I began my journey in 2020 and successfully completed the Clinical PsyD program. Without a doubt, I'm a stronger, more effective clinician because of it. Meridian University excels at providing tools that support applied learning, and I'm incredibly grateful for the supportive faculty and enriching curriculum. I would confidently recommend MU to anyone pursuing a career in clinical psychology. read more

I've been a student at Meridian for a year and a half, working toward a master's degree in education. After this short time, I feel like a completely different version of myself than when I first enrolled. Being a student at this school involves more than just learning the basic information required to check all the boxes for a degree or licensure. If you're open to intense academic and emotional work that has the potential to help you become a more centered and capable person and professional, then I highly recommend looking into this school. My experience with Meridian has changed the way I see and respond to the world. As I grow into a more capable, confident, and authentic version of myself, I engage with the world more comfortably than I used to. I have a great deal of room to grow, but now I have the tools to more easily pinpoint and take my next steps to keep developing. This is because Meridian encourages students to reflect on, discuss, deeply explore, and embody the many aspects of human experience and development. I appreciate that they focus on self-reflection, experiential learning, working through challenging emotions, and dialoguing with peers to build developmental practitioner skills. The variety of opportunities to practice what is learned truly helps me to embody the lessons. At the same time, the academics are rigorous, well-researched, well-planned, and up-to-date. This combination of information and practice is what I think makes the program so effective at potentially transforming the student. I say "potentially" because ultimately the student is responsible for their own transformation. Not everyone will align with the ways of this school, and it seems that the students who feel less aligned do have a harder time getting through it. But also, some of them are still going strong and honestly will probably grow more than those who don't have a hard time. The workload is intense, but also manageable (especially with the asynchronous schedule and virtual access). I am attending school full-time while working full-time, running a podcast with another student, and starting a business. The staff and faculty will not hold your hand. However, I do feel that they supply you with everything you need. Sometimes that includes NOT holding your hand and letting you work through the challenges and discomfort that go along with claiming your own path. This type of transformation can be uncomfortable because it requires you to constantly reframe the way you look at life and to reflect on challenging experiences, but the program is also designed to help you learn to be more comfortable with being uncomfortable. If you are ready to take responsibility for yourself, your professional path, your actions, and how you approach the world, then this might be exactly the challenge you need to become a leader in your own life and in your community. Regarding my own personal path, I don't think I could have gotten a better education. *** I volunteered to spend way too much time writing this review (when I really should be doing homework) because I feel so much gratitude to the staff and faculty. You can tell they care by how much thought and energy they dedicate to developing the best possible learning experience and environment. My life is exponentially better because of their hard work. They taught me to be more concise than I am in this review, but what can I say? My passion and gratitude for this school have flooded over in the form of words. Now back to homework... read more

I've just finished at Meridian. I wasn't sure about getting a master's degree for a few reasons: 1. My background (educationally at least) is not in psychology 2. as concerns about family and work obligations 3. I had a mixed experience with secondary and college education many years ago. Meridian's online program in psych is more engaging than you would expect given what online education used to be like. There is a A LOT of writing though. While there are in-person classes (optional) and Zoom based live classes, scheduling around those times can be challenging. I did have two great academic advisors during my time, which is helpful. If you are interested in a more alternative approach to psychology and are looking for an online format, I would recommend Meridian. The faculty have been mostly solid, and I've made some good 'pen pal' friends over the last two years. And btw, if you are worried you'll be older than everyone else like I was -- I found that that there was quite diversity of age amongst the other psychology students. read more

Meridian is very non traditional. It has been a good fit for me, but I do not believe it would be a good fit for everyone. A few key things to keep in mind: 1. The online platform is not great, but they have been talking a lot about replacing it. 2. Lot's of age diversity, which is nice! 3. It is expensive. *Do not* fail a class. 4. You need to be comfortable being judged beyond just standard college expectations... there are expectations that you become more capable in 'reflexivity' (as one example) and I'm still not sure how I feel about that. Faculty are fantastic, but I wish there was more face-to-face time with them. I did find some other students troubling... but the other students I made friends with are AMAZING and we are very much keeping in contact. Do not do the accelerated format. The workload is extreme if you have family or work requirements and they are not very sympathetic to that mid-term. read more

The admissions team was great when I was first getting started. The student services team is difficult to reach, but they are helpful. Almost all the faculty have been really great. A couple faculty haven't seemed very familiar with Meridian's transformative model, which can be challenging. The online learning platform is not great but the classes are in Zoom which is fine. I haven't been on campus yet. My second academic advisor has been really helpful -- I shifted to them from the first advisor I was assigned. read more

I have been a student at Meridian for about a year now. I was not expecting my masters to be this challenging and Meridian is not for everyone. If you just want to get the degree as easily as possible, this is for sure not for you! I Before Meridian, I actually thought I was in that group, but the transformative learning aspect has actually been really valuable. (If you don't know what that is, find out first!) The biggest downside of Meridian would be the online platform, but they are apparently replacing that? Faculty are great. Staff are.. fine, but you have to email with them mostly. I guess my key point is that you learn everything you need for counseling licensing, but also get a lot of support with growing as a person along the way, which is of course useful in counseling, but also beyond that. I would recommend Meridian to anyone who is up for the challenge. (I'm doing the Accelerated format by the way -- it is fast, but it is a lot of work) read more

I've had a positive experience so far in the MU Psyd program. The first few quarters were somewhat stressful, but after that it's been pretty flexible. The faculty are pretty accessible and the class sizes are mostly small. I would caution people considering MU that Meridian is not APA accredited but they are WASC accredited. Apparently they don't plan to pursue APA accreditation, which may be important depending on what state you are in. Also some of the course content can be pretty intense and personal. So you should be prepared for that! At least in the Psychology program which I guess is to be expected. I would recommend for those looking for a challenging online psychology program. Faculty all seem to be qualified and have expertise. I haven't taken many electives yet though. Some of the textbooks are old. Other students have mentioned that as well. read more

I have had a good experience at Meridian so far. I'm in the PsyD program and online format. The key difference at Meridian is transformative learning, and it is NOT for everyone. There were a couple people who left in the first semester because they wanted traditional courses only. I understand that, but I've really appreciated the more unique approach to learning psychology from the inside out. My academic advisor is great. I wish it was easier to contact staff, but that isn't something I have to do all that often. Really all the faculty I've had have been great -- very knowledgable and inspiring. I would recommend Meridian to anyone who is seeking an online psychology program and wants to go deep in that process. read more

My experience at Meridian has been challenging and unexpected, but ultimately very worthwhile. The faculty are passionate and experienced and from my perspective the student body comes from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. I'm still in touch with friends I made and collaborating professionally with multiple graduates -- hard to overstate the value of that. I will say that whatever you are expecting, the Meridian experience will be different than that and may be frustrating at times for sure. If you haven't read about transformative learning, do that first! read more

Don't go here... The Institution is not what it claims to be. Disorganized. Dispassionate. They shove as much information down your throat as they can, while not assisting or appropriately guiding the students. I left, thankfully. Never looked back. read more

I enrolled in an online grad program with Meridian. The first few days of class were treacherous to locate help. I dropped the classes in the first week. The staff explained I would not have any charges if I dropped the first week. A month later, I received a 900 bill for initiation fees which was placed on my credit. They arbitrarily charge whatever amount after a student has been enrolled. I asked multiple staff to apprise me (4 years ago) at what part of their documents expressed I owed an initiation fee, but no one provided this information. Thank God I'm receiving a master's degree with another university that offers much more academic excellence and integrity. I'm glad I had this adverse experience at the beginning since it prevented me from getting a degree at an opportunistic nest of iniquity. read more

I found Meridian University through an online search for a Depth Psychology education. Perusing their website I found that one of my favorite authors was adjunct faculty. After enrollment, I encountered one world-class professor after another. The quality of education and the learning methodology allowed me to absorb the curriculum rather than memorize information. Now as a Doctor of Psychology, I carry my knowledge in an embodied way. The capacity I find most valuable as a graduate is my ability to hold complexity and challenge the mind's tendency to grasp for fantasy silver bullets. I feel I can now help people by witnessing their stories in all their messiness and broadness of perspective, without reducing them to a cookie-cutter diagnosis. Instead, I facilitate my clients' abilities to expand their self-understanding and experience the fullness of who they are. I recommend this school for anyone who wants to bring the psyche (soul) back to our mental health system. I want to add that I have seen what I believe to be false information in a contributor's one-star review. The individual implied that reviews were not made by actual students and stated we do not use the term cohort in group. I personally refer time and again to my cohort when I speak about my experience. Secondly, I know at least two of the student contributors of other five-star reviews. Lastly, I was certainly not paid or coerced to make this review. I could continue to write at much length about the unique attributes of this school, but encourage you to have your own experience. This is a WASC accredited school and has been California approved since the 90s. The reviewer's questioning of the legality of this beloved institution is absurd. read more

I have been a part of Meridian University for almost four years. I came here to earn my Master's degree in Psychology and shortly after I started my studies, I decided to stay and finish my Doctoral degree. I chose this University for its distinct vision and values it represents and teaches to its students. The University met and exceeded my expectations in many ways. It is an institution that values diversity, teaches and practices cultural humility, respects indigenous values and builds into its curriculum alternative modes of expression including Expressive Arts, myth, symbolism and metaphor. It constantly strives to challenge and bring transformation to students by teaching self-reflection, ability to see different perspectives, to express their creativity and their views and to build skills that can be used for personal, professional and cultural transformation. The depth and breadth of the studies exceeds the traditional model of education and encourages personal involvement based on experience, brings insight and understanding that goes beyond theoretical, that is truly lived. Curriculum is enriched by a variety of sources including wisdom traditions, newest scientific discoveries, cutting edge approaches to societal and environmental challenges and practical approaches to living our lives in this society and this time. Meridian's transformative learning affected me on many levels and taught me skills I can use in my personal development and also will keep affecting those I will work with. It also taught me value of community and community building skills I can use in my work with groups. I am in the last course of my Doctoral program, preparing my dissertation proposal and I feel very lucky that I have found Meridian and I have grown in its rich environment in ways I could have not imagined before. I like who I am becoming thanks to its influence and I am grateful for the education I received here. read more

When I decided to return to student life to pursue a masters degree, I was looking for something unconventional. I was burned out by my ungraduate experience, one dominated by a single activity: cramming my brain full of facts and producing my "knowledge" on exams. Was there any other type of education out there? Although I chose Psychology as my subject matter focus, more than anything I wanted an educational experience that gave me space to explore who I was as a person: from my personal and cultural values to my mission in life. I knew that whatever career path I chose, getting grounded in who I am (and what I'm here to do) would give me the greatest chance at being successful. Without it, I would be rudderless, I would be operating at half-power, and I would be working for not much more than a paycheck. Meridian University was the ONLY school I found in California that matched what I was looking for. It was worth the 3-hour drive to attend weekend coursework. It was worth the uncomfortable moments of exploring the dark internal narratives that were holding me back. It was worth the shock to my wounded, inflexible ego. Today I am thriving in my career as a healthcare executive. I am a cultural ambassador, guiding my team to develop their personal and professional potential and embrace the values at the heart of our enterprise. And I am moving toward something bigger, driven by the personal mission I discovered while attending Meridian. If you want a truly empowering, transformational experience - along with a subject matter discipline that dares to think critically and creatively about the human systems we inhabit - there is one school I think will change your life forever. It did mine. read more

I searched the entire world for a graduate school that would afford me the space to craft my individual voice, my unique contribution to the world as a leader and clinician. I was given the cognitive, philosophical, experiential, and poetic implements to do just this at Meridian. What I put in was what I got out, which is just what I wanted given that I had a vision about graduate school before I entered. Having received my doctorate from Meridian I can see that it was the ideal place for incubating my potential. Like every institution there were imperfections, but these imperfections were, for me, anulled by Meridian's distinctive inclusiveness of raw, unmediated reality along with its sophisticated philosophical diversity. read more

I graduated from Meridian with a PhD in clinical Psychology. The curriculum was both academically challenging and promoted self reflection. Today I am a successful clinical psychologist in private practice. I enjoy the respect of my peers and the satisfaction of seeing my patients improve. I treasure the experiences I had at Meridian and view my decision to attend this university one of the best decisions I ever made. read more

BEWARE, THIS PLACE IS TRASH!!!!! This place is a scam; I went to an information session on zoom to hear about their program and was kicked out by Dior Davenport because I didn't want my face recorded on zoom. The School also did not provide any vital information for the 10 minutes I was allowed to view before being booted. Furthermore, they didn't give any information on disability support services, the modality of the program, or any information on MOU partnerships for internship. Also, when I called the San Francisco and Los Angles campuses, nobody answered my calls. The admission counselor Elmi provided some information but was unclear on licensure ability. Therefore I'm unsure if this degree qualifies since she stated, "It is ultimately the student's responsibility to stay informed of changing laws, regulations, and forms, and to assure their compliance with these changes" regarding licensure. All in all, please go somewhere else because this place is a scam. read more

I went to Meridian University. I enrolled in their doctorate program but decided to graduate early with a Masters in Counseling Psych. Not sure if you still have that flexibility there but that really worked for me. I was chomping at the bit to become a therapist for realz and to leave all the studying and writing papers behind. The curriculum and the emphasis on experiential learning was spot on/excellent. For sure you have to learn some academic stuff to become a therapist but really the rubber meets the road in your willingness to explore your self and your relationships with others in a deep experiential way. Meridian provided this and then some. I can't imagine where else can compare with the depth of the experience and wisdom on offer by faculty. You can't go wrong with Meridian - the flexibility of the programs offered, their emphasis on creating cultural leaders not just therapists and the curriculum stands alone. I met wonderful friends within my cohort. I will cherish my time at Meridian always. I give Meridian my highest recommendation! read more

I have recently received a LOT of messages from students, ex students, and people who are considering applying and want more information from me. Please note: I don't have any personal advice to give post-Meridian. That said, much of what I have heard recently have been similar disturbing stories as I heard back when it was the Institute of Imaginal Studies. With all things, if your gut tells you this is a bad scene, or not a good fit, listen to it. Good luck! read more

My experience with Meridian has been one in which there is a lack of transparency, student support, and clarity about processes. For example you are not able to speak with any staff outside of admissions team members. This means that you cannot ask questions or communicate with faculty members unless an admissions team members determines that your questions require communication with someone other then themselves. This was touted as a standard operating component and how the university runs its programs. As an admitted student who previously was granted access to faculty and was told I could speak to one repeatedly I was not allowed to speak with anyone outside of an admissions rep even after she scheduled me an appointment with an adviser and then changed her mind. For over 3 months I asked to speak to a faculty member regarding my questions and was ignored and told to send my questions. Upon sending questions I was told to clarify and send them again and again, this occurred across days and weeks. Even after attending an info session and a professor specifically telling me that I needed to speak with faculty directly concerning my question I was still prevented from doing so. My mentor a dean at a community college encouraged me to advocate for myself and reach out to a staff member if I could, I happened to have the email address of another staff person and contacted them. They told me that again it was policy that all communication go through admission reps unless that person determines that I should speak to someone. Nothing about this was democratic, none of it put the student or consumer first. I have lost my deposit, application fee, and everything because I chose not to enroll because of this weird dynamic. I would encourage other mental health professionals to choose an alternate program where student centered polices are the focus. read more

As a graduate of Meridian my experience was that it is a great place to study in an environment that fosters experiential learning and is structured for mid-career adults who need to continue working while studying. I had many wonderful learning experiences with faculty and my classmates and am now a licensed psychologist with a thriving private practice. read more

I graduated Meridian in 2015 with my PhD. I came into Meridian as Advanced Standing having completed my Masters at a different university. I left the previous graduate school because I felt the curriculum was limiting, and the experiences they were "guiding" were not safely contained. Coming to Meridian was a breath of fresh air. Academically I was challenged on all fronts. Once I wrote a paper that was not up to par. Instead of simply giving me a low grade, they made me rewrite it because they wanted to make sure I understood the concepts. They cared. I learned theory from multiple psychological disciplines and domains of knowledge. The professors wove all of this information together into an all encompassing version of Integral Psychology. I loved the majority of my professors. On a personal level, it felt as though each class deepened and refined my ability to reflect on my reactions, examine the underlying structures that lead to my reaction, and helped me move into creative action. I utilize this educational experience every day in both my professional life working with families and as a mother and wife. It transformed me, and it continues to work on me. It has left me with the insatiable desire to continue to learn and deepen into life. I always recommend this University. read more

The rating of 5 stars is based on the overall experience as a student, the compassion of staff, and the diverse curriculum, and personal growth that prepared me to be a Psychologist. I chose Meridian University for the holistic and integrative approach to psychotherapy. The programs there offer students the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. The staff was supportive throughout the time I attended especially when an unanticipated crisis arose that affected my ability to navigate the tumultuous waters of life. I felt deeply held with compassion as well as being offered the tools and resources that were essential to my successfully completing the coursework that otherwise might have been an impossibility in a larger academic setting. The diverse curriculum prepared me as a clinician through practice during coursework that rose out of experiential hands-on activities guided by practitioners in the field. The first-hand knowledge I gained has enhanced my ability to learn and grow emotionally and spiritually which is where the true preparation for being a psychologist happens. In my current employment setting, I find the somatic training I received to be invaluable with the population I serve as well as being able to put into application other modalities that I learned. My relationships with family, significant other, and co-workers improved which I attribute to the focus Meridian places on transformative learning and the cohort model. Additionally, if you are looking for a program that has a focus on making a true difference in the world and a desire to influence cultural change Meridian offers this as an integral part of the curriculum. The program is great for learning how to work with trauma and develop skills that offer a diverse approach to being a practitioner. read more

I attended Meridian University when its name was the Institute of Imaginal Studies. I loved my experience there, and did whatever I could to encourage other like-minded individuals to consider attending. I loved the community-based learning environment, and truly believe that my experience there was transformative until some strange changes began to occur. It was around the same time that the school changed its name. The school's administrators became increasingly frustrated with the students for regressing, even though the curriculum was designed to bring about a kind of regression. And then I was shocked to discover that a number of graduates from the school were teaching courses without having completed their Ph.D. degrees, and that often the curriculum being delivered was scripted by the head of the school, who is a very brilliant man. However, these well-intended students were not capable of the authenticity and passion of their head teacher. Their delivery was stilted and they seemed to be afraid or timid. The straw that broke the camel's back occurred when a number of beloved faculty mysteriously left the school, and the administrators were upset that we students wanted to know why they left without saying goodbye or doing any closure with us. This seemed to be such a contradiction to the school's claims of psychological accountability and collaboration. Many of my classmates decided then and there that they would not continue pass the Masters degree. I can't imagine anyone honestly claiming that the education at Meridian fails to transform, however, this transformation comes with a heavy price--the freedom to speak out and demand accountability and transparency in exchange for a very expensive educational experience. read more

OK, first of all, I am a graduate from Meridian University (formerly the Institute of Imaginal Studies), so I am well-qualified to place this review. I chose this school based on my desire to become a licensed MFT and practice the craft of healing, so I enrolled in the MA. in Counseling Psychology program. I attended weekend classes with a cohort for two and a half years. The experience was one of the best gifts I have ever received, and definitely one of the best decisions I ever made. I did not graduate with my cohort because I fell behind in my coursework. It was over the next two years, as I struggled to complete my outstanding coursework, that I discovered how truly committed Meridian University is to the success of their students. I can not count how many times I expected Meridian to turn their back on me because they already had their money. But time and again, Meridian showed up for me with constancy, support and integrity. In short, they walk their talk. They teach about cultural leadership and accountability and they model the same, and because of their shared commitment to my success, I have finally completed my coursework. Transformative Education is not supposed to be easy, because humans are not easily transformed. If you are looking for a school that has the capacity to transform, you should consider Meridian. If you are looking for the easy and predictable status quo, you should definitely look elsewhere! One more thing: for the record...I am an intelligent woman. I live in the REAL WORLD. I hold an undergraduate degree in a NON-SOCIAL SCIENCE. I am from the working class, married, have three children and work full time now as well as while attending Meridian. In short, I don't live in a fantasy bubble. I live right here with you, in the trenches. read more