University of St Augustine for Health Sciences Reviews

"Although the program had a rocky start with Covid and being primarily online, I truly feel like the professors put everything they had into preparing us for our fieldwork. The professors are what makes this school. Not even all the textbooks in the world can fully prepare someone to be an OT. The field is a hands on job. But they taught us how to think and view the world like an OT, which serves as building blocks for our careers. I’ve also seen the revisions to the program for current and incoming students and think the changes are extraordinary and will increase the depth of knowledge for students."

"The Occupational Therapy program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is a great opportunity for students who are willing to be challenged and who believe in the pursuit of excellence. USAHS offers both a doctoral and masters program for aspiring OT's, and even has a flex program wherein you can earn your OT degree and still manage other responsibilities. USAHS supports our military members and their families, and is a great location to attend if your family is stationed on the west coast."

"St. Augustine San Marcos campus prepared me for my future career in occupational therapy. Furthermore the entry doctoral program allowed me to specialize within the first three years of being an OT. I would highly recommend this program for any student wishing to go into emerging practice areas."

"I was able to do the tDPT, which was perfect for me at the time to be able to work, start a family and continue my education. The schedule was flexible and met my needs. The instructors were top-notch and really cared about each student. I continue to recommend USA to undergraduate students that come into our clinic to shadow that are interested in our profession. Now with so many campuses and the FLEX program, this school seems like the perfect choice."

"Almost all of my professors show compassion and willingness to help your learning at this school! I feel welcomed and cared for by all of the faculty. I feel that the activities and labs really support my learning and connect the lecture material. The simulations and the actors who come in also support my learning and give me a "real" perspective on client care and how to help clients as early as first term. This school also has great support with tutoring options, helpful feedback from the Writing Center, and a great library with models and devices to check out."

"If you are thinking about going to this University, do it! If you are striving in becoming a healthcare provider, I truly believe this university will help find your strengths and confidence to help your future patients continue their story. My time at USAHS was a blessing. It allowed me to build a wonderful foundation in occupational therapy. As a newer graduate who is now working in an inpatient setting, I have found myself looking back at my didactic work, fieldwork experience, and mentors. I found the professors to be helpful and passionate about helping us succeed. Not only that the professors are passionate, they truly love what they do. I enjoyed listening to their experiences and found their insight to be beneficial. While the program is academically challenging and accelerated, it is doable. The education I have received has given me a continued path in my journey as a license occupational therapist with advance certifications."

"This will probably be the most EXPENSIVE MISTAKE I have ever made! This school is privately owned and all they care about is money. I was in the Flex MOT program in California. Instructors are awful - almost all of them have outside jobs and are in the OTD program at St. Augustine, which makes me think they are only teaching there to get a cheaper degree. Most of the classes rely heavily on watching outdated videos on Blackboard, only to find out that instructors actually want us to do it a different way. The worst classes were our pediatrics, mental health and assistive technology- boring lectures, a lot of busy work and there was almost no NBCOT material covered. There's also no advanced technology like they advertise on their website. The education here is less than mediocre and the program higher-ups all know it. They promised students change each semester, but it never happened. We had class 9 times a semester, which comes out to 2-3 full weekends a month. The enrollment staff lied to us about that, probably to get more students to apply. Also, you will get screwed over on your clinical placement because the fieldwork coordinators are highly unorganized and don't communicate well."

"I liked the smaller setting of the schools, the cohorts became very close to eachother and were a great support system throughout the program. I really liked the hybrid program the school offers (lectures are video-recorded/labs in person). I am overall satisfied with the impact my education has had on my career and the mentors I have gained as an Occupational therapist who were once my professors."

"The st. Augustine campus ROCKS!!!! They prepared me very well for the real world. All of my teachers were excited to help us learn and would find new ways to teach us when things got boring. They provided us with great resources and foundational knowledge to prepare for NBCOT as well."

"I attended University of Saint Augustine in Saint Augustine, Florida. I was able to complete my degree under the Flex (Hybrid) Program. Not only do I feel that the college prepared me for my future, I was also able to obtain my first position as an occupational therapist from the job fair they offered. I highly recommend this school and program. Since becoming a graduate, I have taken on fieldwork students who demonstrate excellence in the field of occupational therapy as well."

"USAHS truly prepares you for clinical and real-world experience. The flipped classroom format fosters time management, research, critical thinking, and individual initiative. The curriculum is carefully crafted to scaffold your learning starting with the fundamentals and then building on clinical skills. The curriculum as a whole and with each course is also always being improved based on student feedback to ensure the best possible results for learning and clinical/fieldwork preparation. All the OT professors at the Miami campus go above and beyond to make sure each student succeeds. Whether it is with additional review sessions, open lab hours, consistent and open communication, or lecture breaks, the professors make it a point to get to know each of their students and check in on us. The professors are the best part of this school. The facilities are also specifically designed for the programs offered, so there is no better school to get your OT or PT degree."

"In just a few short weeks I will graduate from the St. Augustine campus PPOTD program. I am about to become a double alumni!!! I am so excited and grateful to this institution for supporting me at all different stages of my academic and professional life. If you want to be an expert in your field, and have while you get there, go to USAHS. Some of the highlights of my experience were: working with faculty who are also currently practicing in clinic, the helpful staff of the library who are always able to assist with hard to locate evidence, the faculty who have supported and encouraged me to push through my insecurities and of course the bottomless cups of coffee supplied to all students by the administration. Thank you for helping me be the best OT I can be and for giving me the skills I need to succeed in the best profession ever."

"I am an upcoming graduate reviewing for the full-time OTD program at the Miami, FL campus. The educators are highly knowledgable and significantly influenced my positive experience at USAHS. Educators are experienced OT practitioners, engaging, responsive to questions, empathetic, and willing to support students in areas that they need. Several professors and fieldwork educators have expressed that their support continues beyond graduation. Overall, I am very happy with my experience and learning at USAHS and would recommend the program to those who are interested in Occupational Therapy."

"As a member of the hybrid program, USA gave me the flexibility to achieve my goals without having to put my life on pause. The instructors are knowledgeable, compassionate, and facilitate a classroom environment that’s suited for all learning styles."

"I had an amazing experience at USAHS. The best part about my experience was that the faculty really cared. It is not an easy program, but they give you the tools you need to succeed. They don’t only teach you the academics, but they help you grow as a person, professionally and emotionally. I feel very fortunate to be a graduate of USAHS. They also support you after you graduate. They have an alumni association which connects current and graduated students which is a great advantage when you first get out."

"Finding an OT program can be overwhelming, but at USA I knew I made the right choice. I started the residential OT program during the midst of Covid, but it didn't stop the ability of the school to provide the educational skills needed. Once we fully transferred from virtual learning (due to covid) to fully in-person classes it really elevated the overall experience. The professors are all extensive in their knowledge and always willing to share their expertise and personal experiences in the field (for various settings!). The bond you form with your cohort as well is one that will continue to grow with you through your educational journey and out into the field. Most importantly, however, I want to especially note the preparedness you feel as you go off to Fieldwork (because it can feel very scary!). I, like many of my peers, felt very nervous about it until I actually started my rotations and realized that the school really did prepare us much more than other programs prepared their students. It came through in background knowledge for approach to treating patients, being able to advocate for other treatment methods, and it especially shone through while taking the NBCOT exam. Even after graduation I'm still in contact with multiple professors from my time during the program and I look forward to being able to step out into the world as a proud graduate of USA and proud OT practitioner."

"The residential occupational therapy doctorate program at the University of St. Augustine of Health Sciences San Marcos campus has been an amazing experience so far! Looking for a school that has the same values as I do regarding inclusive communities, environmental stewardship, and client-centered evidenced based practice was a process but St. Augustine made that choice easy and has proven to really prove itself over and over. I am so thankful for this school, community, and all of the opportunities that have been provided. Highly recommend!!!"

"Overall, I was so glad that I attended this program because of the numerous unique opportunities that this campus had to offer, the faculty I met, and the level of preparedness I achieved before level II fieldwork. This university provides many outlets for students to get involved, such as the Student Journal of Occupational Therapy (an open-access journal that publishes student work from across the country). Additionally, this campus has peer tutoring services, writing center services, an active SOTA board, and hands-on experiences during level one fieldwork through various outlets such as the on-campus pro bono clinic and local community sites. The faculty at USAHS are all very passionate about the field of occupational therapy and are strong advocates for student success. Most of the faculty I encountered were very approachable and answered my questions promptly. Furthermore, they all took time to get to know me personally and to connect me to individuals within the community, which significantly contributed to my professional development and success at my capstone site. While in the didactic portion of my time at USAHS, I was provided with my “just right challenge” and was prepared to go into fieldwork (more than I realized), despite having less hands-on time due to COVID. Using the knowledge, tips, and skills I learned from my time at USAHS, I excelled during my fieldwork rotations, with one educator telling me that I was one of the best students she had in her 25 years of supervising students. I attribute that success to the professionalism and knowledge instilled during my time as a student at USAHS."

"To begin, I am rating the St. Augustine, FL campus. Although, I am grateful for the faculty of this institution granting me the opportunity to pursue my doctoral degree in OT. I honestly rate this campus 2/10 on a 10-point scale. I have had few faculty members who were professional and willing to assist me which I am grateful to them. However, the organization structure of the OTD program, fieldwork coordination, and structure of graduation severely needs improvement. I endured a high amount of stress that was not related to classes due to several professors lacking organization of classes and either not answering my questions or answering them halfway. When trying to get some of the profs. to answer (verbally/email) I felt as if I was being a bother. There is a lot to mention; however, the most recent was graduation, myself including some others did not receive an honors cord when we should have because there was not enough cords available. When speaking to someone from registrar regarding this situation their response indicated she was trying to come up with something to make it seem as if it was not their fault. Overall, while attending USA at the St. Augustine, FL campus I had several bad experiences that should not have occurred as a student. Hopefully, this review can provide insight to others."

"I can’t think of a better place to complete my degree. All the professors put students first, understand where we (as a Flex class) are coming from. The atmosphere and the campus is student friendly and the neighboring area is also beautiful. I am proud to become a USAHS alum."