I attend the University of Utah,
as a Pre-Social Work major.
Pre-Social Work because at the U,
you must be accepted into the College of Social Work,
just like Law School or Med School.
To become accepted,
you must have...
1 million Social Work related Volunteer hours,
have 2 excellent letters of recommendation,
write a ridiculous 5 page essay of why you want to be a social worker,
take all the pre-requisites,
and have a certain GPA.
.
I don't have the best GPA, because my first year of college,
I just thought it was just like high school,
I didn't really think you had to WORK for your grade.
.
I didn't start finishing my pre-requisites until Spring of 2010,
which is hard to fit into your already packed schedule.
.
I had great letters of recommendation,
and wrote a great paper.
Not to brag, but I can persuade people pretty easily in a college essay.
.
My biggest problem - Volunteer hours.
You might remember my previous post about the volunteer hours,
and some ridiculous people I came in contact with.
If not, I was told in October 2009 that I needed 200 - 400 Volunteer hours.
I worked my butt off, and in April 2010 I had 571.
I exceed the expectation - or so I thought.
.
I applied to the College of Social Work in April 2010.
I was told I would find out if I was accepted the first week of May.
I waited patiently everyday for the mail to come, while my heart raced.
I was so nervous, it was hard to talk.
Finally, the letter came.
"Miss Kylie Stidham, it is our greatest regret
to deny you to the College of Social Work at this time."
My heart sunk,
then,
tears.
.
.
The College of Social Work only accepts 35 students a semester (Fall and Spring),
there were about 100 who applied in the Spring.
I was told if you get accepted on your first time applying,
that is the rarest thing in the world.
But I thought I was the exception.
I have to get accepted - why not?
.
.
I was told if I didn't get accepted I could make an appointment with the Dean,
and discuss what was holding me back.
On a different note,
the advisor to the College is the biggest b-word ever.
So I called and made myself an appointment.
.
Your application to the Social work program is judged on a number system.
A scale from 4 points to 16 points.
I received 12's and 16's on all until the volunteer work.
Turns out, to get a 16 you need 1000 hours +
I scored an 8 for my 571 hours.
The dean told me if I had scored a 12 I would have been accepted.
To have a 12, I needed 700 hours.
I didn't know I thought I needed 200 - 400 hours.
I was mislead by the advisor.
And went through terrible heartache trying to find volunteer hours.
.
In a way, I set myself up.
I ignored what everyone said about not getting in the first time,
I knew that wouldn't happen to me.
I told so many people I would let them know how it turned out,
in return I was faced with telling people I wasn't accepted,
or I just avoided the subject all together.
.
I was outraged when I found out that if you went on a mission,
you were basically automatically accepted.
I face a disadvantage, because I am not old enough to go on a mission,
or because I have no desire to go on a mission.
What if I wasn't baptized LDS?
Those people face a disadvantage because they don't even have the opportunity to go on a mission.
It is NOT fair.
Plus, a mission is not ALL social work.
Going around to people's doorsteps and talking to them about the church?
That's social work?
I could do that in my neighborhood.
There is some social work, so I think they should only count a few hours,
not be automatically given 1000 + hours.
.
I was even more outraged when I was denied,
because one of my "friends" told me,
at another friends shower I was hosting,
that "It was IMPOSSIBLE to get into,"
and that "I would NEVER be accepted."
I was sad that she was almost halfway there to being right.
This "friend," like many lazy U students, chose to major in Sociology or Psychology,
then get a job in a Social Work field.
Not me,
I have chosen to accomplish my goals,
and try and try again until I am accepted.
It isn't that hard, if you set your mind to it,
if that is what your passion is,
if that is what your really want to do it life.
.
I would like to tell you all when I plan to re-apply,
and let you know if I get in or not,
but I am doing things differently.
I don't want to set myself up for failure,
so if I get in, you will know.
If not, well you wont know.
.
I do know that I will become a Social Worker some day,
even if it takes me forever,
and I will accomplish my goals
of graduating from the most accredited College of Social Work in Utah,
from the University of Utah.
Otherwise known as the best school ever.
.
.
go utes.
