latinx, other minority groups, and those communities, groups, families, and individuals who are disenfranchised, oppressed, and/or marginalized?
  5. What are the strengths that you will bring to the program? Also identify areas of growth that will enable you to become an effective social worker. Examples of strengths include, but are not limited to, communication skills, leadership abilities, personal characteristics, unique experiences, etc. Areas of challenges as a person of color raised by a single parent but nothing to do with addiction, mental illness, trauma or anything of that sort).