Personal Statement

In your personal statement, please respond to all of the reflective questions listed in the document below.

Downloadable versions of Statement of Purpose Template and Instructions:

• MSW Statement of Purpose Template and Instructions (docx)
• MSW Statement of Purpose Template and Instructions (pdf)

The Statement of Purpose is an excellent opportunity to explain why you would be a successful student in our graduate program. This part of your application is a chance for you to make an authentic connection with our faculty and program values. The Statement of Purpose includes a written portion and a video portion.

Submissions generated by AI are not permitted and are not recommended, as they do not demonstrate readiness for graduate study and are generic and impersonal, making it difficult for your application to stand out and showcase your unique experiences and strengths. Getting advice or assistance from others (including software) on readability with minor spell-checking or copy edits is acceptable.

Written Portion:
The statement of purpose- written portion should be independently written and reflect your personal writing style. Our programs focus on strengthening your independent writing skills across coursework and field education, helping you build critical thinking, advocacy, and research skills. 

You must use the template above as is. Do not add additional headings or sections. Applications will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed if 1) they do not use the provided template or 2) they do not address all of the prompts below.  Statements of Purpose should be double-spaced in 12 pt. font and not exceed 1000 words in length (approximately 3 double-spaced pages). 

1. Interest in Social Work. Describe your interest in pursuing a career in social work that seeks to challenge social injustices. Reflect on your past educational, work, research, volunteer, and/or community service experiences. Describe specific activities or areas of social work that interest you, and how your experiences have shaped those interests.
2. Skills and Strategies for Social Work Practice. Describe specific skills, strategies, or approaches you have developed through your past experiences that you believe will be valuable to the pursuit of social justice through a social work career.  
3. Interpersonal Skills and Working Across Differences. Explain how your experiences have helped you develop interpersonal skills for working effectively with people from different backgrounds. Provide 2-3 concrete examples of leadership roles, teamwork, and/or group-based activities that demonstrate these skills. Describe a time you received feedback that challenged you. How did you respond, and what changed as a result?

Video Portion. As part of the application process, you are required to submit a 1-2-minute video response to the prompt below. This allows us to assess your verbal communication skills, critical thinking, and professional presence- skills that are central to success in social work education and practice. The video also helps ensure that your submission reflects your own voice and authentic engagement with the prompt. 

1. Direct Practice or Administration/Community Development Specialization. Describe why you are interested in the Direct Practice or Administration/Community Development specialization. Explain how this specialization aligns with your career interests and long-term professional goals. In your response, also discuss how the MSW program at San Diego State University (SDSU) supports your goals. Be specific about your interests, career plans, and what aspects of the specialization and program are a good fit for you.

 Video Instructions:

• Authenticity: Applicants are expected to respond authentically and provide genuine responses. Again, the use of AI-generated is not permitted and not recommended, or is reading from scripts, papers, or screens. Responses that rely on these methods will not be considered.
• Time limits: Be succinct. Adhere strictly to the specified time limits (1-2 minutes with a maximum content of 2 minutes). Videos will only be reviewed up to the stated time limit, and any content beyond that point will not be considered.
• Personal Space: Please ensure that your video is recorded in a setting that allows for clear visibility and audibility. Choose a space where you can be easily seen and heard, so that your responses are communicated effectively.
• Professional presence: Present yourself in a professional manner. This includes how you communicate, your body language, your appearance, and how you carry yourself in interactions. Prepare for the video portion as you would for an in-person interview. 

 Submit Your Video:

Slate will provide you with detailed instructions on how to upload your material. Please keep in mind that when preparing to upload your video to Slate, the file size must be 5 GB or less, or if you share a link (such as YouTube or Vimeo), the privacy settings must be set to “public” so reviewers can view it. If using a link upload, we recommend testing the link (e.g., by copying and pasting it into an incognito window) to confirm it will work for anyone who tries to use it.