Maharishi University of Management
Maharishi University of Management is a Transcendental Meditation, Non-Profit, Interdisciplinary, University established in 1971. The campus is located in Fairfield, Iowa, USA and hosts students with an endowment of .
Website: www.mum.edu
Address:
Phone: (no local phone number)
Email: (no public email address)
Institution Type: Transcendental Meditation, Non-Profit, Interdisciplinary, University
Established: 1971
Campus Enrollment: N/A
Acceptance Rate: N/A
Graduation Rate (6Y): N/A
Campus Endowment: N/A
Tuition (Local): N/A
Tuition (Non-Local): N/A
Tuition (Foreign): N/A
Mandatory Fees: N/A
Housing (Room): N/A
Latitude:
Longitude:
Tax ID: N/A
Wow where to start, at the time of writing this review I’m still an active MUM student in the MSCs program doing my last course. I’m an International who hated this school since day Three, why three you may ask. because it was the day when I had to pay the down payment for the program tuition (5000$) and once we (the students in my batch) did; they showed us all the tricks they cooked for us.
When I first applied for the school, they made it clear that the staff practice TM and that the students are required to meditate twice a day (20 minutes per session, once at the end of each class and once at your room before you sleep). I didn’t mind. I used to meditate during my Aikido classes, so it didn’t bother me and I thought if I don’t like TM, I won’t meditate in my room and just close my eyes and pretend during class meditation. MUM also made it clear early on that I will have to pay around 700 dollars for the TM ceremony (that’s when they teach you TM techniques in 10 minutes!) which they will perform during the first few days of my arrival.
However what they NEVER mentioned before I traveled to the States is that the first course I must attend, is something that has nothing to do with Computer Science, doesn’t count toward my GPA and I will have to pay 1600$ for it plus the room and board cost!!!!. this course is called the Science of Creative Intelligence -SCI for short- (basically you watch videos featuring Maharishi lecturing about his philosophy and then the instructors ask questions about the videos) which is something I was totally not interested at. But again I already paid 5000$, I was in a foreign country and had nowhere else to go. I thought about dropping out and apply for another school, but I thought by the time MUM refund the down payment and until I receive another admission from another school it will be few months, and I will have to pay more than 5000$ for food and shelter while in foreign country all by myself!. So I was stuck against my well and had to play along.
Anyway – the first 5 weeks passed, and I was done with SCI, I couldn’t believe I was done with all this boredom. that’s when I told an American friend I met on campus that I’m finally done with SCI . She replied “remember everything they taught you in this course because it will be stuck with you until you graduate”. Which was true. When the (supposedly academic) course started, we -the students- were chocked to know that the principles of SCI count 10% of the grading system of each course. meaning the midterm counts 40% of the total grad, the final 40% ,10 % on assignments and 10% on SCI questions!!!! I scored several B’s instead of A’s because I failed to answer SCI questions!. some students didn’t seem to be bothered at all by this non sense because many of them looked at this school as an easy ticket to get the states. those who were really hoping for a descent affordable (or so they thought) education were profoundly frustrated and felt abused, deceived, manipulated and helpless (they already invested money and time).
If you read this far, you could have guessed that I’m foreign even if I didn’t mention it. my English is far from perfect. What you may have not guessed is that compared to at least 95% of the foreign students (and I really mean at least), I do sound like Shakespeare. I had many colleagues that couldn’t speak 2 English words before pausing for 10 to 20 seconds only to follow up with a third word that is totally unrelated and has no place in the sentence they try to construct!. MUM – unlike any decent school in the States- doesn’t require the International students to take the TOEFL test (which is a test for international students – Test of English as a foreign Language – that they must pass before they are granted any admission to any U.S university or college). MUM abuse an article in the American educational law which states that the only time an International student Is exempted from this test is if the school officially evaluated his English proficiency by other reliable means. and the way MUM assess foreign students English is by calling them via the phone for 10 to 15 minutes. however they don’t ask the candidate any English language questions, they ask him about his experience as a software programmer and 2 or 3 questions about object oriented programming. what they try to know is if you know the basics of programming or not, they want to make sure that you can find some kind of a low level job so you can pay off your student loan..
That what MUM is. an employment agency.. in my batch all the students were foreign, and so was the case in the previous and the following batch. MUM attract foreign students. they send mass spam un solicitude emails to internationals , they talk about a financial aid system (which isn’t so – it’s just tuition paid on several installments) and talk about high demand on the IT sector. the talk about the CPT system (curriculum practical training) which allow international students to do paid internship while still enrolled in school (which is a system MUM severely abuse). OMG this is long already and I didn’t talk about a lot of stuff. I guess you get the idea. It might be enough to mention few more quick facts. some of the instructors didn’t even have a Master Degree! yet they were teaching Master level students!.. we were only required to take 5 courses + SCI on campus (each course in one month) and 4 courses via distance education (online) because most students will be contracted by a -body shop- after 6 or 7 months of their arrival in the States. each online course last 4 months with one week break in between. students end up doing up to 20 months on paid internship under CPT even though the USCIS states clearly that no one is allowed to do CPT more than 12 months on a row!!.
bottom-line: avoid this school by all means..
A) If you are an American thinking about some undergraduate education there, then my advice is: you can’t trust people who trick internationals this way. the staff at MUM are so distant from everyone else, live in their own world, can easily hold a grudge, and they hate questions. And dare you question something they preached, especially if its TM related, they will dislike you (to put it nicely) until you leave MUM.
B) If you are an international looking for a decent -American!- education (like me). I’ll give you a quick example, the current course I’m doing is called Web Applications Architecture. when I read the name I thought I will be studying distributed technologies, Http specifications, Service oriented architecture and other advanced web theories and topics. what I am studying however is some Java tools JSP and JSF, and we only cover the basics of these tools. The exams are focused on the Syntax of these tools. you can buy an intro book written by non academic author that is published by Wrox under their programmer to programmer series for less than 30$. and you will learn much more from the book about the Java tools, even though you won’t learn much about web theories and architecture.
C) If you are an international who just want to make it in the States, hoping that you will find another way to legally remain in the States. last year 7 of MUM students had their H1b (a work visa) petition denied… USCIS started to do more thorough reviews on H1b applications. some MUM students got their H1b petitions approved but many were denied H1b. the rejection letter for one dude mentioned that he must leave the country and his presence is illegal since he didn’t maintain his F1 (student) status. while this was a mistake from the USCIS side, what made USCIS suspicious is that he was doing online classes for more than a year since he left the campus and never been on campus once again!!… so be careful.
Courses in MUM were very well taught and comprehensive. I did not have any trouble getting a job right after completion of my on-campus studies! And what about people: friendly professors and fellow students – this is a network that will keep helping you and making you happy throughout all your life!
Thank you MUM!
Within a month I was accepted at MUM and by September I was enrolled in the Masters in Vedic Science program. I was not disappointed by my choice…ever.
Going to MUM was one of the best choices and experiences I have made in my life…and I have enjoyed some very beautiful experiences :).
I would highly recommend it to anyone who is willing to explore another model of education and their own personal depths.
I started the program hoping for the best. The first class was SCI, a basic university required course for all graduate programs. It was a fine class and that along with about 15-30 minutes in the first class, “Advanced Narrative”, was all the teaching and/or discussion about Vedic science for the rest of the school year. So as for integrating the experience of Pure Consciousness into the accessing and developing of creative ideas, it pretty much didn’t exist.
For all intents and purposes there were no credible first semester classes. There was fundamentally no education – technical or intellectual – for the first semester. I most definitely did not master the usage of industry standard technologies to perfect my craft in any way shape or form. There was no formal conceptual or substantive technical training in the required disciplines of filmmaking: cinematic storytelling, scriptwriting, training in cinematography, lighting design, editing, sound design, visual effects, post production, producing or the business side of filmmaking including fundraising, marketing and distribution. There was no technical training in use of professional software tools including Adobe Premiere Creative Cloud, the suite of professional media applications, that we all needed to know in order to create our films. There was minimal basic 2 hour training on the Red One camera and no training on the smaller Canon cameras. We did have outside film industry professionals who presented as guest lecturers via Skype or in person, and overall, most of these presentations were great. But fundamentally, the classes that these guest lecturers are supposed to compliment were non existent.
The lead faculty Stuart Tanner did not teach during first semester and was present very sporadically. Before enrolling people told me about Stuart’s screenwriting class and it was one of my main deciding factors in my ultimately joining the program. But alas, Professor Tanner did not teach any classes during the first semester, though he did act as the primary faculty to discuss thesis film projects and act in a mentoring capacity. The only truly credible faculty member who has a professional history of filmmaking did not teach any classes during the critical educational period of the first semester when technical and intellectual insight and knowledge is most foundational. He did teach an optional 3 day seminar on documentary filmmaking in the second semester, but given that it was during the time we were all in production most of the class couldn’t attend, including myself.
Department Chair Gurdy Leete was slated to teach Advanced Narrative and Advanced Screenwriting but besides introducing himself the first day he never spoke in front of the class again. Instead, Cullen Thomas, the program’s Teaching Assistant who had graduated from MUM with a BA in Media and Communications and a BA in Literature, essentially tried teaching both classes, which was very nice of him to make the best of the situation that he himself was put in. Cullen was just as out of the loop on this decision as much as the students. Unfortunately, to teach a graduate level course you must at the very least have a Masters degree, Cullen did not have a graduate level degree that would give him the legitimate credential to teach in an accredited institution of higher learning. So the only two classes that had any substance in the slightest were taught by someone who doesn’t have the credentials in which to do so. Cullen did his best and with his help I began writing my script. He did what he could to help me apply basic storytelling skills and craft a compelling narrative. There were only a couple of us students in the class because there was the option to write on your own outside of the classroom, which most of the class did. Because of this I did not collaborate with the show-runner, producer, and fellow writers in a writer’s room environment.
Class number three, The Frame, which as I understood it to be, was a class on cinematic story telling and cinematography and all the basic framework to filmmaking, in effect turned out to be two different three-day classes – Production Management and Sound Design – taught by outside instructors, Deja Bernhardt and Evan Roberts. Ms. Bernhardt’s class was very nuts and bolts specific and was excellent but Evan Roberts’ class was pretty much a disaster and they had to bring in another person in the second semester to try and make up for it. So besides these six days there was nothing else to this class.
There were also two classes that were cancelled during the school year, the “Internship” during the December block and the “Business of Media” that was the finale class for the second semester. They didn’t start asking students what kind of internships we’d want until the end of November and also didn’t take into account that most of the film industry doesn’t do much work between thanksgiving and christmas, something any professional film school would be very aware of. Because of these facts it was cancelled and we were left to work alone on our films. The “Business of Media” was cancelled because we students figured out, on our own, that we literally wouldn’t all have enough time for principal photography in the allotted 3 months of studio production and we had to keep going through June and even July to finish. It was cancelled due to poor planning and not enough equipment. If we could’ve filmed at the same time we could’ve all finished but there was only one red camera (until we said we needed a second) and then only one sound pack. The students had to demand more equipment in order to even finish by July as well as rent equipment form outside companies ourselves.
I feel that the only real learning that took place was during the studio part of the program in the second semester where we worked hands-on. But, even here, the learning took place more due to collaborative cross-pollination that is normal for any hands-on filmmaking program and not due to any of the faculty. I actually really loved being on set and collaborating with my fellow students on each others films. I felt I demonstrated collaborative and teamwork skills in production environment. It was by far my favorite part of the year. Despite my repeated requests of faculty to perform as they had promised and provide the requisite technical training to bring me up to speed I was completely lost as to how to create, produce, direct and finish a film. As a result, I relied completely and totally on a fellow student (Chamolie Thomson), one of my peers, to get-up-to-speed on even the most basic aspects of cinematic storytelling. Chamolie supported me and taught me as much as she was able. The faculty recognized this and told Chamolie that “…they were grateful for her dealing with me…” to make up the difference in my education that was not provided by the program. When it came time to develop my thesis film, I developed my story and wrote my script as best as I was able but did not have any of the other skills necessary to actually create or produce my film. Were it not for Chamolie I would not have been able to conduct principal photography. I was then left in post-production with heaps of footage and not even the basic skills to create a rough-cut of my film. I had to rely again on another fellow student (Cody Olivas) to try and teach me basic editing so I could try to make a rough cut. It took me six months to sync all the footage and another six to make a very rough rough cut. I felt completely depressed, alone, and defeated. To finish I would need to spend more money on equipment and teach myself everything about post production. I was pretty mad seeing as how I already paid full tuition for both of those things. School was over, there was no collaboration or teamwork in post at all. I finally gave up and tried to find an editor. It has since taken me three years to finally complete it. There was a promise made with regard to technical training, in fact several promises, and none were kept. I was deeply disappointed in the school, the faculty, myself for not listening to my gut feeling in the beginning. I felt taken advantage, having gained zero hard technical skills to feel competent to enter the film, television and media industry. I never even picked up my MA degree. It meant nothing to me. I didn’t want to look at it.
Education is a serious consideration for all parties: the University, faculty, and students. If the University is not prepared to do what it takes to ensure that the program will measure up to professional standards and keep its educational promises then it should not be offering the program and asking students to pay full tuition for it, period, end of story. My responsibly as a student was to pay and learn your knowledge. And it is the schools responsibility to fulfill their educational promises. They failed terribly, they took my money and did not deliver their end of the bargain. Many students in my year wanted to take legal action and spoke to a lawyer but we didn’t have the money to go through with it. No responsibility was taken, there was no accountability and that was the worst part. MUM made a huge mistake and no one would admit it and try to make it right with us. I was left deep in debt for the first time in my life over a program that charged me full price for an alpha version that I shouldn’t have been accepted into in the first place. I was robbed and I have to pay for it for the next 20 years.
When I heard the program was offering the past MA program years an upgrade to an MFA, if we work on the web series, I was interested. I was more interested in the on set production experience more than the degree. I would’ve much rather done the web series for real life money, but that was not offered to us. However, I still wanted the on set experience and to try to get more for the money I had already spent. I was very nervous about being taken advantage of again but I wanted more knowledge so that I could be more confident in my skills and maybe not be so bitter anymore. This program had taken a very large toll on my life, mentally, financially and personally and I wanted to find some resolve. I decided to do it and it was a crazy but albeit good experience. I’m happy that I did it and that I was finally pushed to finish my film as well. Upon finally getting into the post production process, I saw and enjoyed the collaborative nature of the experience for the first time. It has been a huge relief to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, be done with this overwhelmingly dark and bitter time of my life, and finally have a finished piece that I am proud of.
I really hope you read this with an understanding and open heart. I hope you are a big enough person to put yourself in my shoes and the shoes of the many students that have told you their stories. These are real people’s lives, real money, and real debt. I chose between this program and doing an art program. I have to live wondering what that would’ve been like everyday. I hope you can find it in your heart to see and take responsibility for what you did and hold yourself accountable for the effect you’ve had on peoples lives. You have a responsibility to your students as an educational institution of higher learning and you should not take that lightly.
There were a lot of surprises(bad) for me. Some of the students even dismissed from the university when they could not find a job for practical training – which means mum university only cares about money!
They have a secret. They teach you nonsense which is called SCI – TM Sidhi. This is in simple words a religion, useless stuff and you have to pay for this around 2k money and month of your time.
Literally speaking, most of the professors are fanatics of Trancendental Meditation, this TM is just a nothing else stupid another idea from Maharishi.
The location of the University is great, there is a lake, a lot of woods :) . But our goal is to study.
I highly encourage you not to deal with Maharishi.
I went on to graduate school and did exceptionally well, thanks to my education at MUM. In my dissertation phase I won one of two competitive fellowships awarded each year to the top students. The meditation, the healthy routine, and the profound principles that undergird the MUM education — all were very valuable in my graduate work and beyond.
I was already doing TM when I came so that aspect of the school was familiar and welcome for me. I found the teachers and students extremely kind and supportive. A lot of care and attention is given to having a healthy lifestyle, gaining good work and study habits, getting along well with others. The academics were fine. In some classes they were exceptional, others just okay. But the overall education gave me life tools and habits that have been invaluable and have helped me throughout my career.
I’m glad I went.
in Portugal? Why you allow this?
with reference to internate i found your university web site and my interest is ms in civil engg. course to study. i hope you will send me information regarding this subject.
-World class faculty
-Best career strategy department
-Supper quick response for any documents
-Transparent to every process
-Huge facility of financial aid
-Almost 100% students are doing CPT timely
-Effective TM meditation practice
Wow where to start, at the time of writing this review I’m still an active MUM student in the MSCs program doing my last course. I’m an International who hated this school since day Three, why three you may ask. because it was the day when I had to pay the down payment for the program tuition (5000$) and once we (the students in my batch) did; they showed us all the tricks they cooked for us.
When I first applied for the school, they made it clear that the staff practice TM and that the students are required to meditate twice a day (20 minutes per session, once at the end of each class and once at your room before you sleep). I didn’t mind. I used to meditate during my Aikido classes, so it didn’t bother me and I thought if I don’t like TM, I won’t meditate in my room and just close my eyes and pretend during class meditation. MUM also made it clear early on that I will have to pay around 700 dollars for the TM ceremony (that’s when they teach you TM techniques in 10 minutes!) which they will perform during the first few days of my arrival.
However what they NEVER mentioned before I traveled to the States is that the first course I must attend, is something that has nothing to do with Computer Science, doesn’t count toward my GPA and I will have to pay 1600$ for it plus the room and board cost!!!!. this course is called the Science of Creative Intelligence -SCI for short- (basically you watch videos featuring Maharishi lecturing about his philosophy and then the instructors ask questions about the videos) which is something I was totally not interested at. But again I already paid 5000$, I was in a foreign country and had nowhere else to go. I thought about dropping out and apply for another school, but I thought by the time MUM refund the down payment and until I receive another admission from another school it will be few months, and I will have to pay more than 5000$ for food and shelter while in foreign country all by myself!. So I was stuck against my well and had to play along.
Anyway – the first 5 weeks passed, and I was done with SCI, I couldn’t believe I was done with all this boredom. that’s when I told an American friend I met on campus that I’m finally done with SCI . She replied “remember everything they taught you in this course because it will be stuck with you until you graduate”. Which was true. When the (supposedly academic) course started, we -the students- were chocked to know that the principles of SCI count 10% of the grading system of each course. meaning the midterm counts 40% of the total grad, the final 40% ,10 % on assignments and 10% on SCI questions!!!! I scored several B’s instead of A’s because I failed to answer SCI questions!. some students didn’t seem to be bothered at all by this non sense because many of them looked at this school as an easy ticket to get the states. those who were really hoping for a descent affordable (or so they thought) education were profoundly frustrated and felt abused, deceived, manipulated and helpless (they already invested money and time).
If you read this far, you could have guessed that I’m foreign even if I didn’t mention it. my English is far from perfect. What you may have not guessed is that compared to at least 95% of the foreign students (and I really mean at least), I do sound like Shakespeare. I had many colleagues that couldn’t speak 2 English words before pausing for 10 to 20 seconds only to follow up with a third word that is totally unrelated and has no place in the sentence they try to construct!. MUM – unlike any decent school in the States- doesn’t require the International students to take the TOEFL test (which is a test for international students – Test of English as a foreign Language – that they must pass before they are granted any admission to any U.S university or college). MUM abuse an article in the American educational law which states that the only time an International student Is exempted from this test is if the school officially evaluated his English proficiency by other reliable means. and the way MUM assess foreign students English is by calling them via the phone for 10 to 15 minutes. however they don’t ask the candidate any English language questions, they ask him about his experience as a software programmer and 2 or 3 questions about object oriented programming. what they try to know is if you know the basics of programming or not, they want to make sure that you can find some kind of a low level job so you can pay off your student loan..
That what MUM is. an employment agency.. in my batch all the students were foreign, and so was the case in the previous and the following batch. MUM attract foreign students. they send mass spam un solicitude emails to internationals , they talk about a financial aid system (which isn’t so – it’s just tuition paid on several installments) and talk about high demand on the IT sector. the talk about the CPT system (curriculum practical training) which allow international students to do paid internship while still enrolled in school (which is a system MUM severely abuse). OMG this is long already and I didn’t talk about a lot of stuff. I guess you get the idea. It might be enough to mention few more quick facts. some of the instructors didn’t even have a Master Degree! yet they were teaching Master level students!.. we were only required to take 5 courses + SCI on campus (each course in one month) and 4 courses via distance education (online) because most students will be contracted by a -body shop- after 6 or 7 months of their arrival in the States. each online course last 4 months with one week break in between. students end up doing up to 20 months on paid internship under CPT even though the USCIS states clearly that no one is allowed to do CPT more than 12 months on a row!!.
bottom-line: avoid this school by all means..
A) If you are an American thinking about some undergraduate education there, then my advice is: you can’t trust people who trick internationals this way. the staff at MUM are so distant from everyone else, live in their own world, can easily hold a grudge, and they hate questions. And dare you question something they preached, especially if its TM related, they will dislike you (to put it nicely) until you leave MUM.
B) If you are an international looking for a decent -American!- education (like me). I’ll give you a quick example, the current course I’m doing is called Web Applications Architecture. when I read the name I thought I will be studying distributed technologies, Http specifications, Service oriented architecture and other advanced web theories and topics. what I am studying however is some Java tools JSP and JSF, and we only cover the basics of these tools. The exams are focused on the Syntax of these tools. you can buy an intro book written by non academic author that is published by Wrox under their programmer to programmer series for less than 30$. and you will learn much more from the book about the Java tools, even though you won’t learn much about web theories and architecture.
C) If you are an international who just want to make it in the States, hoping that you will find another way to legally remain in the States. last year 7 of MUM students had their H1b (a work visa) petition denied… USCIS started to do more thorough reviews on H1b applications. some MUM students got their H1b petitions approved but many were denied H1b. the rejection letter for one dude mentioned that he must leave the country and his presence is illegal since he didn’t maintain his F1 (student) status. while this was a mistake from the USCIS side, what made USCIS suspicious is that he was doing online classes for more than a year since he left the campus and never been on campus once again!!… so be careful.
Believe me it’s horrible .
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I hd a very good experience with MUM
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Mum drug policy is crazy. Worse than any other school. Half the people are recovering addicts of hard drugs. Alcohol and heroin get the same penalty. Red rock the local bar is always packed with MUM students. Townies hate MUM students. Maharishi effect is not real. You can see the lies there. They tell you that Maharishi effect is something that stops violence raises stock markets. Taking credit for economic and legislative policies. The logic is fallible.
1.) The school is very low-budget. The dorms have mice and black mold, and fellow classmates of mine even ended up in the hospital due to the mold issues. The dorms are DUMPS and pretty much everyone lives in the local “Utopia” trailer park. This school is extremely over priced for what you get.
2.) The staff and faculty are very nosy of the students’ personal life. They gossip and pry information out of students. For example; you will be having a conversation with someone from student life and they somehow know information about you that you’ve never shared with them.
3.) The school is VERY dogmatic and controlling. They will try to tell you that you have to go sleep in the woods for three days or stay in your dorm and meditate all weekend. Good luck if you try to get out of it, they’ll reduce your grade.
4.) The town of Fairfield sucks. No good restaurants or activities. Full of rednecks. I felt like I was in a horror movie when I entered this town.
5.) There is a lack of motivation here. Most of the people just meditate to the point that they look like they’re dying. They do everything very slowly.
6.) The food at the school is horrid. They don’t use any spices or garlic/onions. Everything is warm and bland. They serve tofu everyday. Yuck!
7.) A majority of the student life are burn outs. At least the group of students I met when I arrived. Whats on the agenda for the weekend? Smoking marijuana and getting drunk at the local bar. (Not to mention the local bar smells like dog piss and is full of old junkies.) Classy group, eh? I find the students are mostly low lives who couldn’t get into a real University.
Although I am not a student at MUM, I have spent a lot of time there meditating and learning additional meditation techniques. All my experiences have been positive and valuable, and my experiences have evolved in a way that is consistent with Maharishi’s teachings. As a consequence, I am healthier, happier, and more productive.
It should come as no surprise that MUM is not a “party” school. It is honestly presented as a place that values regular meditation and conservative dress and behavior. If you are ready for this, you’ll probably like it very much.
Also, consider how this website is presented. It begins by asking you to tell others about the negative aspects of the school you review–suggesting you put a negative spin on it. This is hardly a source of unbiased information. When you read these reviews, consider whether the reviewer seems rational and balanced. Is the review written the way a good college student should write? If not, don’t take it seriously.
The best way to decide about MUM is to visit the school yourself. Talk to as many people as you can. Regarding faculty qualifications, I have noted that several of them earned their doctorates from highly regarded universities.
Best wishes.
I attended MUM for 4 years and gained a BA in Business in 2008. The education I received was value to my success in my business carrier and I’m now working as a Marketing Analyst as my day job and have a small business that I’m developing that’s making a small passive income. Life at MUM was very good. I liked the healthy food, I enjoyed the practice of TM that they teach, I met very cool people and I have remained friends with many of them. Most people there are into being healthy, drugs where not a big part of campus life – though there where a few students doing them – alcohol almost non existent. I would say this school is special and not for everyone… its for people that are looking for something better in life and don’t like the status quo. If you want to better yourself in heart mind and intellect… MUM is it.
MUM is not perfect for everyone. NO college is perfect for everyone. If you think you may be interested in it, come for a visit. Simple as that.
I am a graduate of the film program, which was my favorite place to be by far. While getting my degree I was allowed to produce and direct one 7 minute short, one 25 minute short, one 89 minute feature film, and I worked on half a dozen Hollywood film sets (ranging in overall budgets from $250k to over $30mil). I was able to do all of this because I went to MUM. They were on the block system, so I was taking 1 class at a time, and it worked with my schedule and my ambitions beautifully.
I’m not claiming that MUM is a perfect place. It’s a work in progress. However, I will argue one point. People on here complain that you have to be self-motivated to succeed at MUM. I would argue that you have to be self-motivated to succeed anywhere. Self-motivation is one of the main things that you learn at college and in life. In fact, expecting someone to “teach” you self-motivation is a bit oxymoronic, yeah?
most of the reviewers above who attack the university seem to a lack of understanding of either the university culture or their priorities.
1- if you are looking for GOOD education ,this school is NOT for you at all, you will learn from buying and reading books by yourself more than from their teachers. and as well known, in USA, good education = good money, and you can only find it in big research-based universities.
2- the MUM culture has been being built in US since 1972, and as any other group of people who support their own ideas, they try to make sure that no one thinks it is easy to go against them, in other words you either stay because you like it , or you leave.
3- I would say that it may be a good experience for some people , because I did meet many people , international and domestic , who love the university and enjoy it everyday, but I also met other people who hated it so so bad.
but it all comes down to what you want, I have found that those who are looking for “cheap” education , will hate the university , and I believe that it is their mistake. however if you are looking for life experiences , trying unique things, being in new situations and atmosphere , then I am sure that MUM will be a place for that.
the best way to look at it is like this : if someone invites you to his home for a dinner , and he told you that the dinner will taste amazing, you get excited for a nice free dinner , and then when you come to his house , you start spotting things that you think are negative, and after eating the food , you don’t like it because it tastes just bad. it is simply your responsibility to accept the invitation , and that person did nothing wrong by trying to “promote” his good cooking skills.
as a bottom line,
for education : don’t waste any time and money by attending MUM, you will regret it
for new experiences, trying new things , ….etc, it may be a good place.
from my experience, it works the best for International students, because they have the best way for Computer Science people to come to us and start a new life here, you study 8 months in the campus and then you work for 2 years and get paid just like the americans.
so just make sure what you are looking for first, then you can decide.
I hope I give good information for those who are looking for it.
I told a teacher about this,all she did was go tell Hagelin. Instead of the school taking my complaint seriously (which is the law)and it being handled discretely …it would appear tongues wag here. I got blacklisted. Brutal treatment from the teachers and lowered grades. My gpa dropped from 3.7 to 2.6. The faculty,teachers, and the older T.M.ers (strangers to me)in town all being awful to me. I went to two faculty people and said I just want to know why you guys are doing this? They would not tell me. I said is it because I smoke? I’m too cocky? Named off about 10 of my imperfections…to each one they said nope that isn’t it. (That of course means there IS a reason and they DO KNOW what it is but can’t tell me. It never occured to me until the end that my presence as a student here now bothers Dr. Hagelin and his friends.
The food is horrible, cream of broccoli soup is boiled to death broccoli in water! No cream about it! You can drink the pudding;the bread is tough;the salad veggies are third rate wilted crap (I know I’ve run restaurants). The teachers are bottom of the barrel desperate scrapings.
If you were thinking of going here… don’t…they don’t deserve you.
They worship Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as an infallible saint. His word is gods word to them. I wasted a 1.5 years of my life there before I left and went to a real college. The classes are a joke, everything revolves around how Mahesh is correct, and every discipline is a reflection of his correct cognition/interpretation of the Ved. They state it’s not a belief system, but they believe the Mahesh and other yogis cognized the “truth” of the universe.
They charge you to learn TM, yet they call it a birthright. This place is every definition of a cult. It has an infallible leader, the cut themselves off from society, they are correct and other religions are wrong (they would just say the ved is seen in every other religion), and if you disagree or don’t see “the light”, they ask you to leave.
When I went there, they segragated men and women in most classes, didn’t let you ware jeans or have facial hair, forced you to do meditation and made you scan a badge with an ID # do make sure you showed up, claimed to be non-sectarian but didn’t allow people to practice other forms of mediation, and always claimed how Mahesh and the movement were correct, how TM was the “best” form of mediation, and how TM was the only way to save the world.
They also forced me to live on campus until I got a doctors note, detailing how the mold in the dilapidated dorms was causing respiritory issues. Plus they act like they are sustainable, but they do not have one LEED certified buildings only registered (I’m a LEED Accredited Professional and verified this), they care more about Vastu (Mahesh’s form of Sthapatya Vedic architecture) than non-toxic buildings. They also forced everyone to walk in east or north entrances because of their beleifs. The dorms only entrance in that directiont was the fire escape. We were not allowed to use the main entrance.
I tried working with them the whole time I was there, but in the end, I realized this was a cult, not an evil organization, but a cult who took the word of Mahesh as absolute truth. This is not a post secondary school, but an ashram for a sect of American Hindus.
I strongly warn anyone against attending who isn’t a devote of Mahesh or their particular sect of hinduism.
My perspective is a little different than many posters on this board who defend or berate MUM (it was another name when I was there). I speak as a mature (56) year-old man who has some fond memories of the TM community in Fairfield from the early 1980s, and some not so fond memories of the Canadian administration of Maharishi’s movement. However, I do remember a sense of purpose, wholesome living, regular habits and good company. I also missed from 1975 to 1985 all the recreational drugs, promiscuous sex and political cynicism of the time. I have since made up for lost time.
While I do not share the bitterness of some individuals in this board I suspect that their impressions are in the correct direction. The TM movement is not for academics or even deep thinkers. I was a seeker and an intellectual of sorts and was told by the local leaders in Vancouver, and I kid you not, to ‘build a big bonfire and burn all my books’ (other than by Maharishi of course). My independent studies in Sanskrit, religion, philosophy and mysticism were discouraged to put it mildly.
I have nothing against humane, tolerant, progressive religion. But the new leaders of the TM organization are, like Maharishi himself, despite his charms, disingenuous. There are reputable Hindu, Buddhist, and indeed Christian, universities where not every single aspect of life is seen through the perspective of a singular philosophy that can be summed in this: ‘Meditate and follow our directives on our interpretation of selective elements of yogic and Brahminical Hinduism. Do what our leader(s) say is correct. Do not think for yourself.’ This is never explicitly said, but one learns to do so to survive within the context of the very insular and inward thinking TM mindset. The Catholic Church has more freedom of thought.
The new commercial focus of the ‘Maharajah’ (world leader) and ‘Rajahs’ (national and regional leaders) would put Ismailis and LDS Church to shame as those positions were essentially bought when Maharishi needed to create a foundation. The many dedicated volunteers who lived simple lives living on a share of meditation initiation fees, (essentially self-financing missionary work) were replaced by businesmen.
Are TMers nice people? I think they are very much so. In fact I miss my naivieity, community practices and beliefs. But this is what they are. I have no experience at the university academically. But I sincerely doubt it can compare to even a community college. I hope I am wrong for the many young people who might wake up after four, eight, or even ten years later and say ‘what did I do with my time?’ Money can be regained. Time cannot. And while I am no fan of American style Protestantism of the post-Reagan era, I would like to paraphrase something Billy Graham said (and of course those mindful of religious subtleties will know that he and say Jerry Falwell are not cut from the same cloth, despite both being Christians) “The sad thing is not that New Agers believe in nothing. It is that they will believe anything’.
I do not regret the two decades I spent meditating twice a day. I met many sincere, kind, devoted people. I became vegetarian, ‘early to bed, early to rise’, to avoid conflict, to be ethical and that I should be successful in the world (necessary if you want to attend TM courses!). Perhaps best of all, TMers are not out to convert the world or plunder the planet. They genuinely respect ‘other paths’ and the glorious variety and beauty of human society and nature. But I caution all to examine carefully what you are getting into….
I began by meditating twice a day. Wonderful. I was searching for a meditation technique that did not require any change of lifestyle and every other group did. Then I was encouraged to add Hatha yoga postures and a very simple few breathing excercises. Good for the health. Along the way we could listen to Maharishi’s lectures. All he did was put me to sleep or make me laugh. No harm done. After a few years I was listening to chanting at night that most Hindus haven’t done for hundreds of years. I won’t bore you with the TM-Sidhi deceit of supernatural powers. Then came the addition of traditional Indian medicine (perhaps good) and astrology. And architecture based on medieval Hindu scriptures. What had I gotten myself into? This was not what I signed up for! A simple meditation technique had turned into, and I am very reluctant to use this word, but it is the reality, a secretive sect of conservative Hinduism. For all its faults, and I am very skeptical of religious institutions, Hinduism (a group of related religions really, united by some core beliefs) is one of the world’s great religions. It has many commendable features. But to pretend that it is not a matter of faith, but is a science, is nonsense. There are worse groups, even dangerous cults. I venture to say that Islamacist jihadists are much more of a risk to world peace than any of the synchretic new religions or quasi-Hindu groups.
I recall with fondness holding an umbrella for Maharishi in the rain. I was a good TMer and did not ask him any questions. Maybe you should ask some hard questions before you sign up. But no one is going to hold a gun to your head, or a scimitar to your throat. It’s your choice.
https://www.linktv.org/programs/david-wants-to-fly
My name is Rachel, after going to an orientation I couldn’t wait to attend in 2013. I felt like I finally fit in. Then I started looking deeper into Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s movement. FREAKY. I am totally fond of TM,and everything Guru Dev and back… but as for Maharishi himself?… PLEASE take an hour and a half of your time to watch this documentary available in the link.
Much here is counterproductive to the elevation of consciousness, besides the students themselves who are of a new generation with a new kind of consciousness. But as DROP-OUT said, the brightest will leave early, unless they are powerful enough to make an impact. Need lots of help….
The Vedic Science degree is less about academic exploration and more about brainwashing and learning a strict tradition as it was taught (in its purity they would say) without deviation. It is an ashram, not an institution for intellectual gratification. The Media and Communications dept. is the worst I’ve encountered. Don’t be sucked in by David Lynch’s association with the movement. The teachers have little real world experience, and dogmatically repeat what they have been taught (at MUM) with no wiggle room for creativity (ironically meditation does make you feel more creative, but you cannot then express it here. There are certain things that are simply taboo). You could not make a film like Lynch’s at MUM. It would be seen as too negative or dark.
Sustainable Living seems to be the one good reason to attend this school, and you’ll have to look past the dogma.
In Vedic science expect to be bombarded continually with old video recordings of Maharishi until you can quote him verbatim without even trying. I literally felt my brain being “washed.” Fred Travis is one fantastic teacher, but he also pushes the TM paradigm like everyone else. Most of the faculty make just $700 a month! They are there because they are true believers, not because they are good educators. Check out where they got their educations and you’ll see how incestuous this place is.
If you want to learn one singular tradition of Indian philosophy and yes, religion, in an ashram and get loans from the government in order to do so, MUM is a good choice. If you want a college education, look elsewhere.
I am very sorry for those of you who feel you are stuck there. I hope you will find a way to get out. It is dangerous for you. By all means, don’t do the meditations, don’t get caught in the post-hypnotic suggestions. That’s what TM is, self-hypnosis, and leaves you very vulnerable to whatever they want you to believe. Please know that others see the truth. Please post more about your experiences and what you observe.
F**K MUM :)
Don’t apply to this shitty university … try to find another and I am sure any other university will be better than this one .. I have been here for more than 7 months.. and I am writing now from my fuckn room in MUM dome.
i grew up in the fairfield cult, so i was sucked in.
a cult disguised as a college.
run for you life.
i live far far away now and my degree is worthless.
Someone just knocked on my door to ask me to type quieter so I don’t disturbed their meditation. I need a baseball bat.
The comments above are mostly so extreme and obviously unbalanced that I hope no intelligent person takes them seriously.
MUM is a young university (30+ years old) and therefore still growing and evolving. It has a very unique campus culture of people interested in personal growth, social justice, sustainability and peace. The students are fantastic and they create a very supportive and open student culture.
The faculty really care about the students and are easily available to students. The VP of the university is available to meet with students during lunch in the cafeteria pretty much anytime.
Some academic programs are not as strong as others. Some solid ones are Sustainable Living, Media and Communications and Vedic Science.
The university does not have a large endowment fund like older schools and therefore the physical campus is not as beautiful as some other schools. The food rocks, it’s organic, freshly cooked and partially locally grown.
It’s amazing how this place has you grow as a person and creates the environment for you to figure out who you are and what you want in life while you get a degree.
Regarding the reviews above, anyone that tells you something is just horrible, don’t listen to them. Find someone that can give you a balanced perspective (cause they are usually a balanced person).
I am reading a lot of forums regarding Maharishi University. I just received an email inviting me to attend a Master’s degree at the said university but I’m having a second thought if I am to pursue my application. I am applying for a student visa and I have the urge of going to the US ever since. If someone there who could recommend me some school to go who offers financial aid to it’s student, then please give me a tip. thanks guys.
This university is very selective and it is not easy to get into the MBA-Accounting and M.S.Computer Science program.
The nearest fun place is Iowa City. Many students visit Iowa City during Friday or Saturday nights for good time.
Please let me know the true facts about the MUM university
Thank u very much for help
and actually a very nice thing that non of the comments before mentioned that the university itself does a lot of illegal things like getting an SSN for international students with a fake contract, I guess they get a reduction in taxes by allowing students to work in the university, also opening the SSN letter is a federal crime actually. and they just keep lying about the TM thing it’s not a religion bla bla bla, okay if it’s a good technique, then I’m an adult and can decide for myself what’s good and what’s bad, get ur fucken nose out of my business suckers, I wish that this university close and shut all the programs and all suckers in it go to jail, or maybe to hell to their beloved maharishi. and actually I knew a hendu guy and he told me that the strange words with strange language at the ceremony are words like “I brought a new member for you, you the creator of the earth the skies, that’s why I kneel infront of u, and these gifts (which are the apple and the flower) are from this member, so accept him” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
check this out https://www.behind-the-tm-facade.org/transcendental_meditation-religion.htm
it has the full translation of the initiation ceremony.
I don’t understand how students pay more than 25,000$ in 8 months!!! It’s not the Hilton btw, plz guys if anyone knows a good reporter at famous newspaper, please tell him about this to save others
The faculty are amazing, the students are bright spiritual people and I have friends and connections from all over the world now. The only thing that is bit of problem for me is the freezing cold winter but I get used to it and then I can go snowboarding…
All the best,
Asher.
I recommend MUM to anyone who wants to develop themselves on all levels – spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically etc. It is a powerful environment with a lot of progressive things happening.
Good luck!
The solution: cool-headed, critical thinking and common sense.
I graduated from MUM and it was the best experience of my life. I feel that the University is exactly what its Website says — and everything is up front. I found MUM unique, innovative, fun and profound (I transferred from UNC). I made tight bonds with like-minded people there that I know will last a lifetime. Anyone who calls MUM a cult or religious school simply doesn’t understand the basic ideas upon which the University is founded. If you’re thinking about going there, just go and visit. Talk to the students and faculty and get to know a few people. It’s the people who make the place great. All the meditators create a relaxed, supportive, positive atmosphere. So think for yourself and don’t be gullible and influenced by some ignorant, wise-ass comments spewed out on the Internet.
MUM is an experience. It’s transcendental. Being there enlivens deeper levels of who you are that you didn’t even know about, and the deeper levels are the best. You have to go there and check it out to know. It’s not something you can evaluate by reading a few small-minded opinions, or even big positive ones. The University even pays for your transportation to go for a Visitors’ weekend. Just follow your heart.
International students…please don’t get deceived…This may never make your dreams come true…..
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/message/34445
This ‘University’ is EVIL.
This blog will soon be updated with real student perspectives, not the student perspectives that the University/TM Organization choose to post. https://therealmum.blogspot.com
also dig around the yahoo group (later posts are great) for more information https://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/
For one, those positive reviews above are most likely created by the team of PR representatives from the Transcendental Meditation movement. Research it online, there is also a great Fairfield, Iowa yahoo group that has many stories from the locals and lots of leaked information.
You may think that sounds crazy, but once you arrive here you’ll see the truth for yourself.
The faculty are underpaid, the university is deceiving, the education is minimal. You have to be self motivated in all aspects to succeed in any program here. Sustainable Living isn’t bad, but be prepared to regurgetate and live by the Dogman and belief systems set forth by the Puritanical Maharishi Movement society that the school is run by.
Be aware when you visit. Talk with the students. Watch the people. See the unhealthy long-time meditators that have practiced TM for decades and look like death is approaching. Mahasamadhi isn’t negative, but they aren’t living up to the picture MUM paints.
A community college would be a better choice for your education than MUM. Unless you are coming here to attend an Ashram and learn their particular belief on life and spirituality.
Research like crazy, find out everything before you get conned and trapped into attending based on financial aid or other unforseen circumstances.
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john martin
this school sucks dick, unless you want to be a garabgte collecter for the rest of your life. oh, and by the way, all the girls here actully have penis’s