Naropa University

Date: Jan 22 2004
Major: Music - Performance (This Major's Salary over time)
Positive: Personal development and practicing awareness are part of everything that goes on at Naropa. These can be applied to all future endeavors. I wouldn't trade my experiences in that way for any other University experience. The faculty are sincere and responsive.

Negative: I did not develop practical skills that would allow me to succeed in my chosen field (music), although I had a lot of leeway for creative exploration and growth.

Also, at the end of the program, my advisor and I had different ideas about how I should go about creating my senior project, and therefore I never achieved a degree although I accomplished all required classes with a 3.8 gradepoint. That was years ago, but I still feel this was a bit unfair, as the point was that the students try to do what is most meaningful to them in their fields. Just make sure to be clear about expectations when you enter into the program—don't assume anything.

Attend this school if you are interested in actively participating in your own development, particularly in the psychology programs. The Buddhist studies are practice oriented and offer a strong foundation in theory as well.

If your idea is to get a career, Naropa may not be the place to go except for the programs that prepare you for licenses (MA's in Counseling, for example), or if you are planning on remaining in academia.

All in all, it was one of the best educational experiences of my life.