CUNY Hunter College Reviews of Master's in Social Work

"The school is not worthy of a future applicant's time. All Staff aside from Professors do not respect students' time or money spent within the program. These behaviors would be illustrated in the following ways. - Students were forced to sign agreements that they could not read the terms of service. - Field Placement Staff would not disclose anything regarding the field placement, only that you would "have better choices next year" and that students should "live with the placements they got". - Placing Students in field sites that they were not equipped for or on the track that they were studying under (Multiple Clinical Students were placed in community organizing settings and Community Organizing Students in Clinical Settings. Community Organizing Students didn't take community Clinical Classes and vice versa). - Neglect toward student's field placement resulted in many students starting late which impacted work hours, losing money for those who chose to drop out, and (in some cases) graduation time frame. Neglect would include signing affiliation agreements months after enrollment for the program had started knowing that they could take months to process these legal documents. - Failed to communicate with students regarding field placement information by "passing the buck" onto other field placement staff and not communicating to students when they would be unable to answer. Because of these reasons, future MSW students should look for other programs that respect students' time and money for attending what should be a "prestigious program"."

"I did the community organizing/C.O. track at Silberman and regret it. All of my C.O. classes were taught by adjuncts, and a lot of them seemed like they had a chip on their shoulder (CUNY treats their adjuncts badly). Many of my professors did not return my assignments or even grade them, and many provided me with little to no feedback, especially the C.O. prof's. The material was often presented in a disorganized fashion, and there was a lot of evident carelessness. There are some good teachers, but for the amount of debt I'll have, I'm pretty upset. The financial aid office is also awful--just keep calling at different times until someone picks up that sounds competent. If you're interested in C.O., don't bother coming here--you can learn the same material in community groups for free from people who are passionate about the material."

"I attended Silberman School of Social Work for the MSW and graduated in 2017. My experience was disappointing. Unless you already have previous professional experience as a NYC social worker, be careful about what you are getting into and what types of jobs are available upon graduation, as many require unsafe offsite visits and extensive travel. As for the degree itself--number one, the tuition has gone up a lot in recent years, although it is still more affordable than most private schools. Number two, this school does almost nothing to prepare you for a career in social work. The focus is on the anti-oppression lens, and you will get a very good education in terms of understanding oppression and social work theory. However, that being said--I had a very firm grasp of these concepts before I attended and it felt like repeat information for me. The most relevant, hands-on experience you will receive from your degree will be from the internships. Other than that, the school does not prepare you for what to expect after graduating, as there is no practical assistance in terms of career or options. You will not have much say in your internship placements and they may or may NOT lead to a job. Be careful when dealing with this school because honestly, it felt like they took my money and had very little to show for it. They are extremely short-staffed, and you will not receive much personal attention from your field placement officer. Basically, it's up to you to take matters into your own hands if you want to get pointed in the right direction. You will need to do research ahead of time and figure out the exact internship you want and demand it. Just know what you want, and understand what you are getting into ahead of time."

"Silberman at Hunter, is a great school if you are looking for a clinical heavy social work foundation with real hands-on experience, for an affordable cost. The school has other Social Work sub-fields but is very clinical focused, slowly expanding into the community organizing and Administrative aspects of Social Work. The school also teaches you the importance of advocacy (inclduing self advocacy). The tenured professors are really experts in their respective fields and can provide a range of knowledge outside the literature."

"Solid, inexpensive, hit-or-miss instruction"

"It was a great value for the money. A lot of my social work professors at NYU and Columbia had gone to Hunter."

"I felt that my college was an opportunity to concentrate greatly in a field of my study . Professor were ambitious and ensured we had an experiential learning experience ."

"I found Hunter College School of Social Work, know known as the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, to be a great environment for learning. There were amazing and knowledgeable professors who ensured that I received a quality education. The school also did a great job in admitting intelligent and thoughtful students - many of whom are currently my closet friends. I truly felt prepared to enter the social work profession following my graduation!"

"Hunter College's Silberman School for Social Work is the place to be for future social workers! I've never experienced such an incredible, rich, and diverse campus with welcoming classmates and teachers in which you strive to be one day. You get to experience intimate relationships and long lasting connections through small classrooms and a required field placement. There wasn't one second I felt out of place in this environment, between the numerous on-campus clubs or activities. With remarkably low prices, I still find it hard to believe I get to experience all of this. It's definitely an opportunity no one should miss!"

"Silberman School of Social Work of Hunter College teaches social work from an anti-oppressive lens. While the curriculum still can use adjustments to truly encompass this, overall the cost of the program can't be beat if you're committed to social justice and progressive work. East Harlem is a great setting for this type of program but more community relations and involvement should be incorporated into campus life and social networking."

"Great education for a reasonable price. If going to SW School and are a resident of NY State I would highly recommend Hunter College. Private college for Social Work is twice as much for same education."

"If you are a NY State residence I would highly recommend Hunter as you get a great education for half the price as competing private schools."

"I am really enjoying my experience at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. The professors definitely push you, but it's definitely for your benefit. The atmosphere of East Harlem definitely adds to the appeal of the school. The area is very safe and I feel comfortable walking by myself during the day or night. The quality of education you receive here is excellent."

"The Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter is very supportive. Faculty and administration are transparent at the school and social justice for marginalized populations is one of the mantras. These facts alone empower me as a student preparing for a career in social work. However the workload, like any graduate program, is quite overbearing. I did a group project on the student populations and it was found average pages of recommended and required reading for students are 900 -1000 a week for the first semester students! That is intense! On the other hand, it is very easy to travel to the school and it is very accessible for those with disabilities. This is hands down the most affordable MSW accredited program in New York City. I also love the pass fail option here. This way I put less pressure on the letter grade and greater focus on the quality of my work. Silberman also teaches students to be mindful practitioners which is a life long skill. I do wish there were more historical components in the curriculum however. This way, students who are not aware of why oppressed people have been forced into such conditions, can gather a stronger understanding of the different -isms that unfortunately divide and keep people conquered up to this day."

"Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College is one of the most competitive social work programs in NYC. In my year, 38% of applicants were accepted. That said, the students in this program are very smart and full of incredible life experiences. I often learn as much from my peers as I do my teachers. Students do not receive letter grades (unless they opt for that) and instead get Pass, Fail, or Honors grades. This allows me to focus less on the grade and more on the content of the classes."

"I am excited to begin my academic career at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College this fall (2014). My experiences thus far have been nothing but pleasant. The field work education curriculum is a wonderful asset/pro of the schools, and there are no cons related to this graduate program."

"So far in my graduate experience the pros of my graduate program is the education I am receiving is rewarding. This is my first semester in graduate school and it has been a wonderful experience I am receiving almost everything I need. One con I think my graduate program needs to work on is providing enough writing tutoring."

"This school provides a world-class education at a fraction of the cost! Cares and supports it's community and the people it serves. Wonderful place."

"The Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College is a great program. The student body is extremely diverse. Our location within the community of East Harlem is perfect. The professors are excellent and care about the students. The classes offered are fascinating. There are on campus groups to join and participate in weekly meetings/workshops to further our education. The library has endless resources and the staff there and at the Writing Center are so willing to assist students. I love my graduate school. However, there is always room for improvement. The administration is not best because they do not always relay crucial information accurately or in a timely manner, which is frustrating for many students."

"Pros: great facilities, diverse courses and student body, relatively affordable, fair grading, more progressive than other social work schools in NYC. Cons: location is not very central, you must specialize in your first year."