Resume and Narrative Statement Instructions for MSW Application

Narrative Statement

The narrative statement must include the following sections and points:

Service Experience

What have you done to make the world a better place? Please consider any of the following areas in your response to this section:

• Community engagement
• Professional experience
• Human/social service experience
• Volunteer experience
• Internships
• Social justice activity

Personal Narrative

Social workers help vulnerable and marginalized individuals and groups overcome the challenges that they face in life. 

• What challenges have you faced; how have you overcome those experiences; and how have those experiences informed your interest in social work as a profession?
• What challenges have you helped others face; how did you help others overcome these challenges; and how does this experience inform your interest in social work as a profession?
• What societal problem or social issue do you care most about and what would you propose the social work field does to address this problem?

Education

Respond to the points in this section only as applicable to your situation.

• If you are not providing a reference that is from an academic, college-level instructor, please explain.
• If your GPA is below 3.0 or you do not feel that your academic record accurately reflects your ability, please explain.
• If your GPA is below 3.0 what plans/safeguards have you/could you put in place to help you excel and meet the rigorous demands of graduate school?

Resume

Create a resume in the structure of your choosing.

Include in your resume:

1. Dates and information related to your undergraduate and any graduate level education.
2. Your professional work history (both social work and non-social work related).
3. Any unpaid service experiences such as field placements, internships, volunteer work, community engagement, social justice activities, or research.