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... Read More 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.

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,... Read More but compatible with, college will make you the best version of yourself.

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... Read More looking to strengthen their teaching.

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... Read More promise in creative writing. The program also spread around scholarships to just about everyone, to assist with the cost of the program.

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... Read More body.

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... Read More peers, and lack of diversity in experience and view points from the professors when it comes to counseling psychology.

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... Read More one-on-one coaching, the guidance of my host teacher, and the collaboration with my peers, I have received the best experiential education possible.

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... Read More 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!

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... Read More course content. Additionally, Lesley and UTC are receptive and reflective. The program is evolving and becoming better while I'm still enrolled.