University of Southern California Reviews of Master's in Social Work

Attending USC has been one of the best decisions I have made in pursuing my goal of working with families and children affected by cancer. USC allows me to help make my dream of becoming a pediatric oncology social worker a dream, and with the extraordinary network established by Trojans before me, I know that I have been more than prepared for the work force ahead. Living within Los Angeles has exposed me to the vulnerable population that I hope to one day serve, and hope to impact as I continue... Read More my education post-grad. Thank you USC for all you have done for me, and fight on!

USC is the worst school I have ever had the displeasure of attending. If you keep your mouth shut and your head down, you can probably get a degree with little/no problems. However, if you question their policies and really try to advocate for yourself, be prepared to deal with "professionals" that are mean spirited, lack integrity, and have almost zero understanding of the law. Even when you prove to them in writing where that are inaccurate or have misrepresented the facts, their egos do not allow... Read More them to do the right thing and they will throw students under the bus and expose the university to liability to maintain indefensible positions. If you another alternative, pass on USC.

Overall, USC's Master of Social Work Program is wonderful and I feel so blessed I was able to attain this degree. For two years, I was able to grow tremendously not only as an individual, but as a professional. I was able to gain an extensive amount of real world knowledge in regards to how leaders in the field think and what is the most cutting edge developments. I felt a lot more prepared in understanding that I was more interested in the macro aspect of social work as opposed to the clinical side.... Read More I was told that I did not necessarily have to fit into the traditional role of social work and that the industry has expanded greatly in recent years. I feel happy being able to proudly say that this program has prepared individuals into being hired as managers, supervisors and upper level administrative roles. I was able to understand my strengths and navigate my path into the nonprofit sector. It taught me to be patient during the job hunt and that sometimes you do have to start at the bottom and work your way up by gaining entry level experience. I loved how the professors shared their own personal experiences in their job trajectory and encouraged us to continue to learn and be willing to take risks. I would recommend that upon entering graduate school that you candidates should do research and make sure they are dedicated 100% because this is an expensive program. The only con to completing this program is the high tuition cost and the low amount of money awarded to students. Fight on!

I am just beginning my graduate program at USC. From the events I have attended, it seems like they offer so much support to their students. The environment is so great that I do not feel as intimidated as I thought I would be. I will be attending the satellite campus in San Diego and will definitely be saving money on parking! The big downside is the price tag! They do claim that they have a lot of assistance, so far all I've gotten are loans! That is why, I am trying to find assistance. I would... Read More love to stay with this program regardless of the price because they are extremely military-friendly and that is a HUGE plus for me being a Navy Spouse. A side from the price, USC: School of Social Work seems like a great graduate program.

The pros of my program are its diversity, its competitiveness, the value and status associated with the college, and its ability to harness connections. Diversity is extremely important because students are given the chance to associate and learn from a variety of not only ethnic backgrounds, but also career and professional backgrounds. Competitiveness is so important as it creates a necessary drive and motivation for each student. The ability to have USC on our resume is also helpful because a... Read More lot of employees, especially those in the social work field, highly regard USC. Finally, USC connects students to a lot of professionals through teachers and internships that will be very helpful in the future. The only con I can think of for my program is the lack of finances. Because we are a school of social work, we obviously aren't coming from a lot of money. I think finances towards our school would be very helpful in utilizing more technology, guest speakers, and rest areas for students.

The positive things are about my current graduate program involve the rigorous, yet challenging course load; and the unwavering support from faculty and staff. The Trojan "Family" has definitely lived up to the hype- the genuineness and authenticity from the faculty, staff and fellow students has made this difficult year worthwhile. I have grown both personally and professionally and would not change my decision to pursue graduate school. The cons are obviously the cost of attendance; however, the... Read More true value of one's degree has no price tag.

I am thankful for the experience this Social Work program has given me. Not only is the material we learn in the classroom highly applicable to our field work but the support we get from our Professors is encouraging. At times the work load can be overwhelming but having individuals who have gone through the same program pushing you forward provides you with the necessary motivation. A con, and perhaps the only con, is the cost of the program. By the time I graduate I will be $120,000 in debt. It... Read More is intimidating to be paying almost $45,000 in tuition alone.

There are mostly pros to this graduate program at USC. It is ranked 11th in the nation. There are many options to choose from in the field of social work and the staff is amazing! They are willing to help you every step of the way. The only con I can think of (which would be the con of going to any great school) is the price of education and lack of public transportation in the area. Being a full time student makes it tough to afford many things, as there is no other income besides more student loans.... Read More