Lewis & Clark College Reviews of Master's in Counseling

"One of the biggest mistakes I ever made was pursuing a graduate degree at this college: it's very expensive and the quality of education extremely poor. I was seeking an education and what Lewis & Clark Graduate School offers is more indoctrination than anything useful with the exception of two professors in my program. The accreditation program for counseling, CACREP sent interviewers to the school while I was attending because there were such questionable things happening. Critical thinking was actively discouraged and I saw students harshly shamed for asking questions or challenging orthodoxy. The quality of teaching with the exception of two of my professors was extremely poor - assignments given were often grade school level and almost embarrassing. I experienced more rigorous standards at community college for a transfer degree. That said, if you're a student challenged to read a book or not wanting to think too hard, this is the place for you. I think it's telling that I had professors who did not grade or return assignments for the entire class. When feedback was given, it was minimal, often being chastisement for not thinking exactly as the professor told you to think. I'm certain I could have done better with a relatively cheaper online degree."

"When thinking about whether a school is a good fit for me or not, I am initially apt to consider my learning style, and the type of educational approach that a particular college/university takes. I am drawn to colleges that have smaller class sizes, that provide intimate instruction, allowing for more one on one attention between teacher and student. I also value a more progressive community that is open to a variety of learning styles, along with cultural competence. For example, not having test taking being the main administering agent in determining grades, but instead assigning group projects, presentations, papers, and in class assignments. In choosing to attend Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR, I knew that I would be gaining this attributes, as it's a small private college that proves to be highly liberal in comparison to many other universities. The one predicament that many people have with small private college is the expense, and I myself have grappled with this in making my initial decision to attend Lewis and Clark. I initially chose to begin my masters degree at the University of Vermont, which is a larger state university in Burlington, VT. Although I knew that it would be much cheaper for me to attend, I found myself feeling lost in the crowd, and wasn't building the type of community and support system that I was seeking in my graduate education; especially being away from family and friends. I asked myself, what would help me to feel more fulfilled? I quickly realized that the program I was in wasn't catering to my age range , and it proved to be a university that was predominately favored for undergraduate students. Lastly, it was extremely difficult to obtain an on campus job, which would have been a solution to pay for tuition. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made to transfer and complete my degree at Lewis and Clark College. I have been able to find the community I'm seeking , experience more of a progressive atmosphere, receive the attention necessary for my standard of learning, and bask in the beautiful evergreens of the pacific northwest; quite the utopia of a campus with hiking trails and mountain views. The classes prove to be engaging, authentic, and challenging, as well as appropriate for my chosen major. The professors I have met thus far have been passionate and invested in their area of expertise, sincerely wanting the students to succeed. I would recommend attending Lewis and Clark college for these reasons, and if you have the willingness to take out student loans, because lets face it--it's the risk most students have to take, especially if they want to attend a college that's a wonderful fit for them."

"Lewis & Clark College is a great school! It was a perfect fit for me, but that doesn't mean it was a 100% perfect. Loved my time there and don't regret it."

"There are far more pros to attending Lewis and Clark for graduate school than cons. The teachers on the graduate campus show a true interest in each student and how they are doing not only in the program but in their personal life. They are available to talk when you need it and will often use office hours or stay late after class to explain topics you want to know more about or are struggling with the materials. The campus is beautiful and has walking trails throughout both the undergrad and graduate schools. The only real cons that I have encountered is if your running late for class it's very hard to find parking."

"Being a first year graduate student at Lewis and Clark has been amazing. The faculty truly treat each student with respect and as a future counselor. I has a family crisis and my teachers were willing to allow me to take care of business and even turn in my papers a week later. Overall my experience here has been amazing."

"The Portland area is a great place to go to school and live in. The graduate school is not as wonderful as they made it out to be when I was a prospective and incoming student. There is little to no help in career planning. Professors are either too busy and taking on too much and can't give their classes their full attention or some are too new and have never taught before and we are the guinea pigs. There are a few good professors who are also therapists in the community and can give practical advice."

"Lewis and Clark's Counseling Grad program is expensive due to it being a private school; however, the faculty support you and you never get an automated response when you call. The teachers are impressively chosen and are the best in their field. The texts required are also chosen with care and are worth reading. Lastly, this school has a sterling reputation in the community, post-graduation, and you will be proud to hand your resume to any potential job site with Lewis and Clark as your academic background in training."

"The professors at Lewis and Clark College have a true passion in teaching and helping the students not only the material in class, but also life. Students are taught material that will be useful in future careers and life and encourages feedback on classes. The campus is in the beautiful suburbs of Portland and feels like a natural escape from reality."