A prospective student wrote asking: Question: I am slaving away at this Personal Statement of Purpose... got any suggestions on what to say.. or what NOT to say? Would love your input!
The briefest advice I could give I think applies to both writing and social work (can you tell I'm a social work student with a journalism background?)
Pick what seems to be the main issue going on and develop that as well as you can, as clearly as you can and as creatively as you can.
If there's no direction in your work with clients, no focus on any central issue(s), it may be interesting for you, but that seems to be an overwhelming task placed on the client. Similarly, when you write, pick a direction and stick with it. Often people name all their accomplishments when they write applications, building themselves up. They forget that they are sending their application to someone who has to sift through multiple applications and would love to read something interesting.
Great stories, and great storytellers, have a clear, thoughtful voice and develop complicated, interesting characters. I'd aim for sharing that - i.e. core experiences and issues that have driven you to the place of wanting to be a social worker - and how you hope to integrate it.
Some of the traits of desired MSW students according to the application are self-awareness, empathy, objectivity as well as a value for diversity and the biopsychosocial approach. If you can communicate that you value and practice these traits - through a story, not just saying that you value them, I'm sure that can't hurt.
Again, I'll emphasize this one point, make sure you keep it concise and interesting. You can write up to six pages. That doesn't mean you have to. If you're going to take someone through six pages of material, make sure you give them an incentive to by giving them a gripping story not the cookie cutter listing of everything about you.
Contacting the admissions office wouldn't be a bad idea either. If you want a sample of what I wrote (hey I got in, so it can't be so bad), you can download a draft of my MSW essay here.