Anonymous
Post 05/22/2022 09:14     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
Anonymous wrote:Someone I just met asked me what my DD is doing and I said she is getting her MSW. The woman responded, “Fun” in what I perceived to be a dismissive way. DD has a clear career path, a terrific paid internship, graduated from a top school and is at a top grad program. She will graduate without loans. I don’t get the judgment on kids who don’t go into more prestigious fields like IB, medicine, law, or even CS or engineering. She asked about my DS and he is pursuing one of the above fields and she was a lot more interested in that. I didn’t really respond. How should I respond? Still bothers me several days later.


I bet you went to a SLAC and are always on the defensive (much like the majority of your peers on DCUM) and looking for validation from others. Don't focus on finding fault. Maybe she doesn't know anything about MSW (I'm assuming it's Masters in Social Work). She was looking for a conversation topic, asked you a question and didn't know how to proceed that further and stopped with "fun". You don't have to justify your child's choices to anyone. The fact that this "bothers" you is evidence that you are looking for validation from others. Quit that.

I personally don't have a clue what one would do after an MSW education and would likely ask some "nice" sounds like "oh, wow!" etc. and move on. She chose "Fun".
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2022 09:07     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
Anonymous wrote:My neighbor says this all the time. It's just a way to acknowledge your answer, but at the same time she really doesn't care. She's being polite, and I'm sure didn't mean anything by it.


Yes. My MIL does this in conversations when she knows she should ask me questions to be polite but doesn’t actually want to hear the answers.

Recent example: I hadn’t flown in 15 years and did so to join childhood friends for a vacation. When I returned she made a point to ask me (in person), “just use one word to describe your trip.” Then, conversation ended and she could resume chatting about herself.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2022 07:00     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I swear so many DCUMs are just looking for reasons to be miserable.

+1 It’s the equivalent of “good for her!” Pipe down.


I disagree. This is a response people give when they just don't give a crap or aren't really listening and have no genuine interest in the conversation. It's rude.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2022 06:47     Subject: Re:Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
Who cares? She may not even know what a MSW is or what social workers do. Or may she legit thought it sounds interesting and fun.

Kind of like when people always ask lawyers, "What kind of law do you do?" Then you answer, but if it is something they have no clue about or can't relate to, there is not much else to say.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2022 21:14     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
Anonymous wrote:Assuming MSW = Master’s in social work. Did you say MSW or did you elaborate? I am thinking she didn’t even know what an MSW was. Odd word choice (Fun!) too.


Agreed. That was my first thought too. The other person did not know what an MSW is. And even if OP said Masters in Social Work, may not have known what that is or what kind of work they do.

Let it go OP. Seriously. Life is too short.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2022 21:12     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:She probably didn’t know what an MSW was. This is not a big deal.

Also, why on earth would you need a top program for social work? There is huge demand for social workers and insufficient supply. Are there even top programs in social work? Also such a tough profession with a high burnout rate.

PP SW here. Yes, there are top programs. Like there are top programs in many subjects. Just because a profession is not lucrative or prestigious, does not mean there aren't standards. Also, it's not just about getting the degree, you want to be trained well for your profession. That's like telling someone in IT to just go to a diploma mill instead of a solid school. Furthermore, programs have different strengths. Some programs are more well known for community level social work, others clinical. In my program, there were different subspecialties (mental health, school, hospital based, etc) and some were stronger than others. Also, there is a research and academia component of social work. At the end, I actually found a good niche in SW but ended up getting interested in another career. But I found my years as a SW invaluable and still use those skills in a different capacity in my current career. Unfortunately-many social work settings are tough and the pay is awful in a lot of cases.


No one cares if you are from a top school with an MSW, as often its about just getting any in the position and most younger women don't last at the harder/government style jobs. I wish I never got my MSW and left when my child was born as the pay/amount of hours involved made it impossible to keep working. My spouse is in IT and when to a school you'd call a diploma mill and is doing well. So, your post makes little sense. That diploma mill landed them a job far more lucrative than mine. And, I went to "good social work" schools.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2022 21:10     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
Anonymous wrote:It’s a word to cover the awkward thoughts of, “Oh goodness I could never deal with that difficult work for that little pay.”


Just as OP is reading into the comment too much, so are posters. It’s very, very possible she was distracted and not listening, didn’t know what the degree is, or made an awkward offhand comment. While she may have underlying feelings about the field, it’s just as possible that she doesn’t and wasn’t making any judgements or implying anything.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2022 21:08     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
Anonymous wrote:Someone I just met asked me what my DD is doing and I said she is getting her MSW. The woman responded, “Fun” in what I perceived to be a dismissive way. DD has a clear career path, a terrific paid internship, graduated from a top school and is at a top grad program. She will graduate without loans. I don’t get the judgment on kids who don’t go into more prestigious fields like IB, medicine, law, or even CS or engineering. She asked about my DS and he is pursuing one of the above fields and she was a lot more interested in that. I didn’t really respond. How should I respond? Still bothers me several days later.


Won't even read the other responses...waste of time. You need therapy, go get it and embrace it. The fact you have to ask this question here is beyond weird, it's your child and they are pursuing a graduate degree of their choosing, that is amazing...no words are needed.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2022 21:05     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
My neighbor says this all the time. It's just a way to acknowledge your answer, but at the same time she really doesn't care. She's being polite, and I'm sure didn't mean anything by it.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2022 20:55     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
It’s a word to cover the awkward thoughts of, “Oh goodness I could never deal with that difficult work for that little pay.”
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2022 20:53     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
Anonymous wrote:Someone I just met asked me what my DD is doing and I said she is getting her MSW. The woman responded, “Fun” in what I perceived to be a dismissive way. DD has a clear career path, a terrific paid internship, graduated from a top school and is at a top grad program. She will graduate without loans. I don’t get the judgment on kids who don’t go into more prestigious fields like IB, medicine, law, or even CS or engineering. She asked about my DS and he is pursuing one of the above fields and she was a lot more interested in that. I didn’t really respond. How should I respond? Still bothers me several days later.


But even if none of this were true, a MSW would still be valuable, right? It sounds like you feel a little defensive about her choice. Maybe you have your own private misgivings or conflicts and that's why this is nagging at you. Or you fear that DD will face this kind of dismissive comment about her career in the future?
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2022 20:40     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:She probably didn’t know what an MSW was. This is not a big deal.

Also, why on earth would you need a top program for social work? There is huge demand for social workers and insufficient supply. Are there even top programs in social work? Also such a tough profession with a high burnout rate.


I find your post interesting....first you say that the person had no idea and then you proceed to insult the OP even worse.


It is an insult to say MSWs are in demand and we don’t have enough of them? As for burnout, that is simply a fact. And I speak from experience of having an MSW sibling who worked very hard to help kids for many years as a social worker before going back to school for psychology and private counseling.


you had me until there. Burnout? yup. But going back to school to go into private practice? You realize that MSWs with a clinical license (LCSWs) do just that right? It would have made no sense for your sister to go back to school to study psychology. You keep sounding more and more ignorant about MSW degrees.


I know she could’ve counseled with an MSW but she wanted a doctorate and got one.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2022 20:34     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
I would assume the best, that she was just trying to make conversation and responded somewhat awkwardly. I doubt there was any ill intent or that she was trying to communicate something negative.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2022 20:32     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I swear so many DCUMs are just looking for reasons to be miserable.


x1000



+1
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2022 20:23     Subject: Would you be annoyed—“Fun” as response to MSW degree?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:She probably didn’t know what an MSW was. This is not a big deal.

Also, why on earth would you need a top program for social work? There is huge demand for social workers and insufficient supply. Are there even top programs in social work? Also such a tough profession with a high burnout rate.


I find your post interesting....first you say that the person had no idea and then you proceed to insult the OP even worse.


It is an insult to say MSWs are in demand and we don’t have enough of them? As for burnout, that is simply a fact. And I speak from experience of having an MSW sibling who worked very hard to help kids for many years as a social worker before going back to school for psychology and private counseling.


you had me until there. Burnout? yup. But going back to school to go into private practice? You realize that MSWs with a clinical license (LCSWs) do just that right? It would have made no sense for your sister to go back to school to study psychology. You keep sounding more and more ignorant about MSW degrees.


+1 I got licensed after getting my MSW and work as a therapist.