TL;DR- Version: (That's too long didn't read for non techies): This is not the same school I signed up for in 2013 but after 3+ years of turmoil the school is re-emerging into greatness. This last seminar I got a sneak peak at the new curriculum, website, and operational changes that are in final stages of implementation. The broken systems that plagued the registrar are actually fixed, the curriculum is on par with other schools and not so hippie slanted that it's hard to connect to mainstream psychology. And I no longer feel any anxiety about the school's future; rather I feel great hope and excitement. I almost wish I were now signing up for the Ph.D. for the first time. However I would have missed the great struggle that helped forge me into the confident Ph.D. candidate that I am. If you are considering this school talk to admissions and ask them to give you some current students contact info to hear their thoughts. Heck even ask for my info David Anderson and I'll answer any question, thought or concern with compassionate candor. ----- THE WHOLE (Abridged For Internet Story) I have been attending Sofia University since Fall of 2013, before the collapse. I chose to stay in the Ph.D. in Psychology program because my gut told me that my voice as a student would help ensure that the school recover and offer education that would both benefit students and the world. I want to candidly share my experience about the Ph.D. program from start to finish during this transition and provide my view of where the school is now, and why I believe it is a renewed beacon of light in Silicon Valley...and the world. First let me address the negative reviews here. There are a lot of hurt feelings and valid complaints about what happened at Sofia, but now in the Spring Quarter of 2017 I can say that the ship has been fully righted and is in a far better place then it EVER was in my previous experience (starting September 2013). When I first enrolled in the Global Ph.D. the curriculum was fixed and there were no electives. My admissions advisor failed to mention this, but after seminar and my first quarter I resigned and accepted this as a compromise for the transpersonal interactions. After the school began it's turbulent time the curriculum changed, beloved teachers, and chair struggled to serve as an administrator. To his credit, his gift was leading in a time of peace, not change. I found the new core and concentration options exciting so I chose to stay with the school to support, and hold it accountable to the quality of education I demanded. The next year or two were rocky to say the least, and found myself playing ambassador advocate fighting for my education. This process was riddled with drama and growing pains with program implementation and sustainability. I can happy say the new curriculum in the Ph.D. program is the program I wanted before I started at Sofia. It puts the school on par with other programs with tuition, curriculum requirements, and still and offers the opportunity to study what you want to study. I believe there will continue to be minor growing pains, but with the new student senate, Liz Li's compassionate ear, and the highly accomplished Ph.D. program Chair Marilyn Schlitz the ship of Sofia is back on course and gaining speed. Additionally, there will be opportunities to take classes across programs to support your career goals such as coding, business, and education. Reality Check: As I write this the new website, tuition and curriculum changes have not yet been published. The new operations officer made the wise decision to get rid of the problematic systems and bring in proven systems that are simpler and more reliable. The school is not the old ITP, which to me is a good thing, it felt far to patriarchal and a bit chauvinistic. ....more cut off by word limit... To those who are no longer here: In the process that got the school the place it is today we lost a lot of great students, wonderful faculty, staff, and chairs. They are not forgotten and are missed. Should you enroll at the Sofia University, USA that we are today? - I would say yes. The MATP program is as strong as it ever has been, the PH.D. program is great and continuing to get better and more interesting every quarter. - MBA, CS: These are mostly newer programs but the vision and curriculum seem really solid. I was actually considering both the MBA and CS program in data science before I realized that I needed to finish my Ph.D., and work for a while before doing another graduate program. - Transpersonal Technology Lab: This is a hidden GEM! I have a study already planned after graduation using things I learned from Dr. Jeffery Martin who heads up that space. - Flexibility: The global programs and seminars are like no other, you can work, develop great relationships in school, and get an advanced degree in a field you've always wanted to study. read more

Sofia University - Spending some time with my Ph.D. Family - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I'm in the process of applying to ITP so I called yesterday and spoke with admissions. We had a good conversation and since the application process at ITP is new to me, I called back twice with additional questions with the span of an hour or so. The first time was fine, but on the second call, when I announced myself, the admissions person paused and said curtly, "yes." "Yes"?? No "hi" or other greeting, simply a you-are-bothering-me "yes"? I asked my question and hung up feeling a bit put off. Is this the type of attitude I will encounter at this very small school when I am a student there? Okay, maybe it was a fluke, maybe I caught the admissions person at a bad time, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. One of the transcripts I was having sent electronically bounced back from the e-mail the admissions person had given me. This according to the friendly admissions and records person at the very large university I had previously attended. The friendly woman in the large university's records department called me to get a new e-mail address for ITP admissions. So today I called the admissions woman (the first time today) and greeted her, telling her who I was. There was a pause on the other end of the line and curt, "yes." I took a deep breath, my excitement in the application process seriously waning and asked her if I was bothering her. Short pause. "No!" she said, suddenly friendly and helpful. What was that about? I truly have misgivings about ITP if their admissions personnel are so unwelcoming, so put-out when I call to ask questions. Is this the attitude ITP has toward potential students? After all, isn't the admissions department the face of the school for new students? I know we're all busy, but I was treated with courtesy and friendliness by a woman who works in the records department of the 30,000+ student university I previously attended, why is it that I was treated with annoyance by the admissions department of a small school to which I am applying to spend $26K per year in tuition and fees? read more

Considered a program here but the focus of the school is moving away from the transpersonal and toward computer science (!). On a recent tour, the place was desolate. A look at their website shows job listings that reveal key academic and administrative positions are unfilled. That's worrying. It's a small school. Why all the vacant positions? I stopped in a few times to get a feel for the place and it felt very "trade school." I cant afford to gamble with my education and am choosing a different institution instead. read more

Best University in the world, for people who love learning the beauty of psychology. I graduated when their name was the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. The instructors and staff went above and beyond my expectations - some of the beautiful people I ever met in my life. They made learning a life changing experience, giving me a much greater understanding of the laws of nature, and how wisdom can be applied to promote healing for the the mind, body and spirit - the whole person. That's why I consider it Holistic Psychology. I highly recommend Sofia University for people who love learning. I them not just give stars, but also five hearts! read more

As a computer science student in Sofia university it is very positive educational experience for me and i feel very happy that i am a part of it. Faculty really cares about the students.the academics are excellent.you will really enjoy your time there, it is a very safe on campus.Many exiting changes are happening as well.Dr.liz lee has improved the campus so much since she became the president.every one genuinely cares about the students. one of the best school in bay area. read more

Unfortunately, the school has undergone many changes that are not in keeping with the Transpersonal spirit of it's founders and certainly not in alignment with the values I hold as a Transpersonal Professional. The professors that have been most influential in mentoring former students have been let go and the programs are dissolving. I can no longer recommend this school to prospective students. Please seek out other options. read more

I had high hopes for this school, because before I applied 4 years ago, I reached out to alumni and asked about their experience, they recited they had much issues with administration and financial aid. I was okay with this information because those things can be easily resolved as well as since they were problems years before I applied, I assumed they would have been resolved. I was wrong. I have been with Sofia for 3 years (I took a year off in the middle because of a car accident) each year, there was a high number of quality instructor turn-over, its very sad to know that Sofia could not balance the needs of a university and quality instructors. This year alone, we are given last minute schedule changes, (after semester starts) the communication of expectation from faculty is spotty at best and basically it feels like a free-for-all. They are very California centric and seem to keep you guessing on whether or not the university will actually be there by the time you graduate. Much of what I am learning here is a regurgitation from various Ted talks and your basic, canvas outline, fill in the blank, do you discussion board, write your paper, this school is no longer experiential after covid, I wanted this school because of the incredible people they once recruited to do immersion courses. Now, they hire people who have a Doctorate because they have a doctorate, not because they are qualified. If I had been given the chance to understand clearly what I was getting myself into, I would have signed up for the Transpersonal program at Naropa, or stayed local, to my community, and taken Transpersonal courses on the side, or joined IANDS, or started a group. Now, after a recent addictions course where the syllabus seems to change every week, with another clearly green and incompetent instructor, I am leaving, I am not sure I can take another year of this level of un-organization from an Institution that wants to tote the names of respectable leaders in psychology. Try Naropa Uinversity or just call your local university and ask about integrating transpersonal courses into your degree plan. read more

I am a professional student, having attended many colleges over the past 12 years. The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology deserves the GREATEST rating I will ever give. I have learned so much about transpersonal ways of knowing, understanding dreams, intuition, unconscious processes, creative research methods, meditation techniques, creative experssion and about cultures and religions from around the world, and there is always an opportunity to integrate your authentic self into your work. The staff is absolutely amazing! I have had professors call me with an idea to help me when I was struggling with a project. It is a well rounded Global Awareness type of education that is not for everyone, only those with an open mind and heart. It is not just reading and writing! It is totally awesome for students with a holistic perspective. You will have to apply mind, body and spirit in most assignments, so being fully engaged is a requirement. If you are open to learning holistic psychology, and experimenting with everything from ancient wisdom to modern psychology with global perspectives, you will love it! It does require self-discipline to keep up with the assignments. The checklist with the application is extensive, but well worth it. This school will change your life by increasing self-awareness and understanding of unconscious psychological processes that will help you and others. You will learn to appreciate your own authenticity and creative approach to life. You will also meet a lot of wonderful people at the required seminars. I would attend this school forever if I could, but after I earn my PhD (2013), it will be time for me to give back, after receiving so much. I am truly grateful for discovering ITP. Anyone can contact me if you want to know more. MBA.PSY.Consultant@gmail.com I have to get back to my assignments, and thanks for asking! :) Sincerely, Wendy Wyatt read more

Disclaimer: This is long. But, if you're really thinking about the G-MATP or R-MATP (or any Sofia) programs, worth your time to read. But, if you don't want to, skip to the very last paragraph. As other Yelpers noted, this is not the ITP they were expecting. This is Sofia University which, though it seems to have had some rough patches, will quickly come to the forefront of transpersonal education. This June (2017), I will be graduating from the Global Masters in Transpersonal Psychology (G-MATP) program. It's a hybrid program in that our classes are online but we are required to take two week-long seminars where we meet our cohort and begin our coursework. The 2nd one, beginning Year 2, is intended to start the process of discerning our personal mission, visions and goals; appropriate to the Year 2 curriculum of learning how to bring our transpersonal skills out into the world. Year 1 curriculum focuses on "going in," learning about our Self, our ego, etc. It's like 5 yrs worth of therapy in one year, through experiential classes in transpersonal psychology, ecology, spirituality, and creativity. Make no mistake, this is not an easy program. You will earn your degree. Again, as other Yelpers noted, there have been issues with accounting and registration and, some times, professors. For the first two, I approached them with a "transpersonal" perspective. Rather than lose my cool and my mind, I spoke to the department employees with the understanding that they were doing their best for me with the resources they had. Every issue has been effectively and quickly handled. Administration has been proactive in fixing broken systems as quickly as possible. As for professors, I've only had one who wasn't very engaged. But, folks, I went to an ivy league school for my undergrad. That was par for course there! As for faculty, no doubt that many great faculty were lost in the upheaval a few years ago. But, new faculty that have been added include Deepak Chopra (yes, that one) and Marilyn Schlitz of the Institute of Noetic Sciences. In my program, our faculty are well qualified to teach primarily, I would say, because they are practitioners in their fields. We have a practicing shaman with a PhD and JD, a published ecstatic poet (if you don't know what that is, look up Rumi), ordained ministers, as well faculty who are in research. These folks don't just teach, they do. The president of the university is, herself, an incredible "doer." Changes other Yelpers have written of seem strange as the university incorporates programs in technology and business. On surface, these changes seem to be a "sell out" to the surrounding Silicon Valley. But, think about it ... first of all, we're living in the 21st century. Technology is a very necessary part of our lifestyles. And, business is not going anywhere, especially with the current POTUS. It actually makes sense to incorporate transpersonal education into these field. How much more pleasant will the world be when we deal with people, on a daily basis, who are open and compassionate, understanding, and seek to self-actualize in their jobs and in these qualities of self? Sofia is groundbreaking in this. As for students, my program has attracted silent leaders, ninja doers, gentle rebels, contemplatives, and artists, all of whom are directed to transform our world by "moving humanity forward." It has been my honor and privilege to get to intimately know these incredible people. They come from all walks of life from all around the world. We are a diverse group. With an undergraduate degree in economics from Wharton School, Univ. of Pennsylvania, I can say, from an economic standpoint, that I feel my monies have been well spent in obtaining my degree. A wise PhD student friend told me when I began that "you get out of this what you put into it." And, I made use of my time as I graduate with a specialization in Spiritual Psychology, concentration in Ecopsychology, a Creative Expressions Certificate, and a Certificate in Transpersonal Ecopsychology. My $40K was well worth it. The education has been transformative. For the multiple deep, life-long friendships I've formed, in both the graduate and PhD programs, I would gladly have paid more. These like-minded, amazing people are my support structure, have become my family, and will be my professional network as I take my learning and gifts out into the world. If you are considering Sofia U. and my program in particular (either global or residential), my advice is something I have been taught through my learnings - take in what everyone says, the positive and negative, then set it all aside. Now, breathe deeply and discern what it is your own Being tells you, through your body, your heart and your mind. You have the wisdom within you to know if this school is right for you. If you understand these words, and they resonate with you, you'll probably be a good fit. If you decide to go, I hope to meet you someday. read more

This is by far the best university for Transpersonal Psychology Cutting edge technology and creativity spirituality read more

Brilliant online and hybrid Phd program for Psychology. Academically rigorous and tough as well as inspiring. The faculty is world class in their respective domains and challenge the very best out of you while still being supporting. Amazing opportunity to dive deep into research methodologies, the psyche, the transpersonal field and innovative approaches to research and learning. read more

This is not the school it used to be. I graduated a year ago, squeaking out with a Masters in a cancelled program mid-way through the Masters. They fired all our teachers, replaced them with with B-level new age teachers. They actually refunded us $500 for a class in which the "teacher" never -- ever -- read our essays or graded our papers. I think he got fired, too. Then fired the head of the library -- important for grad school/thesis etc.) and replaced her with a first-year TP student who knew NOTHING about research or that library. It was a complete joke. Meanwhile, the administration of the school is abysmal -- people don't return your calls. Papers get lost. Accounting is "off." There seems to be no one there who can or would help you with a problem. It was awful! I made it through nonetheless, and what I AM grateful for is the first year of the program (when all the original teachers were there, before they all got fired) and the amazing, life-long friends I made there. $40,000 was definitely not a good ROI. Buyer, beware. read more

As a student (MA and PhD 2008-2014) of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (ITP) and an advocate of transpersonal psychology, this is my experience of ITP/Sofia, be it favorable or unfavorable for you. First, ITP is gone, GONE. Do not be mistaken, this great school, its mission, the community, the faculty, professors, and staff that made this Institute so good, are all GONE. Don't be misled by the misguiding information on the Sofia Uni website. They are now are "for-profit" business; therefore they have an agenda - to make money. Non-profit ITP, a school of transpersonal psychology, was rebranded into Sofia University, taken over by a Chinese conglomerate, and converted into a for-profit IT/engineering school. A very smart business move when you consider the location, the heart of Silicon Valley. That alone raises red flags for many reasons. Yet, the school retains its WASC accreditation. Here lies the probable reason why they attempt to retain some aspects of psychology in the curriculum. About three years before the individuals, who instigated the rebranding process from ITP to Sofia, emerged onto the scene, I had a discussion with one of the founders concerning tuition and accreditation. (As a side-note, I love all the founders, they are magnificent people, and initially there were more than the two that currently receive the bulk of the recognition). I was informed that it takes about 12 years of graduating students within a given program before the program can receive WASC accreditation. Unfortunately, prospective students generally do not want to attend schools/programs that are not accredited. Therefore, tuition for non-accredited programs is generally significantly lower than tuition for accredited programs. From a business sense (profit), it is an unattractive situation. Therefore, from a for-profit business perspective, it makes perfect sense to acquire/take-over/merge a/with a facility that is already WASC accredited. This is possibly why, as I have been informed, Sofia continues to maintain some aspect of psychology within curriculum; it appears it must do so in order to maintain its WASC accreditation. As a corporate business move, the process was very dishonest, immoral, and unethical, albeit necessary for the goals of individuals involved. However, it literally destroyed the lives of many people including, students, faculty, staff, associated business people and families. This though, was not the concern of the individuals involved. Now, this is not to say you should not attend this school, rather, it is solely to provide more "grist for the mill", things to consider when deliberating attending this school. Concerning engineering programs, I would not attend. The school cannot be assessed upon its reputation, as it is too new. Therefore, it can't effectively be compared to other schools. Tuition prices are not low, or lower than other comparable schools. Thus, there are no "attractive" tuition rates to compensate for the lack of historical standing. Also, Sofia Uni has a tarnished reputation due to the conduct of the management involved in rebranding the school to Sofia Uni and the handling of the acquisition/take-over/merger(?) of the current for-profit owners. Lastly, the owners of Sofia Uni are said to be affiliated (same owners?) with a uni in San Jose that has been investigated for being a "visa mill". As for the psychology programs, sadly I would definitely not attend. Grad school is a significant investment of one's time, money, and mental and physical health. Again, for the reasons stated above, I would not attend this Sofia Uni. When I first considered ITP, the faculty list was incredible. The range of people and the depth of their experience was mind-blowing. That alone was enough for me to choose ITP. However, they are ALL GONE, with one exceptions, Dr. Olga Louchakova. Dr. Louchakova is phenomenal. Alas, she is only one person. When I began my program, there were over 30 students in my cohort alone. The school was full of people. Now, when I visit, the classrooms, hallways, offices and cubicles are empty; literally EMPTY. On one regular class day I counted 7 students. The majority of students have transferred out to other schools of transpersonal psychology. At the end of the day, it is your choice as to what school you attend. However, you would clearly need your own psychological state-of-being assessed should you choose to enroll in a psychology program at Sofia University in it's current state. I would love to see this engineering school flourish, however not through dishonesty and deception. As for the school of transpersonal psychology, as I said earlier, it is GONE! It's is only a matter of time (and possible legalities) before they probably completely do away with any aspect of psychology in favor of the money-churning IT/engineering programs that attract the unsuspecting foreign students through the seduction of Silicon Valley. read more

You can pick up an advanced degree in psychology while finding yourself. If you want to do a thesis on meditation, UFOs, anything multiculti or mildly out there this is the place. What other grad school has their own gong, garden, and dojo for martial arts training--plus a meditation space. Revolves around a spiritual/experiential brand of psychology that puts the emphasis on life changing events or happenings. Roots in Wilbur, Jung. Basically this is a sort of hippie place all grown up. They have an unbelievable library to with everything you can't get together anywhere else. It is a very safe place to explore ideas that are not mainstream and perhaps find a little spiritual transformation. Although I am close to a staffer there and not a student, these are dedicated people doing good things. The only negative is price so be sure you have to do this or if you can make a reasoned decision about borrowing money in the hopes of making a living at psychology. read more

Love the global doctorate program in Transpersonal Psychology. I'm impressed with the student mentoring system, easy accessibility of faculty. Work is challenging and rewarding. Looking forward to the journey ahead and getting my Ph.D.! read more

This review is for the online masters program. I know I really struggled with making the decision to attend Sofia so I wanted to write a review to help others who are making that same choice. Basically, I have mixed feelings about this school. Attending Sofia was one of the most healing and transformational experiences of my life. Yeah, I know you don't usually go to graduate school for growth and transformation, and that certainly was not my intention either. However, the intentional environment created by the faculty combined with the experiential assignments resulted in some unexpected and powerful personal and spiritual growth. In addition, a lot of wonderful people attended this school and some of the relationships I formed was worth the tuition alone. My life changed in many ways that would not have been possible if it weren't for this school. I also really enjoyed the majority of the classes. Sofia went through a crisis while I attended it, and I have no idea if things are the same as when I graduated. There were a few glaring drawbacks when I attended. First, I felt the tuition was exorbitantly expensive. Yes, I knew what the tuition was going in, but I had high expectations that weren't completely met. A few of the classes were not very challenging. Especially in the second year, there were a couple of classes that I didn't get much out of. There were also mistakes on the syllabus for some of the classes--mostly in the form of "required" books that we didn't end up using, but there were a couple other mix ups as well. It just seemed unprofessional. If it weren't for these issues, I would probably give Sofia University 5 stars. I went through the transformational life coaching MATP online program. I enjoyed the program and the instructors, but unfortunately, there was a lot more theory than practical knowledge. It could just be my personal preference, but I was really expecting a lot more education on how to actually coach in this program. I am obtaining my certification with the ICF and I felt much more prepared as a coach after doing 10 hours of mentor coaching than I did with this program. However, like I said, things may have changed since I attended. The bottom line is this: If you have a passion for transpersonal psychology and your heart is really pulling you toward this school, then go for it. However, don't be fooled into thinking that everything is top notch and perfect just because of the high tuition. Don't attend this school simply because you want to be a life coach. (There are less expensive routes for this that will take about half as much time.) And don't attend the online program thinking that your degree will be marketable in the real world. Unless you can be licensed in your state you will need to learn to market and go into business for yourself somehow...not an easy thing to do! However, if you feel that transpersonal psychology is part of your calling, then this might be the right school for you. It truly is a fascinating field. But do your homework and check all the options first. On the one hand, had I known what I know now, I probably would have looked for another school. However, despite my complaints, I actually don't regret making the choice to come here and am glad I did. Good luck. :) read more

Choosing what school to go to to achieve your PhD. is not an easy task, and shouldn't be if you know exactly what your looking for. I found what I call to be the best school for Transpersonal Psychology. The Institute of Transpersonal Studies (ITP) (within Sofia University) has had its share of changes, and like life... they have lead to a brighter tomorrow. The current chair of the the PhD. program has nurtured both the students and curriculum into something that has structure, sophistication, challenging, and statue. I am in year 2 for a 3 year program, and feel that every quarter I register for has a new level of rigor and depth. My professors are always available for comment, and advise. Leaning on their expertise in research to model myself after has been one of the most enticing experiences. We are asked in every class, how Transpersonal Psychology aligns with what we are studying (mindfulness, life and death, research methodologies, etc). Above all, the thing that has meant the most to me is the close family that has been created while I have been a student. My cohorts are like no one else in my life, my professors are perfect models for what I aspire to be like, and the school administration is trying everyday to make our school better with the help of the whole Sofia family. I have been at the school through 2 PhD chairs, and was stuck with uneasiness as the changes progressed- but I am so happy that I did because as IPT is resurrected, we are beginning to find our footing in the world of Transpersonal Psychology. I highly recommend my school to those who are looking for a excellent education in the field of spirituality and psychology. And please trust me... there are a lot of bad reviews about my school. From people who did not find that same experience. As we learn at Sofia, I encourage you to listen to your inner voice if you are on the fence... reach out to teachers, students, and staff and ask the questions you most care about. Ask to see the curriculum, to talk to students. There is nothing to hide, we are making our school better every day. read more

I'm new to Sofia, and can't help but feel that I'm witnessing the birth, or re-birth, of a groundbreaking institution. The place is buzzing with new people, ideas, and a merging of academic disciplines that, as far as I know, is totally new. The reason I was so attracted to this new chapter in Sofia/ITP's history is the merging of 40 years of Transpersonal Psych., with a focus on science and technology that the new president, Liz Li brings to the table. This is all happening in the heart of Silicon Valley, and down the street from Stanford, with access to some of the most brilliant scientific/technical minds, and the degree of spiritual openness only found in the Bay Area. Its really an academic platform for bringing together science and spirit which have been artificially separated for far too long. read more

I am a Ph.D student at Sofia in Transpersonal Psychology. I love being at Sofia university. The instructors are amazing and there is such collegiality and comaraderie with everyone. I love this school and would recommend the program to everyone! read more

I found ITP through a graduate school fair at my undergraduate college. The school was not APA accredited (still not the case, but getting there) at the time, which was a primary consideration for clinical psychology schools. Randomly one day I was looking for an Aikikai in the bay area and learned about one of ITP's founders, Sensei Bob Frager. I drove up for an interview a week after graduation from my B.A. I learned during my interview that ITP is seeking APA accreditation with its newly (in the fall of 2010 this was the case) formed PsyD program. The stars aligned, I found a sensei and a clinical psychology program that focuses on spirituality, and not necessarily the floaty headed flakey ungrounded spirituality, but the tangible human experience that has emerged as a topic of study in even the most stodgy of places (e.g. Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, etc. ). The road is bumpy and there have been some false starts. The program is far from perfect, and the curriculum is not refined fully yet - being a new-ish program. Some of the professors are definitely competent and masters in their field, others maybe missed their true callings in life or really badly need a sabbatical. But this type of thing happens in all places in all walks of life. One of the things you learn in a real clinical training is the ability to deal with stuff as it arises, in the moment it arises. And you will always work in an environment where you do not see eye-to-eye with some people - everyone has that ONE class or ONE professor that makes them want to gouge their own eyes out with their thumbs. I will update this review in a couple of years if I survive the program. It is not easy. If anything, the whip is cracked harder here because the school is trying harder than ever to prove itself to outside detractors who for some reason think this is a flakey school - this might have been a reputation that was accurate some years ago prior to WASC accreditation, but I have no idea what that means being here now. Come visit us, and if you like it here, come apply to study with us, and if you can handle the difficulty of doctoral level work, come and research and publish with us, if you get in. And if you want to work with people and our myriad imperfections and aspirations, get a clinical license in our MFT or PsyD program, if you make the cut. Wish me luck in making the cut read more

One star for the close friends I've made here, and the dedicated students who somehow arrive and remain despite abysmal treatment on part of the administrative faculty and higher ups. ---This institution does not practice what it preaches. I've had one friend referred to as 'incompetent' based on an email interaction, another international friend who was in the country illegally unbeknownst to her because the school did not submit the paperwork for her visa, and I myself was lied to during the admissions process concerning licensure. Another star for the select professors whose classes have been a bright light in the otherwise murky cloud of ITP/Sofia. I'm filling out transfer applications now. read more

I like this facility very much even though I am not associated with them. I park my camper near there and have at times used their bathroom facil. The campus is small and quiet where I could walk and relax instead of parking on El Camino where it's noisy and crowded with other RVs. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a more quiet parking space to live. read more

I love Sofia (ITP) because this school offers the transpersonal psychology that you cannot get anywhere else. I fell in love with Aikido first and came to this school. And, Aikido is one of the required courses for the students. It teaches us how to be grounded. The school went through some crisis but it's saved by the new leadership. And, we are still getting quality education from good instructors. This is a school to consider if you are interested in transpersonal psychology. read more

As a second year student here, I have to say Sofia had some difficulties in the last one and a half years. However I do believe it is experiencing its rebirth, embracing the great tradition as well as new promising programs. I would highly recommend Sofia because of its uniqueness both as an academic institute and a small supportive community. read more

This "school" is even worse than the California Institute of Integral Studies, and that's pretty bad. Half-baked theories, complete lack of structure or discipline. Very mediocre professors with greatly inflated egos, under the guise of compassionate, enlightened learning. Give me a break. I strongly suggest you "find yourself" somewhere else, and save your hard earned money, which, believe me, is all they really want from you. read more

This school has changed for the worse. Terrible new administration and leadership, and complete lack of understanding of what the school was originally founded for. Does not care about current students, and is so focused on BS "future vision" they have lost 80% or more of their faculty and students. Programs have been dismantled and Chairs of programs terminated or replaced because of lack of faith in the new President and her minions who have followed her. This school is a laughing stock to the rest of the Bay Area academic community. Transpersonal psychology is dead at this school. read more

Great food, I would come again. Also the Live JAZZ there is really awesome. There's a band called "INOAHBAND" there are really good. Smooth jazz and old school R&B. It's the best live music I've heard in along time. These guys are great!!! read more