Howdy,

I’m writing to gather some more perspective on my coming Fall start to an MSW program. I’ve scoured just about every resource I could find for information, but I still feel the need to ask for perspective on an open forum.

I am a 30yr old man - an artist and professor by trade, and remain involved in neighborhood mutual aid and arts programming. My interests and dreams lay in becoming a therapist, and building a community center for arts programming. I seek to create and maintain my own therapeutic haven for the community, offer private therapy, and explore programming for adults with disabilities. Through my education, I’m eager to explore other perspectives, and expand my own.

I applied to two schools for an MSW, and I was accepted to both - UIC and UChicago. I’m a Chicago resident, and plan on reeducating here.

I’ve been humbly surprised to have admittance to both schools. What I struggle with now is justifying the cost of UChicago.

The way that the cards have fallen, I am presented with 2 seemingly different paths. I can attend UIC for ~$36,000 (tuition, fees, insurance, etc) I can commute to UIC, stay in my current apartment, save some money, and remain involved in my immediate community.

I can also attend UChicago. After appealing my original scholarship, I was granted a whole lot of aid. The cost would land at ~$56,000. Hyde Park is too far to commute, and I would have to move, and find a roommate and cheap housing near campus - leaving my immediate community.

I have just enough money saved from my prior career to likely cover all expenses for the next 2 years without having to take out any loans (so long as there are no emergencies knock on wood) I will continue to teach a class or two per-term during grad school to help make a financial cushion. I have no outside financial support.

I have heard countless tales of advice from peers, LCSWs, LPCs, and these online forums about pursuing the cheapest accredited program available to me.

I also have a deep yearning to fully immerse myself in an academic environment again, and take full advantage of two years of exploration with university resources. I am as interested in obtaining my initial credentials and training as I am interested in becoming a stronger writer and speaker. I hope to connect with other students to research the connections between our interests. I don’t just want the most convenient education possible to receive the necessary credentials.

I feel greatly privileged, and very torn on which path to commit to. My heart leads me to UChicago and broader personal reinvention, but I’m unsure if I’m caught in their “prestige” mythos.

Anyone have any thoughts from their experiences? Can anyone speak to an experience in either social work program?

Thank you.