Which career is better a career in academia or a career in social work?
Asked by Deronta S
Hey. I am a college student who is about to graduate in december. i am trying to decide whether or not to go into the field of social work or the field of academia. I hear bad things about both careers and i don't want to make the mistake of choosing one than regretting it. i want to make the best decision for me so i am trying to get as much information as possible before i finally choose. I am interested in hearing from people in either field who can tell me what it is like, Any advice is appreciate.

Best Answer:
You have time to decide as you will need a minimum of a master's degree. By academia do you mean teaching? With a master's you can teach at a community college...need a Ph.D. to teach at a university and strong methodology/research skills. Slots are rare and competitive. Teaching at a CC you will have a heavy teaching load...9-10 classes per academic year. If you love teaching it's a good life. Practicing in the field is hard. I mentor social workers in the field. They have a heavy case load, lots of paperwork, and many times put themselves in risky places. It is very stressful, but also rewarding. You will need a MSW to advance in the field. Work on your master's....then make the decision. You'll need to take the GRE to get into a good accredited program. Good luck to you! (psychology professor)