Lesley University Reviews

"I decided to go to Lesley University since I was transferring from community college. I loved the location, the degree program was what I was looking for, and I was able to play volleyball. While Lesley was a beneficial experience for me in some ways, the financial burden was not worth it."

"The community at Lesley was really strong and it was easy to find a group of friends. The college has a strong reputation for elementary education which is what drew me there. My professors were great and classes were small so they were able to build relationships with us. Over time it felt like the school officials started to care more about the art school and programs and classes offered in the liberal arts college started to decrease."

"Lesley University is a small urban school, but provides a quality foundation for students pursuing a degree in education. The professors have real world experience and a plethora of knowledge. I was consistently challenged to become the best educator possible and not settle for being adequate. Many of my skills as a teacher where developed or perfected while working towards my bachelors degree at Lesley University."

"I picked this school because I went from a large school of about 1,000 students in my class to 100 and greatly valued the difference. I was able to have close relationships to the teachers and get more effective attention than I would have in larger lecture halls. I gained mentors there that I still like to keep in contact with, because their influence and inspiration they gave me is priceless. I initially chose Lesley because I wanted to be an Art Therapist. However, my first class specializing in that subject made me realize that in wasnt as much of a partnership as I wanted with my patients. I switched to psychology and a minor in studio art to give me a broader spectrum to explore what other interests I wanted to persue. I took a mandatory biology class my first year, and I realized what an effective teacher he was. He was brilliant, with degrees from MIT and USC Berkeley, but was able to break complex concepts into easy to understand building blocks. It was the first time I felt curious and excited since my initial studies, and ended up with a minor in neuroscience. As I told him when I found my passion, he is the reason why I am where I am today. Teachers can be amazing mentors, and I find that the school size allowed me to create relationships that I wouldnt be able to elsewhere.Read Less"

"The value of a college degree has come into question given the staggering cost of higher education but there is more to school than a piece of paper. The experiences I had during my undergraduate and master's programs developed me into the highly qualified and capable person that I am. Anyone who argues that a college degree "just doesn't mean anything anymore" didn't make the full use of their time in school. If you take your time to carefully choose a field that you are not only passionate about, but compatible with, college will make you the best version of yourself.Read Less"

"It was a discussion based program that used person-focused, innovative practices to inform instructional practices."

"The resources in the print shop are great! Since class sizes are pretty small, you are able to form a very close relationship with your professors. Classes are roughly 3-6 hours long, so working in a minor might be a tad difficult - especially within the liberal arts college."

"This was an unbelievable experience. We had a cohort in Orange County. There were 13 of us in this cohort. We did most of the program online and work online and met for one weekend together a month. Each class was a very unique learning experience that pushed me as a teacher and artist. The bonds that were created through this program was amazing. Many of us have continued to remain in touch. Most of us, putting to use what we learned in the program. I definitely recommend this program to anyone looking to strengthen their teaching.Read Less"

"The Low-Residency MFA program at Lesley University is wonderful! They are open and willing to accept students and writers from all walks of life into the program. I myself have a Bachelors in Creative Writing, but there are plenty of people in my cohort and other cohorts who are much older than I am, and who have other degrees, completely different from creative writing, and careers outside of anything creative, but they applied and Lesley accepted them regardless, because they showed interest and promise in creative writing. The program also spread around scholarships to just about everyone, to assist with the cost of the program.Read Less"

"Lesley University was the best decision I could have made for my future as an art therapist. Although I haven't graduated yet, the combination of rigorous class work and fieldwork assure me that I will be fully prepared and ready to begin my art therapy career after graduating."

"Instrumental in advancing my career as a high school art teacher as well as increasing my ability to produce my own work on the side. Informs the student on Critical Theory and how to consider and examine todays emerging/established/peer and personal art in a contemporary context and maintain a knowledgeable discourse. Excellent low residency immersive program allowing the student to continue their career full time while attending graduate school full time. Diverse faculty and interdisciplinary student body.Read Less"

"Small, personable, gave me the knowledge I need to be ahead of others recieving Masters in same field"

"Pros - Great opportunity for practical experience from the classes. A wonderful network of graduates which are helpful as career resources. Cons - There isn't as much theoretical work done and the level of academic rigor was a bit lower than I expected."

"At Lesley University, I find myself enjoying how competent the professors are in their field. I don't have to feel like I am not being taught enough or the correct material because the professors are knowledgeable. They also encourage us as students, give us hope and push us to strive for better. The course load in this Counseling Psychology program is extensive, but knowing its extensiveness will lead to succeeding is a huge pro. A con to this graduate program would be the lack of diversity in my peers, and lack of diversity in experience and view points from the professors when it comes to counseling psychology.Read Less"

"Lesley University is a phenomenal institution. The professors are knowledgable and set a standard of achievement well beyond anything I have ever experienced. Their programs equip students for the real world."

"Lesley University has partnered with the Urban Teacher Center in Washington DC to create a teacher residency program that ensures success. I'm finishing my residency year now and I KNOW I'm prepared for my first year as a teacher of record. This is how teachers should be prepared and Lesley University deserves credit for stepping outside the traditional model and taking a risk that has certainly paid off. Between my graduate course work towards a dual degree in Elementary and Special Education, the one-on-one coaching, the guidance of my host teacher, and the collaboration with my peers, I have received the best experiential education possible.Read Less"

"The pros are the faculty and curriculum. The overall philosophy of the educational teaching."

"Generally speaking, I love being at Lesley University for music therapy. Everyone in the music therapy program, or even the music therapy community as a whole (which we are encouraged to be a part of), comes from such different backgrounds and I think that is a huge strength of the program. I am in classes with people who I can learn from. Additionally, we are required to have internships - My internship has been a fantastic experience. Hands-on experience is crucial to expressive therapies and Lesley helps to provide that. My only con of the music therapy program is the intense focus on expressive therapies as a whole. While we are technically in an expressive therapies program, I do think that evidence-based work is hugely important to the field of music therapy and I wish we were offered courses that focused more on neurologic music therapy or other types of music therapy. After all, music therapy should be client based and you never know what a client might need!Read Less"

"I am a part of a partnership between Lesley University and the Urban Teacher Center in Washington DC where I am completing a 1 year teacher residency and 3 year fellowship in a DC public charter school while I earn a dual masters in Elementary and Special Education. This program represents the future of teacher preparation programs. Lesley University has taken a huge step towards ensuring that the next generation of teachers go into the classroom with real experience backed up by research focused course content. Additionally, Lesley and UTC are receptive and reflective. The program is evolving and becoming better while I'm still enrolled.Read Less"

"The flexibility of the Lesley low-residency program fits my needs well. I also appreciate the rigorous curriculum and expectations."