The personal statements in your application offer the Admissions Committee a glimpse into your past experiences and how you connect them to the field of social work. These statements also demonstrate your capacity for critical thinking and effective writing. Please ensure each response stays within a 300-word limit. 

1. What personal, academic, and/or professional experiences have motivated you to become a social worker? And specifically, why have you chosen to apply to UMB's MSW program? Please discuss any aspects of our curriculum, programs, faculty, research opportunities, or community partnerships that interest you. (Limit your response to 300 words)
2. Identify a specific social problem that you are passionate about addressing as a social worker. Drawing from reliable sources as well as your own experiences, discuss the scope of the problem and why it is important to you. (Limit your response to 300 words)
3. One of the core principles in the Social Work Code of Ethics is honoring the dignity and worth of every person. Describe an experience where you engaged with someone whose life experience was unfamiliar to you. How did you honor the dignity and worth of that person to ensure that they felt respected? What challenges did you encounter, if any, and what did you learn from the experience? (Limit your response to 300 words) 

Additional Advanced Standing Statement 

Advanced Standing applicants must also submit a case plan with the following information:   

Choose a direct practice example involving an individual, group, family, or organization. Organize your response using the following headings, and please ensure to disguise names and identifying information. If you do not have a direct practice example, please create your own to answer this question (Limit your full response to 300 words).

• Brief Agency Description: Provide a concise overview of the agency, including its primary function and purpose.
• Assessment: Summarize the essential case data, including: • Age, ethnicity, and race of the individual(s) • Presenting problem and history of the problem • Coping abilities • For groups or organizations: describe the type, membership makeup, and purpose.
• Case Plan: Describe the case plan and explain how it is informed by the assessment.
• Interventions: Detail and analyze your practice interventions, explaining their connection to the case plan and assessment.  

Optional Statement 

If there are any aspects of your academic record (e.g., grades) or personal history (e.g., personal or professional challenges) that you feel require further explanation, provide a brief account. How have these experiences prepared you for success in our MSW program? (Limit your response to 300 words)

 Applicants who have an undergraduate GPA of 2.99 or below, please use this optional statement space to explain how your previous/current educational experience helped you develop strategies to successfully maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in our MSW program.

Applicants reapplying after being dismissed from the MSW program or from another graduate program should follow the additional instructions under the section Readmission and Reinstatement after Dismissal.