Virginia Commonwealth University Reviews

"My grad program is one that is easy to follow and very hands-on. You're never reading from a text book, always learning and discovering things for yourself."

"Pros: educated faculty willing to provide help and valuable adivce. Cons: sometimes not challenging enough"

"The pros are: the school is centrally located downtown. The program I was enrolled is very unique and well respected. The cons is that you have to dedicate a lot of time to do clinical hours working in the hospital."

"Great diversity and wonderful faculty. Transportation and health services could be greatly improved"

"Overall the Psychology graduate programs at VCU are very competitive, offer a great education, and have allowed me really great networking opportunities. My biggest gripe is the lack of technology afforded to grad students- we have a very small grad student computer lab and sometimes printing is difficult to come by. I've always been offered a GTA or assistantship and everyone I've known has been able to get funding up until they graduated."

"The cons are mostly the area. It's not the safest place to be, as any crime report can tell you. But there are also a lot of great places to see and eat in the area. Most of the students can throw out a huge list of excellent places to eat with all different types of food. The program itself is excellent. The mentors care and actively work to make you better and get you the experiences you need. The program is rigorous, but it prepares you well and focuses on education that truly prepares you for your field. I absolutely love this program."

"There are several things that could be improved. Specifically, for those of us in the clinical program, we have to take practicum hours in the summer, but we are not on a 12-month assistantship, so we end up paying out of pocket. This should be changed. Clinical students should not have to pay for this since hours are such a worry, working in the clinic is basically mandatory. Second, the fact that health insurance is mandated by the gov't now, but somehow VCU gets away with NOT paying for their full-time grad student's health coverage, this is not cool. We are not allowed to hold other jobs, so we should a least be provided with partial coverage for health insurance. And third, I think making self-care and self-inquiry a part of the process in training to become a clinician should be take more seriously at this program. If we are to be therapists, we need to be taught the skills to handle stress, others suffering, interpersonal difficulties, and taught the value of self-inquiry. How can we help others if we know not how to help ourselves?"

"The goodness is that the professors are really helpful and the senior students are always willing to come in and help. Discussions in class are very rich in content and the professors respond quickly should a student decide to raise an issue via email. I relate with all my professors very well particularly because they all have demystified their position. The advantage with this is that I can express myself freely when I am with them and this makes my learning easier and better. The problem is that as a department we are young. The department is less than 5 years old. So it is a learning process for both students and professors but things can only get better especially that the professors are willing to get feedback from us so that they can improve the program."

"The program prepares students for the theoretical and empirical aspects of health policy. The seminars are a great opportunity to hear the "latest" and interesting research in the field. The program has a heavy course load requirements"

"This is a very comprehensive grad program that encompass theoretical and practical aspect of the discipline. Something that can be improved though is the possibility of trans-disciplinary work and student initiative support, this is a bit lacking."

"Pros: Very methodologically based; helps students build strong quantitative skills; only program of its kind in Virginia; small class sizes; faculty are leaders in the field. Cons: Rather new program; Network may be limited, but is growing."

"It is very competitive and demanding. I have learned a lot and receive support by the program."

"This is a really well-respected program, and is the best in the state of Virginia. Going to school in a city is a pro and a con, because there is lots of culture, but a slightly more difficult environment if you're not used to the bustle of urban life."

"The program boasts a broad spectrum of study areas for a diverse group of students. Far underrated and underexposed planning program."

"I am currently in the Extended Teacher Preparation program at VCU, which allows me to complete both a Bachelor's and Master's degrees in 5 years. I like the natural progression of the program. My advisors both within my Undergrad major and within the School of Education have been extremely helpful in ensuring I continue on the right path."

"Graphic Design (called GDES by both teachers and students in the department) at VCU was a joy to be a part of. Often times people who are going into an arts major struggle with the decision between going to a private arts school like MICA or going to a public university. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I do not regret my decision of going to a public university. There are several reasons for this -- cost was a big factor, and luckily going to VCU meant I saved money and got to learn at a nationally-ranked art program. Another was the chance to go to an art school while also being able to interact with a larger university, full of students and resources outside of my major. It was great getting to know people majoring in Forensic Science, Journalism, French and other non-art majors who lent me a new perspective on my own interests. Overall, I wouldn't trade my experience at VCU or GDES for anything."

"The experience was pleasant. Good set of peers. There are some very good professors, and there are some not so great ones. And so it would be advisable to research about the professors before one registers for a course."

"Terrific program that is focused on teaching with experience. Students work and learn simultaneously in order to maximize the potential for future employment."

"The faculty are outstanding - very open and helpful to all students. The program itself is well-designed and is ranked in the top 20 OT programs nationally, and always has a near-perfect pass rate of the certification exam. The atmosphere is a very engaging one, and it is obvious that the students are the #1 priority. The campus is located downtown, which can be either a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it."

"The faculty are all top notch instructors. However, the facilities are basic and lack more diverse and sophisticated equipment and materials. Overall, this program is great for undergraduates but lacks some necessities for a quality graduate school. Funding is partial and will ultimately result in the need for loans at some point in your academic career."