Sofia University Reviews

"I had high hopes for this school, because before I applied 4 years ago, I reached out to alumni and asked about their experience, they recited they had much issues with administration and financial aid. I was okay with this information because those things can be easily resolved as well as since they were problems years before I applied, I assumed they would have been resolved. I was wrong. I have been with Sofia for 3 years (I took a year off in the middle because of a car accident) each year, there was a high number of quality instructor turn-over, its very sad to know that Sofia could not balance the needs of a university and quality instructors. This year alone, we are given last minute schedule changes, (after semester starts) the communication of expectation from faculty is spotty at best and basically it feels like a free-for-all. They are very California centric and seem to keep you guessing on whether or not the university will actually be there by the time you graduate. Much of what I am learning here is a regurgitation from various Ted talks and your basic, canvas outline, fill in the blank, do you discussion board, write your paper, this school is no longer experiential after covid, I wanted this school because of the incredible people they once recruited to do immersion courses. Now, they hire people who have a Doctorate because they have a doctorate, not because they are qualified. If I had been given the chance to understand clearly what I was getting myself into, I would have signed up for the Transpersonal program at Naropa, or stayed local, to my community, and taken Transpersonal courses on the side, or joined IANDS, or started a group. Now, after a recent addictions course where the syllabus seems to change every week, with another clearly green and incompetent instructor, I am leaving, I am not sure I can take another year of this level of un-organization from an Institution that wants to tote the names of respectable leaders in psychology. Try Naropa Uinversity or just call your local university and ask about integrating transpersonal courses into your degree plan.Read Less"

"The program was hugely disorganized with severe administrative and structural issues. The program dismissed the cognitive and intellectual in a major way to make room for these "emerging" and alternative "modalities." The master's program included a body orientated approach through its length to also develop the "experiential" in classes and students. It failed to develop and provide a good enough structure for students specially those from minority ethnic backgrounds. The school didn't have any basic services in career, for employment, or for resources. The program was seriously infantilizing and for those from bilingual background, the program created huge skills gaps. Staff and faculty were unprofessional and unethical making claims that were untrue and lacked scientific validity. It's clinical program lacked a solid foundation and is always drawing on questionable approaches and new age spirituality. What's worse the school doesn't take any accountability and pushes issues under the rug. They claim to have changed A or B because X and Y but don't actually address the issues. To make things they sponsored obscure emerging "teachers" and "Guides"Read Less"

"Transpersonal psychology is a very specific area of study and not for everyone. It is unique in that it combines spirituality with traditional psychological perspectives. The program is one of only a handful in the U.S. The school is undergoing many exciting changes and is really on the cutting edge of research. While not exactly traditional in its scope, it is a place for those who believe in a more holistic approach to wellness."

"Lot's of room for improvement. Like that I get to focus on my area of interest without much push-back."

"I'm doing the low residency program, which can make it a little hard to feel connected with my classmates at times, since most of my classes are online. Other than that, I feel like my classes really encourage questioning the status quo and are really accepting of a more holistic approach to psychology than a lot of state universities would be."

"This is a transpersonal based psychology school which incorporates mind, body and spirit for holistic perspective to be able to counsel whole people! It is the cutting edge of the way that most psychology is now moving towards. The experience of learning requires developing mindfulness and extensive commitment to personal growth as well. I am in the Masters in Counseling Psychology Program which is preparation for licensure in state of California as a Marriage and Family Therapist with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Competitive pricing and Low residency program which you may do online at home except for two times per year you go to the school for intensives, which are intense! I love it. I am so grateful to be a student.Read Less"

"Since a large part of the program is on-line, some of the questions do not fit. Overall, the school is quite good in the area of the field for which it is best known. The faculty is world-class and very supportive. The student body is diverse and motivated. I feel a deep connection to this program and all those involved with it."