Amanda Lynne

Review of Sofia university

I'm graduating from the G-MATP program next month,...

I'm graduating from the G-MATP program next month, and I have such mixed feelings about my experience at Sofia. On the one hand, my program director, professors and classmates absolutely exceeded my expectations. I am working as a Creative & Spiritual Director with a busy clientele. I was able to complete almost three certificates: Creative Expression, Spiritual Psychology and Transpersonal Eco-Psychology. The coursework took up enough bandwidth of my life without overtaking it. Nancy Rowe has truly built an outstanding program with a delicate balance of academic rigor and open-heartedness. I received mentoring, personal attention and flexibility to travel the world as I studied. Some of my classmates and mentors have become family to me. The Transpersonal Psychology program is epic, and WAY more affordable and accessible than the competing programs.

That being said--the administration has been a complete customer service nightmare to work with. I compare it to my experiences leaving the United States, and my subsequent relief when I return to the customer service here. I've been to many schools, and I was shocked at the poor customer service upon entering the program. Admissions counselors would blatantly disregard my communications, until I eventually got used to expecting the worst when it came to their administration. Then, TWICE--the financial aid office made epic mistakes with my financial aid that left me in dire economic hardship. One time, I was left stranded in an airport with my seven year old because of their error. They had to have the president help resolve it. The other time, they made a mistake in processing my loans that meant I couldn't take my last needed course to finish my Transpersonal Eco-Psychology certificate that I had already taken three of four credits four. Now, no one will help me apply for graduation. I have called, emailed, complained--nothing. No response. I'm a student that needs small accomodations, and not only did no one help me get accommodation, but I cannot BEG for accommodation when it comes to the non-academic part of that institution.

I would advise students considering Sofia to go into the program understanding that they will get what they pay for. I got so fed up with it that I decided on California Institute for Integral Psychology for my PhD instead. You couldn't pay me to continue banging my head against the emotional exhaustion of trusting Sofia with more tens of thousands of dollars. That said, the program was worth it. I WOULD recommend the GMATP program to anyone and everyone. It far outweighs cons of the administration.

I do recommend you attend this university--with proper expectations of the administration's capacity to assist you. Perhaps your experience will be different than mine and I am an exception--not the rule.