Student Feedback

It’s often said that experience is the greatest teacher. If you are a student in an MSW program, we hope that you may benefit from the lessons learned by students who’ve already gone through the UB MSW program.

Former students offer advice on self-care

  • Make friends in the program. Having someone to call who knows exactly what you are going through can help you get through anything. Also, don’t procrastinate with assignments. That will only increase your stress and make things worse.
  • Make sure you take time for yourself to do something active each day. You will be more productive if a little bit of time is taken each day away from school and work.
  • Make time for yourself…for whatever you need. Just make time for yourself!
  • Learn assertive communication skills. Knowing and practicing these skills helps me get my needs met effectively as well as to resolve conflict with others, thus reducing stress and improving the quality of life and relationships.
  • Make self-care a priority. I think if I had known how hard it would be to make time for self-care, I would have made it more of a priority. It is not actually having the tools for self-care. It is about having the ability to make the time for self-care.
  • Saying ‘no’ doesn’t mean that you are failing at something. Instead, take it as proof that you are doing well. The MSW program will really push you to the limit and it is crucial to be able to say no to things in order to carve out some sanity for you.
  • Take time each day to be mindful. Enjoy the little things and the little moments. The little moments will make you aware of the big truths in life and make you aware of where beautiful things and peace come from. Take grad school one day and one assignment at a time. No matter what, it somehow always gets done.