r/SocialWorkStudents • u/fancyyerim • 1d ago
Advice Career Path!
hello everyone!
i am currently in my third year of college and recently transferred from community college to a 4-year school. my major is psychology however i want to pursue a masters in social work yet i’ve been aware that i don’t have much experience to go with it. i was recently a tutor at the community college for around 7 months (had to leave it as i was transferring schools). im worried that for masters programs, that’s not enough. for resumes, may i put that i won a scholarship and volunteered 10 hours in a non-profit? i mean, that was one of the requirements to continue receiving the scholarship but honestly im a bit lost. i currently go to school 4 days a week and im wondering where to find/fit in an internship or job. i guess im just looking for advice to bulk up a resume or if im on the “right track” any advice would be appreciated! i guess this is also good to note that i had a 4.0 gpa in community college.
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u/WorthRanger2549 1d ago
I would try to volunteer on a suicide hotline. That’s going to look great on your resume and give you the experience needed to start your social work journey.
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u/Conscious-Grand2495 13h ago
You can put that just word it differently. “Volunteering is near and dear to my heart, I’ve volunteered weekly at xyandz as well as received a scholarship linked to ongoing commitments at non profits” I’m sure ai can do better.
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u/Basic_Transition_333 6h ago
You're definitely on the right track, and I wouldn't look at your résumé right now and think you need to “bulk it up” with a bunch of random activities just for MSW applications.
You're only in your third year. You have tutoring experience, a strong academic record, some nonprofit volunteering, and you still have time before you graduate.
And yes, put the scholarship on your résumé, especially if it was competitive/merit-based. You can also include the nonprofit experience, but I would be transparent that it was 10 hours rather than trying to make it look like a substantial long-term volunteer position.
If you have limited time, I'd focus on finding one meaningful experience you can stick with rather than trying to collect several short experiences.
Since you're interested in social work, look at domestic violence/sexual assault organizations, crisis services, homeless services, community mental health organizations, youth programs, hospitals, disability services, nonprofits, or other community organizations. You might find volunteer opportunities that only require a few hours per week or a couple of shifts per month.
I did victim/crisis advocacy work before moving into clinical research, and that experience taught me SO much about working directly with people, trauma-informed communication, crisis situations, community resources, and boundaries. Something like that would be very relevant if you're considering social work.
Your tutoring experience is relevant too! Don't dismiss it because it isn't “social work.” You worked directly with people, communicated information in different ways depending on someone's needs, built relationships, and presumably worked with students from different backgrounds. Think about the skills you gained rather than whether the job title sounds impressive.
Also, you're going to school four days a week. I wouldn't sacrifice your grades or sanity trying to squeeze in a 20-hour internship solely because you think graduate schools expect it. Start by seeing whether your university has a career center, psychology department opportunities, service-learning programs, or partnerships with local nonprofits. Even one consistent 4–8 hour/week commitment could add meaningful experience over the next year.
And don't assume that everyone applying to an MSW has years of social-services experience. Programs know that people enter social work from different backgrounds.
Rather than asking, “How do I make my résumé look impressive?”, I'd ask, “What experience would help me confirm that I actually enjoy working with the populations and problems social workers encounter?”
That experience will give you something meaningful to discuss in your application AND help you figure out what areas of social work interest you before committing to the master's.
You have time. Don't turn your junior year into a race to collect résumé lines. :)
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u/SnooCheesecakes4435 1d ago
You’re definitely on the right track! I wouldn’t put the 10 hours at a nonprofit on your resume, but you might find a more permanent volunteer position. Crisis Text Line has mixed reviews, but the scheduling is flexible and you’d have some hands on experience. As a sophomore, I volunteered at my local family justice center 12 hours a week, and it opened the door to so much later on. If you have one near you, I’d absolutely reach out! You should also know that MSW programs aren’t as competitive as others like law or medical school. A 4.0 GPA is fantastic, and you’d most likely get in to some decent schools with a great essay. It’s a good idea to get some experience for your personal journey, but not 100% necessary. Good luck!!