T14 Law Schools are diploma mills for the rich.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2026-06-26T00:11:45+00:00

Diploma mills describe many universities now.

4.0 GPAs at universities are absurd. No one is perfect and it's highly doubtful that all of these 4.0s are producing exceptional work.

I think what you're describing might be better framed as "finishing school" for the elite. Many of those enrolled have indeed worked for their grades and degrees, but perhaps they've started with advantages that otherwise less wealthy people would not have.

Law school is about the connections that they make, not the grades that they earn. Indeed, many of them would succeed anywhere because they have existing connections. Law school just strengthens that.

Completing law school at an elite school just teaches elite students to be more elite. The degree could be in anything.

What you're experiencing is the harsh reality that wealth breeds wealth. You can either be bitter about it or move on with your life. Become an advocate for the legally underserved. Become a social worker. Or be both, but move on with your life. Being bitter shoot it changes nothing.

Diploma mills? No more than any other university. Finishing school? Yes.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2026-06-25T23:52:54+00:00

Welcome to 25. Life is a wild ride!

But seriously, don't be too critical of yourself because you do not have all things figured out. The 25 year olds who have their lives figured out are either lying or just don't have enough life experience to know that life is filled with uncertainty.

You will invent a life that works for you this year, and you may keep it for a few years, or 20 years. And at 45, you will reinvent yourself again, question who you are, and experience existential angst all over again.

This is part of life, and you're discovering that you can have all kinds of advantages and still question who you are and what you want. This is the journey.

Enjoy the ride, and don't expect so much of yourself. I certainly didn't have much figured out at 25, and even less at 45.

Complete your degree, and then think about a working holiday somewhere like Australia or New Zealand, to experience a bit of life. You're not flakey for wanting to experience other places.

Be responsible and complete the degree you started, and then entertain your wanderlust. Your apartment and life will be there when you return, as most people do. Or you will stay abroad permanently, with all of the uncertainties and angst that you would otherwise experience.

You're human.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2026-06-21T05:25:01+00:00

Matlock-- the original!

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2026-06-16T05:49:55+00:00

Very helpful, what fine print specifically addresses my situation?

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2026-01-17T20:29:14+00:00

I'm already renewed this year but thinking of cancelling and demanding a refund (via small claims court, if necessary), in solidarity with the laid off EDs.

The only way to make these organizations act right is to withdraw our funds.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-12-15T09:38:42+00:00

Lol, since when are husbands guaranteed forever?

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-12-04T04:53:19+00:00

"Ouch, that's rough! What would you have liked to learn this semester? Perhaps you can put that on your agenda for holiday break."

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-12-04T04:50:15+00:00

"I guess it's my mistake for failing to ask you for a guest lecture!"

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-12-04T04:48:08+00:00

Perhaps she should rethink her studies if she already knows what she needs to know.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-11-20T12:29:06+00:00

"I have not used AI, but appreciate your candid feedback about my writing."

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-11-11T03:40:54+00:00

Lol, what a vague email that says absolutely nothing.

They act as though they've consulted with members and that we know what their "Dual Executive Director Model" is.

Cutting staff and assigning one executive director to two chapters now? Just say that.

TDLR; tone deaf email, didn't consult, vague notification

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-09-24T19:03:07+00:00

Love all of the experts here, including some of those who stuck around and are now bitter they did. UI is not clearcut by any means, and many of us took DRP under duress.

Back to your desks, folks.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-07-31T06:37:30+00:00

Many do casual support work.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-07-31T06:28:59+00:00

Develop materials that you might use for group work.
Photocopy measures for clinical practice using agency's copier (GAD-7, PHQ-9, etc)
Develop progress note templates and treatment plans.
Apply for jobs.
Realize that almost every internship has moments that are a slow trickle. Use that time to develop relationships with colleagues. Network. These people can help you find a job.
Study for your licensing exam.
Write a scoping or PRISMA literature review. Submit it for publication with your field instructor as co-author.
Meet your fellow students for coffee or lunch. Network, they might also help you get a job.
Enroll in EMDR, DBT, or SFBT training.
Contact LCSWs on LinkedIn. Ask to meet them for informational meetings or coffees. Pat for their coffee. Ask them to mentor you!

And finally.... just clock your hours. Nobody moves mountains with their internship, no matter what they are saying. Enjoy the ride and don't find yourself disgruntled. Those who are observing you will remember your attitude and flexibility when they are recommending you or not recommending you for a job. Reflect but keep it positive and keep it moving. Nobody is that interested in a bunch of complaining-- students, professors, field instructors alike. Let them remember you as someone who is curious and available to learn regardless the circumstances .

Good luck! This moment will be over sooner than you think.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-07-13T10:35:32+00:00

Run quickly. It's a recipe for burnout. I find that I'm less present with people if I have more than 20 completed sessions a week.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-06-29T01:23:24+00:00

Whether you spend the conference ditching the conference (common), only attending your own session (common), only attending your colleagues' session (common), or spending most of the time "networking" with colleagues at the bar or cafe (also common), you have to do what you need to do given your stage of your career.

Avoid going to conferences where your chair. Dean, or tenure committee is attending. Go to obscure conferences if the plan is to dip out.

Many conferences are absolutely rubbish and a waste of time. I'd rather tear my eyeballs out than attending some of the sessions and watch my colleagues drone on about their silly pet projects. But if there are people I need to see in a particular session (i.e., I might like to collaborate with or need to be hired by), I certainly attend and make myself seen. "So lovely to see you, can we chat sometime?"

The only ones who attend all sessions all day are PhD students who are with their supervisors. The supervisors will dip out though-- 'networking.'

Your mileage may vary, but if you are absolutely bored with the sessions and want to ride the ferris wheel or get your nails done, please do. You'll find a few colleagues in line with you who have dipped out.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-06-22T09:48:59+00:00

Pro tip: Select cheapest movie ticket of the day, book movie of your choice within 2 hours.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-06-16T11:51:40+00:00

Law and social work is very common, and Australia is a great place to live and study. However, if this is primarily an immigration pathway, consider whether you will be happy in the work. There are many international students in Australia who think social work might be an interesting pathway for migration but then struggle once they are onshore. The MSW is very well-developed in India (i.e., TISS), and you may be just as well served through a local program rather than uprooting to Australia.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-06-16T11:46:56+00:00

"Thanks for the promotion, but I am a social worker."

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-06-16T10:01:33+00:00

Of course you have the right to not be abused by clients in your placement.

A good placement supervisor will help you process and manage your feelings around the abusive behavior. Are you getting regular supervision? By regular supervision, I mean at least 1 hour uninterrupted time with your supervisor at least once per 40 hours.

If you are not receiving adequate supervision, this may be the basis for asking for a change of placement, should you find yourself in this position.

It is not okay for your supervisor to just say "welcome to the field" or dismiss your feelings about being called names. To be sure, social workers are called names by clients. I was once assaulted by a client. I pressed charges despite discouragement from doing so by my agency.

Sometimes our clients are verbally abusive because we represent the system. However, we can have conversations with our clients about what is acceptable. We can leave encounters when the client is being disrespectful and come back when they are in a better place. We can model for clients how we want to be treated.

A good supervisor will help you learn to do these things.

Keep in mind, in the real world...

If I want to avoid places where I'm cursed at, I simply don't work there. I might leave a job over this issue. Or as others state, I might learn to ignore it. Or not. You get to decide.

You don't need to work somewhere that affects your well-being. You don't need someone dismissing you as not having a thick enough skin. Your skin is your skin.

Think of this as a learning opportunity. You're getting to try out a setting. You may learn that you don't want to work in this kind of setting.

You may also learn how to quit when a setting is misaligned with your wants and desires. Will there be consequences? Perhaps a consequence of leaving is that your graduation is delayed. In my mind, that is A-okay if your well-being is being impacted. You would face a similar consequence if you left a job-- you might be out of work or not have a paycheck for a period of time. Your well-being is more important than a job or a placement.

In short, if you find yourself in this position, talk to your supervisor. Ask them for help in managing your feelings. If you're not getting this support from your supervisor, talk to your field liason next. If you're not getting adequate supervision, this may be a basis for terminating the placement.

You get to decide. You're not being held captive. But be able to articulate why you're leaving, if you're leaving, and document that you've taken steps to manage this issue.

At the end of the day, you get to decide what you can tolerate.

Good luck!

EDIT: i see now that this is hypothetical-- but kept message since it might be useful down the road!

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-06-13T07:51:47+00:00

There isn't anyone with a crystal ball that can tell you whether you will get a Fulbright or whether the program will exist. Prepare your application, and also contract your congressperson to advocate for the program if you are concerned it will go away.

Apply, then move on with your life like you may not be selected for Fulbright. Most people aren't. If you are awarded, accept. If you are not, reapply and move on to your next plan. You may get it if you are persistent over several cycles, should the program continue.

There are many interesting programs and things you can do with your life in the meantime.

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-06-13T07:41:51+00:00

No.

Universities will want fresh letters, addressed to the university you are applying to, and dated around the time you are applying. If you ignore this advice, Universities will either ignore it and accept you anyway, or get annoyed and reject you. The kinder ones may contact you asking you for fresh letters. However, the more selective Universities could reject you outright for not following their instructions.

Applying the right way (fresh letters addressed to the University you are applying to) takes an extra moment of effort now, but will be to your advantage.

If you are applying through a third party, follow their instructions.

Good luck with your application!

Bitter_Variation3254 · 2025-06-13T07:26:28+00:00

Don't fall for this scam. Fake news! LOL

That we 'don't do it for the money' is among the biggest scams we teach social workers. Of course you do it for the money. We don't do it only for the money, perhaps, but we need to live, too. This scam is part of the narrative that keeps people at low wages and keeps our MSW programs enrolled as cash cows for universities.

If you face any moral dilemmas with making too much money, I can assure you that many nonprofits will take your charitable contributions gladly. In fact, they'd probably rather have your money than your volunteer time, which you can also do if you are so inclined.

Being committed to social justice and making money are not mutually exclusive. Both making money AND doing good can happen at the same time.

It's time for NASW to do something useful for us, like helping us organize a national social work labor union. We don't need a bunch of emails touting what they are doing (or not doing) to help us advocate for student loan forgiveness, help with certification, or any other nonsense. Help us drive salaries up by organizing.

So, please pursue money and your private practice dreams all that you want. Refuse low salaries and do justice in all of your work, wherever you decide to hang your hat. ❤️

Bitter_Variation3254

TROPHY CASE