Re: internship and graduate school

[Guest guest]

, hi,

About the internship - sounds like CPS/internships are " independent "

of your MSW degree, meaning it sounds like they can be an * employer

* and therefore terminate you * at will *. But, since the actual

internship is a * requirement * for your degree, I see it as part of

your graduate school.

Have you talked to the Dean of the Social Work College/Department

about this? Or the Dean of Students, or others up higher on the

totem pole? Might be a good idea.

Have you talked to anyone at the ADA about this? Might be another

good idea. Toll-Free ADA Information Line 800-514-0301

I would suggest you not allow the stress factor of all this to get

in the way of your health, so with that, what would 1 more year be?

On the other hand, your intership requirements with CPS sounds very

fishy, what I mean is, you are challenging them on a * policy * of

theirs that doesn't exist in the first place. So, it is easier for

them to make your life hell than to " change " requirements just for

you.

Know any law students or have any friends in legal aid that may have

a good strategy?

Scre* that stuff about you not being suitable for CPS. Like I said,

they're making life extra hard for you on purpose. One day at a

time, win, win, win. Plus you may find out somethings about CPS they

want hidden. Think about that. You may be blazing a trail for others

to follow. Think about that. You are already helping others too.

Maybe Denedria can help you out here. If I remember, her degree is

in Social Work and maybe she can offer other suggestions into the UC

State " system " and how she got through grad school, and the internship.

Good luck, let us know how it goes. When I was in grad school, 1/2

way through, I got Rheumatic Fever. I didn't leave because of

medical reasons, but I cut my course and thesis hours way back and

graduated in 3 years instead of 2. This gave me the chance to first

get my health back in total, plus completely rewrite my thesis (which was

accepted by committee on first go), take my comps alone, and the best part is I

took additional courses in Museology and Museography and worked Part-time in one

of the best galleries in town. End result? A M.A. in Art History followed by

immediate employment in a premier museum - and good health restored and

maintained

I will say that my first two years of grad school were so awful I

wanted to bail so many times. Someone told me grad school prepares

you for work in the real world - give me a break - NOTHING I have

ever experienced in the real world has been anything like what I

endured in grad school.

Oops, almost forgot - congratulations on the marriage!

~ Gretchen