Western University of Health Sciences Reviews

"Although Western is a newer Optometry school compared to others, it will prepare you to become the best doctor that you can be. The faculty and administration work very hard to keep you on track and are very open to suggestions. They have changed the curriculum based off of our feedback or would even move test days around for you if things get too hectic."

"While the PBL learning process has its benefits, it leaves many gaps in knowledge and in no way justifies the cost. The administration and faculty are often very disorganized and regularly waste our time and money. The only benefit of going to this veterinary school is leaving with a DVM behind your name... oh and 400K in debt. If I could do it over again, I would have reapplied to Davis to save cost and get a more legitimate education."

"WesternU is a very expensive veterinary school that provides an education that is not realistic considering starting salaries. The "self-directed" education leaves MANY gaps in knowledge and makes the tuition expense all the more puzzling. You certainly in no way get what you pay for. Anecdotally, graduates from this veterinary program are far less prepared compared to other veterinary schools."

"The college is small. Class sizes are smaller than other Master programs so it is a good way of interacting with peers and professors. Intimate learning environment. Not a great program since the school is not known for my particular degree."

"it was very nice, the campus small-body environment was very good"

"I started school here back in August and have loved every second while I have been here. While the classwork is rigorous the environment is inviting to all of the students. I have had no issue with any of the faculty and have actually been able to become close to a few of them. I have never been anywhere else that has made me feel more welcomed than I did when I came here. Not to mention I feel like they are doing an amazing job preparing us for our board exams."

"Starting with my interview, the faculty and staff blew me away with how much they seem to love what they do. The faculty do everything they can to help us succeed and are almost always available, even on the weekends! There is so much hands-on learning, from the anatomy lab to patient care skills to Kinesiology, orthopedics, and neurology. In my years at WesternU, I have learned so much and made so many connections with the faculty, staff, and other students that I know will serve me well throughout my career as a Physical Therapist."

"Great atmosphere, I enjoyed the all graduate student emphasis. Excellent cadaver lab with very I depth detail of anatomy and neuro- anatomy. Wealth of opportunity to engage in community outreach. Easy access off freeway for students so they do not need to live next to the university."

"I am currently attending Western University of Health Sciences in the Physical Therapy program. Some of the pros of attending this university are the wonderful faculty, academic resources and my fantastic classmates! Western U is an all graduate health college so I am constantly surrounded by like-minded individuals. I truly feel that my classmates are my family and my professors are incredibly helpful. While the cost of attending Western U is pretty high, it is worth it for the rewarding and valuable experience that this school has to offer!"

"As a new member of Western University of Health Sciences, I feel that the quality of education students are receiving there is priceless! The interdisciplinary emphasis creates mindful and knowledgable colleagues, who can work together for years to come; while the combination of state of the art facilities, and wonderful faculty makes for a productive learning environment that nurtures future health professionals. For those reasons I'm happy to be a part of the Western University legacy!"

"One pro of Western is the inter-professional education that is required from D.O., Dental, Podiatric, Veteranarian, Optometry, and Physical Therapy students working together. This instills a more comprehensive and empathetic view of different areas of medicine and how these areas can be affected. A con of the school is that it is tuition driven, meaning that it hiked up prices of tuition in order to maintain faculty pay as well as keep the school running."

"Western University is a great school that excels in producing caring, compassionate, and competent to physicians."

"Pros - a different kind of teaching curriculum that allows the student to really take charge Cons - the area, and some students are not able to adapt to this new teaching style as well"

"The program is a masters degree in medical sciences, which is a preparatory program for any of the professional programs. For the main professional programs (medical, dental, phys. therapy, podiatry, or optometry), the masters' program is a great preparation for some of the same material that will be covered in the respective professional program. Along with a multitude of campus clubs and organizations, there are numerous opportunities to get involved in the community, volunteer, and socialize with fellow students. On the other hand, this wide opportunity for great community involvement and assistance comes as a result of the area's lower income, and as one might expect, somewhat higher levels of minor crime are present. There is a 24hr security patrol on campus and the surrounding area, however, to keep things running smoothly. It is managed by a 30+ year ex police officer who does a great job keeping everyone informed."

"One of the many pros about my graduate program is that I come in with a job. I was given a position as a teaching assistant at the start of the program which helps me pay off any small expenses I may have. The staff is also incredibly helpful and amicable. Security guards, students and staff have all been very helpful and welcoming which makes the school have a very palpable sense of community. The school itself is also very small which feels competitive but also very tightly knit. Class sizes are also much smaller than what I had been used to as an undergraduate student. My largest class size is currently 9 people including the professor, and the smallest is 6, also including the professor. This environment facilitates the interactions I have with my professors and makes it easy for me to feel comfortable asking anyone for anything I may need. Parking is also never an issue and the furthest spots are only 1 or 2 very short blocks away from any of the campus buildings. The only significant cons I can think of are the surrounding area and the commute distance. I live closer to the city of Los Angeles which makes for roughly a 2 hour commute each day to and from Pomona. The school itself is also very clean and quaint, but most of the surrounding areas are rather bleak and have a limited selection of places to eat."

"WesternU's DO program places a high value on the humanistic values of medicine. I feel that throughout my studies, I will be well prepared to treat patients as a compassionate and competent provider. The only areas that could use improvement are affordability, transportation issues, and continual improvement of rotation sites."

"Although it is a more costly private school, you are getting what you pay for. They have gathered very talented and inspiring leaders to mold you into the savvy professional one needs to be in todays healthcare field."

"Faculty is exceptionally helpful and very kind. The area in which the school is located is a bit sketchy, but campus is safe."

"The DVM program is a self-learning program that enables students to look for information themselves to better prepare for the future."

"Very high quality education but a private school is not cheap! The educator to student ratio is amazing and you can always get help if you need it! The school is very student centered and wants you to succeed! However, the programs are rigorous and not for the faint of heart!"