remember, if you eventually want to do therapy, you do not get training in that in the MSW curriculum. That requires post-grad training. Social workers are often simply discharge planners in hospital settings (when I worked in a hospital, the saying was "discharge planning begins immediately upon admission"). Social workers are vastly underpaid. My teaching friends make far more than a social worker. Depending upon clientele, it is often few and far between when it comes to getting that warm/squishy feeling. You must must must speak to current social workers and social work students to hear their stories about the good and not-so-good. Speak to first year social workers, if possible, too. Then, when you have all the info, sit and think on it and see where your heart/gut lead you. Good luck, it is a big decision.