Two students talking together

Application Tips and Guidelines

The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice reviews applications holistically, meaning we consider all the pieces of your application as a collective representation of you academically and professionally. Below are some suggestions that may assist you in completing your application.

Essay

  • Respond directly to all the essay prompts regarding your professional goals, your strengths, and your learning needs with regards to a career in social work/social welfare.
  • Present a balanced critique of a social issue and suggestions for challenging inequality.
  • Articulate how your paid or unpaid experience might contribute to the Crown Family School classroom and a career in social work/social welfare. If your prior experience is not in human services, briefly highlight how that experience might be related to supporting a career in social work/social welfare or social sector leadership/nonprofit management.
  • Be sure to elaborate on why you want to be at Crown Family School - what is it that we do here that you want to be a part of and are there any specific faculty with whom you want to work?
  • Remember that the essay is about both content and comprehension, so read and re-read your statement for content, flow, and to catch any grammatical errors you missed the first time through.

Letters of Recommendation

  • Your recommenders should be individuals who know you well and can evaluate your potential for graduate school education (i.e.: employers, supervisors, and college professors). Be sure to inform them of the deadline for submission.
  • We discourage letters from friends, relatives, neighbors, therapists, doctors, etc.
  • If you have recently graduated or are about to graduate, reach out to professors. If you have worked, ask your supervisor.
  • We want letters that can speak on your performance and why you would make a great addition to the field of social work/social welfare or social sector leadership/nonprofit management.

Transcripts

  • Crown Family School does not require students to have an undergraduate degree in social work. Our students come from a variety of academic backgrounds and undergraduate majors including those in the social sciences, humanities, biological sciences, and arts.
  • While a cumulative GPA is important, we are also mindful of your last 3-4 terms, your grades in coursework relevant to social work/social welfare, and if you completed any graduate level work.