Bastyr University Reviews

"I absolutely love Bastyr and I am proud to be part of the community. The professors are so helpful and supportive of their students and they care about all of our success. They are very open to talking to students and are almost always available to assist us. The professors are very knowledgeable and they always present an unbiased view point on topics. The cons of my program is the sheer amount of work and time it takes to complete assignments. At the end of the quarter I feel very drained. The Bastyr community as a whole is highly anxious when it comes to grades, and that gets to be stressful."

"I love the location, the network and the passion behind the medicine. The school is also updating many of the facilities, including the medical clinic which I serve in. What could improve is the having a more standard procedure campus wide for techniques and how to address particular events. I love my school, otherwise!"

"The MSN/DPD program at Bastyr is incredible. It approaches health from a holistic perspective, while still having a very rigorous, scientifically based curriculum. The faculty is so supportive, as are my peers. The cost of the program is significant, but I believe that it is absolutely a worthy investment, as graduates are very prepared for a successful career in the field of nutrition and dietetics."

"This program is challenging, but not unreasonably so. I have gotten significant clinical experience in my first year. The campus is amazingly beautiful and offers many activities. It is also very expensive. Financial aid does not always cover the entire expense and I have had to get a weekend job to afford living expenses."

"Bastyr University provides us with a rigorous naturopathic medical education. It is very challenging, but I feel competent in my ability and knowledge of the material. Our San Diego campus is brand new, and as yet we do not have amenities offered by other institutions such as an on-campus cafeteria or student housing options."

"Bastyr is certainly not the most affordable nutrition program in the country, but it is one of the only programs that is rooted in both hard science and natural, holistic ideology. The professors are proven thought leaders in the scientific community and bring a wealth of knowledge to their students. The campus is beautifully situated within St. Edwards State Park, making for lovely between-class hiking/running breaks. Also, you can't go wrong with breakfast or lunch from the Bastyr cafeteria!"

"Pros: The level of commitment exhibited by the professors at Bastyr truly made the educational experience memorable and inspirational. Additionally, unlike most medical and health programs, students at Bastyr are exposed to natural, complementary, and alternative methods of treatment for a variety of disease states and conditions. A focus on whole foods nutrition, complemented by the campus herb garden and organic cafeteria embodied health and nourishment, from the inside out. Lastly, students gain valuable clinical experience working directly and independently with patients at Bastyr's teaching clinic, the Bastyr Center for Natural Health. Cons: The workload and environment can lead to high-stress lifestyles and unhealthy behaviors, despite being a school focused on health. As expected with any graduate program, the time commitment is demanding and requires an expected level of commitment and perseverance."

"Bastyr offers personalized attention, small class sizes, and is very student centered. As a university centered in health sciences there are a good amount of events and activities focused around health. The professors tend to be on top of their research, and many are making their own, and have genuine interest in their students success. The courses are rigorous but we learn an incredible amount and our graduates tend to know more than peers in the workforce. I wish that the school offered more diversity (in terms of student population as well as activities and classes offered), affordability, and better transportation."

"The Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs program at Bastyr University is one of the best in the country. Not only is it one of the very few accredited acupuncture masters programs, it is host to both state wide and national leaders in the ever growing acupuncture discipline. Bastyr University offers other graduate and doctoral programs in alternative medicine such as naturopathy, nutrition, and bioscience. In result, the school offers a rich fabric of healers all coming from different angles but with the same end goal of helping the health of the national and international community."

"I love Bastyr. Our education in the field of Naturopathic Medicine is second to none. The only con is the expense of the education."

"Bastyr is a great school for Natural Health and Wellness programs. The coursework is rigorous, and the professors are well educated and skilled teachers. The California campus is still new and developing and could use more facilities to support the students' growth, accessibility."

"The overall academic rigor of the program can be intense, but that being said it is medical school. This is a degree in Nautropathic medicine and the course load is similar to that of an M.D. program. The faculty are caring and very knowledgeable in their specific fields of study. The campus is set in a beautiful state park. The cafe has lots of organic and vegetarian food menu items. The students are typically friendly and outgoing. The cons are that it is a smaller campus and with that sometimes things don't run as smoothly as in a larger campus such as with administration issues."

"Bastyr University's doctorate program in Naturopathic Medicine is of the best quality. The directors of the program hold the students and faculty to a very high standard in order to produce the most qualified Physicians. Furthermore, because class sizes are small and intimate, faculty at Bastyr University are able to give students their full attention and encourage the academic growth as well as personal growth in each student. One of the areas which this University could develop further is in its campus life, such as on campus housing and alternative transportation options for students. The students are also working with faculty to acquire on campus exercise machines to support healthy living and stress reduction."

"I am a Naturopathic Medical Student, and it is an amazing program. I have never seen a school work so hard to support its students and help them to succeed. There are daycare facilities, on campus clinic shifts and counseling appointments available if you need them for $15 a visit, free tutoring, and all of the professors have tutorial hours during the week so you can get help directly from the instructor. It is a vigorous, challenging environment, but I have been able to keep my head above water. They really help you to understand the medicine, the history behind it, and what its foundations are. I would recommend this program to anyone looking for a career in Naturopathy."

"For those who have pushed themselves during their undergraduate studies, the programs at Bastyr are enough of a challenge to make the work fun and straight-forward enough to still have a life outside of school. No other school can compare in the surrounding environment as Bastyr is completely engulfed by a beautiful forest adjacent to a lake. There are many great clubs and campus food services offer local, healthy cuisine. Bastyr is a private school and is not cheap, but you get what you pay for and I have no regrets."

"Bastyr has a fantastic faculty, facility and community. However, the costs are steep and few scholarships are available. Still, I feel like the education I received was well worth the expense."

"Bastyr University is what I was looking for and expected. It is not only a school to receive high quality education , but a nice and wonderful place to live. The faculties challenge the students and try hard to educate them . I am sure that Bastyr University will gave me the opportunity to gather adequate knowledge about nutrition and dietetics, and will provide me with an overview of the work carried out by a registered dietitian"

"Pros: Even though being a dual-degree (Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine & Masters of Acupuncuter & Oriental Medicine) candidate is grueling, I thoroughly enjoy the challenge and intensity of the curriculum. Professors and supervising physicians are extremely knowledgeable, experienced, and willing to teach. And even though clinical experience is limited as a student, having the Bastyr Clinic is an immense benefit. Cons: Having said that, the dual-track program can take a toll on the body, mind, and spirit, and self-care is not to be looked upon lightly. Some changes at the university have been difficult to accept and be accustomed to them, but such is all politics."

"A very intensive medical school that focuses on Naturopathic methods. We explore all types of healing ranging from the mind to the body to the spirit and pull it all together to create optimal health. Pros - The professors are available and excited about our learning. It's very thorough in the training. Cons - expensive, but it's medical school so that's to be expected. The CA campus is very small since we've only been here for 3 years, but we are growing rapidly."

"The professors and faculty in the nutrition department are extremely helpful and friendly. You can immediately tell that they truly care and want to help you succeed. Academically, Bastyr is challenging and provides excellent education. The professors do not impose personal beliefs or opinions, but rather relay pertinent information that allows us (the students) to think critically for ourselves."