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Social Work Degree - Do i have a chance?

I have just applied to do a degree in social work but i have no experience and my grades aren't very good.
I've got a D for A Level Media and a B for A level photography, i've also got two Es at AS for English Language and Psychology but i didn't cash them in so they don't count. I know i chose the wrong courses but its only the past few months i have decided i want to be a social worker.

I have applied for some volunteering but i've been told that i've left it too late as the CRB check can take up to 3 months and by the time i get that all the places will be taken up.
The only experience i have is with looking after family members, i helped to look after my grandfather for two years and i've also helped out with my cousin who has severe learning difficulties, will this count for anything.

I did contact some unis to ask if it was worth applying but only one got back to me and i didn't bother applying to that as i didn't have enough points anyway.

Most of the unis i have applied to don't ask for any kind of experience and i have enough points to get in so does that mean i have a chance of getting in?

Thanks for any help

Reply 1

~ Purple Rose ~

If you meet the minimum requirements, you will be considered.
I know someone who was accepted to Royal Holloway through Clearing with no experience, but the reason was because her grades were pretty high.
Your grades do not necessarily mean that you won't be considered. If you have the number of points they are asking for they won't automatically reject you. In terms of experience, your experience with family members will definitely count.
It is always worth applying. If you don't get in, do some voluntary work, maybe do another AS/A Level to widen the number of places you could apply to, and try again next year.

Reply 2

socialworkstudent

I had no experince and like you i left it to late to get a CRB for voluntary work, however i still did voluntary work at Age Concern shop as they didnt need a CRB staright away as you dont work directly with service users. So it is still abit of experience and every little helps. Also if you apply for your CRB you may get it earlier than 3months (i did)
i got accepted into my course with A grade Sociology Alevel and B grade Law Alevel. However my cousin had no alevels (shes 25) so she did a One year ACCESS SOCIAL WORK college course, alot of people without qualifications do this, and this would be great for you as it prepares you for the degree, my cousin applied to 3 unis and got into two. However even with the best qualifications it comes down to the interview at the uni's, my social work lecturer said it took him 4 years to get onto the course!! so you need alot of patience and commitment. The more experince you have the better (experince as a carer for you family is great experince and definatly counts!!) but if you dont get in get a care job of some kind and i would suggest to do the access course :smile:

hope this helps. Good luck

Reply 3

granger-malfoy

you have to be 19 or older to do that access social care course. as ive diecided i want to be a social worker and im doing a course a college on media. so im thinking do a health and social course which will be 2years but ill get both years free as il of started the course before im 19 or do i wait a year n work n do the access course what do ya think?

Reply 4

deleted

Try bugging the unis admissions departments, and get a definitive answer from them. They'll be able to give you the right answer and it really is worth asking around as different unis will have different policies on whether they'll let you in if you don't have quite what they're looking for. I was applying after I'd got my results, and when asking around York basically told me to bugger off when I asked if it was worth me applying with one grade off what they wanted where as Reading (my first choice) told me it was definitely worth applying and I got in! Try getting some experience as well in places that don't require a CRB check to boost that part of your application, depending on what you do some places don't need/want one. I did some work with the Riding for the Disabled Association who didn't require a CRB if that's an idea for you? Anything that you can relate, however slightly, to social work would be really good, so like someone said Age Concern etc. The Cinnamon Trust don't (I *think*) require a CRB so they might be worth a go as well? Good luck!

Reply 5

HLeneghan

hi, im currently in my second year of the social work degree. i have found that experience was a big issue when applying and everyone on my course has alot of experience, also very high grades were needed for the course im on however i do not know about other universities. i am young and got told by my tutors at college not to bother applying as i wasnt mature enough as i was only just 18. however i applied and i am now in my second year and really enjoying it, if you want something go get it! there is no harm in trying to get in, you may be accepted and that would be fantastic but u may get turned away, however they can give you tips on what to do to make yourself a stronger candidate in the future!! the social work degree is not an easy option, be prepared for hard study and sacrificing time going out ect... its a 24hr 7 days a week course!! however its the best thing i have ever done iwth my life !!

Reply 6

marquejohn

I'm also a social work degree student, even i never had any experience but i had good tutors who made my 2years of study interesting with live examples to provide me better experience.