Are you MACO or Clinical?

A friend of mine who is a first year student is really struggling answering this question. She doesn't have a social work background and is not sure what she wants to do when she graduates...but by mid-November she has to register for Spring classes and by Feb. she has to declare her concentration.

Are you MACO or Clinical?

This is what I've found: there are a LOT of people who come into SSW and know exactly what they are passionate about--maybe they want to run a non-profit or work for DSS or be a community organizer or work with substance abuse clients...so for them the question is easy.

But for those of us with NO SW Background (I was a history major in undergrad)--how do you answer the infamous question?

My advice: discover what you are passionate about and how you want your days to look (do you want to work from 8-3 like a school social worker, do you want to work weekends at a residential treatment facility, do you want to work nights as a community organizer helping residents and attending community meetings?) And..try out different field placements! If you are placed somewhere clinical, volunteer with a non-profit org to get the MACO side of things and vice versa. Do a little bit of both to see what things are non-negotiable for you in a job (do you have to be face-to-face with clients experiencing trauma...do you want to do policy work with the state legislature?)

It's not an easy question--but no matter which way you decide to go, the best social workers combine key elements of both areas to create a dynamic practice!

So, don't worry--we're social workers! It's a great proffession and there's great need. That may not alleviate your anxiety about declaring a concentration, but you can be assured that no matter which way you decide to go, when graduation comes, you will have a job...and a few years down the road if you are ready for a change, there will be another job (maybe in a different concentration)!

Blessings today!