Claremont Graduate University

In general a positive experience. I happened to find a class where I felt connected to the university, my colleagues and research. For a successful Ph.D. program you have to have goals. Mine was completion of the Ph.D- no ABD for a long period of time! 2. Present at conferences. 3. TA for a professor. 4. Publish. I was able to do all of those while at CGU. My negatives had to do with course selection- pretty pitiful and cost! I have well over 100K in loans. I am very fortunate to have 3.5% interest rate on payback. I also had and continue to have a great job that pays well. However, I would hate to have to rely on finding a job after CGU. I don't think it improves students prospects of finding good employment unless you consider being a "freeway flyer" adjunct professor. Also, so many of my colleagues never have finished the Ph.D. The university has responded by watering down the program by reducing the number of qualifying exams from 4 to 3. I had to do 4 quals! The Ph.D. is no longer the same if it was attained after 2010.

This is a wonderful school that has a lot of positive elements to offer prospective students.
I have loved working closely with the faculty to challenge myself academically.

First let me tell you a bit about my academic background. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of California Berkeley. As a Legal Studies major within the Jurisprudence Social Policy program, I began my work of looking at how interdisciplinary subjects interact with the legal system. What I found most riveting was the resulting social repercussions of such relations.

My primary academic interest encompasses how broad socially normative philosophies in both law and politics directly impact agency definition. I am interested in both domestic and international domains. A Masters in American Politics will give me the foundation I need to pursue a career in a number of professional domains.

I chose CGU because of the responsiveness of the administration, the support of the faculty and the prestige and reputation of the University. I am astounded by the amount of individual attention I have received from faculty thus far. My time at CGU has been nothing but rewarding and positive. It is my pleasure to share my experience any way I can.

Students at CGU dream big. They are focused and motivated to both understand society while acquiring the tools necessary to transform the social order. The trans-disciplinary approach to graduate education promoted at CGU makes it viable to inculcate dynamic skill sets that set CGU Graduates apart as compelling applicants. Likewise, the close professional network that students gain is instrumental in future job placements.

The culture of the West Coast is more laid back than many other parts of the country. In my experience, people here tend to be more outgoing and accommodating. Claremont is an eclectic and very charming town that has a very artistic vibe.

While Claremont Graduate University is a relatively small school, it is surrounded by the other Claremont Colleges, which together make up the Claremont University Consortium. Furthermore, there are a number of Institutes associated with CGU that routinely promote student involvement.

Claremont has been great in every way except for one... funding. The faculty is great, research is great, everything... I would recommend going here to anyone. It's very nice to have an applied emphasis which is rare in graduate programs. Basic research is important, but the focus is more on really making things happen. I think this is great.

Going to CGU was the best thing I ever did. The quliaty of this institution matches or exceeds any graduate school that I've experienced or heard about -- anywhere.

I am very pleased with this school. The people (students, faculty, and staff) are great and extremely supportive. We are a very unique university (the only one like it in the nation) and it is a great community to be a part of!

I have been at this university for three years now and it has been a great experience. It is a small school and faculty are very willing to spend time working with you. Our Master's and PhD programs are fantastic. CGU is the only free-standing graduate university in the nation. It is a great place for a top-quality education

CGU is a small Graduate University, only two of a kind in the U.S. Therefore, the faculty expect everyone to work with the intent of moving to the professional or academic world. Many students have a tough time adjusting to life with no undergraduates. There are many bright students and the classes are small, professors accessible and the course offering though at times slim are very interesting and sometimes non traditional, i.e. Race & Racism, Teaching Women's History and many others.