Scholarship and Grant Opportunities for a 57 Year Old Man...

March 10, 2020 10:58 PM

I am about to make a career transition and go back to school for my doctorate in social work. I am beginning to research financial aid options (general or specific, national, state, local and private) that are available to a man of my current station. -

I am a 57 year old male
I have a B.A. Degree in U.S. History from UCLA
I am currently working as a butcher (non-union)
I am aiming to apply to Cal State Los Angeles
I have a medical condition that is influencing this career transition. I received a head injury many years ago and I recently had a seizure at work due to stress. My doctor has confirmed that the seizures are from the past trauma and are being stimulated by stress and over stimulation. I would like to transition to a less stressful environment.

I would appreciate any direction, advice and suggestions y'all may have


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posted by goalyeehah to Education (9 answers total)

I don't want to rain on your parade but a getting a PhD and a future in academia or social work is about as much stress as I can imagine outside of triage.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:55 AM on March 11, 2020 [3 favorites]

The usual advice I’ve read for PhD students would be to get an acceptance with institutional funding.
posted by plonkee at 1:38 AM on March 11, 2020

What is your goal for being a PhD in Social Work? I ask simply because an MSW and required post clinical experience + passing the licensure exam is enough to open your own private practice and is less academia than a whole PhD. There are other paths to becoming a therapist as well, some with more funding some with less depending on the path you decide to take MFT, PsyD, and I think LCPC (this may be an IL one, you get after getting a Masters in Counselling). I'm not sure how much getting a PhD reduces need for post clinical work to be able to be in a private practice type of setting. There is also the CADC credentials as well, if you wanted to look into drug and alcohol counseling specifically.

In California a big way to get MSW schooling funded is to work for DCFS, though clearly that is HIGH STRESS. Though there are administrative positions and other non investigative positions, it's still a understaffed agency with high stakes and high stress, but has good benefits and they do pay for additional schooling.

If your goal is to work in academia, a big question is how long do you for see yourself working? A PHD full speed is 5 years though many take up to 7. An MSW is usually done in 2.
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:39 AM on March 11, 2020 [3 favorites]

Have you checked out the California Department of Rehabilitation?
They used to pay for training for people who needed new careers because of disabilities.

I'm a dozen years older than you. Find a two year masters program. A PhD will take too much out of you and won't necessarily lead to a job. Check out the US Dept of Labor's Occupational Outlook tool.
posted by mareli at 6:23 AM on March 11, 2020 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Yes. My mistake in wording. I only want to get a MSW.
posted by goalyeehah at 7:33 AM on March 11, 2020

When I did my MSW there were minimal funding opportunities compared to other graduate degrees because it's a professional degree rather than a research-based degree (even if you do a thesis). A lot of the typical funding bodies are invested in funding research in particular areas. You can memail me though if you want more info about what an MSW is like, or job prospects afterwards. I did mine as a mature student and second career.
posted by unstrungharp at 8:52 AM on March 11, 2020 [1 favorite]

(I also don't want to rain on your parade, OP.) Are your seizures under control to the point where you can drive? The Cal State/LA School of Social Work offers four stipends for students with specific interests, and the FAQ indicates that driving is important to internship placements. ("Although a car is not required, students will be expected to spend 16-20 hours a week in a community-based fieldwork agency. Many agencies will require that student interns have a car and valid driver’s license and auto insurance.") These two points (stipends, transportation) are items #16 and #17 on the school's MSW "must read" Information Sheet.

(Career transition help is available to people 50 and over at AARP, and I am poking around state/federal resources. CAL Grants require FAFSA submission; R2C scholarship awards have no age ceiling; UNIGO is a clearinghouse (search for scholarships by state, by major, and for graduate students).)
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:50 PM on March 11, 2020

I would recommend that you interview a cross section of Master level social workers before you assume that work is less stress than what you are currently doing.
posted by crunchy potato at 9:42 PM on March 11, 2020 [2 favorites]

You are really going to have to focus on getting a program that has work that is in line with your expectations of reducing stress. I'm assuming you are looking for an enviroment where you sit, and interactions are primarily one on one which isn't impossible . But social work is broad and covers lots of areas. For example walking around skidrow and interviewing people who are homeless if they are interested in substance abuse treatment is a thing some social workers do. Group therapy. Home visits. Working in treatment centers. Many of those are high stimulating environments that require significant movement.

Also, how do you handle deadlines and fast paced environments?
. In general social workers face high caseloads and the need for precise documentation is there. It's alot. I think it's possible to get where you want to go. I think you'll be able to work with a school to get you something you can do, but you will need to work with the school and have clear expectations of what you can and can't do backed up by medical documentation. To ensure the fit is right for you.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:57 AM on March 12, 2020 [1 favorite]