Soka University of America
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Soka University of America is a Soka Gakkai, Buddhist, Non-Profit, College established in 2001. The campus is located in Aliso Viejo, California, USA and hosts students with an endowment of .
Website: www.soka.edu
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Institution Type: Soka Gakkai, Buddhist, Non-Profit, College
Established: 2001
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53 Student Reviews of Soka University of America
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I am currently a sophomore at SUA (class of 2022) and I’m very happy I chose this school. I just happened to come across it randomly, so I’m not connected at all to SGI (although there’s actually a fairly limited presence of SGI students on campus). It’s a really pretty campus and we have a lot of things to study. We have a lot of activist centered discussion and a good choice of classes, despite the small size. Whether you are interested in genetics, Christianity, Asian-American activism, Japanese poetry, Latin America history, economy in China, Hinduism, statistics, linguistics, etc, you’ll find a course here for you. If you have trouble finding ones you like, there’s always an independent study option, but I’ve yet to take one since I’ve always found classes I like. The surrounding area is pretty suburban, but there’s a daily SUA funded shuttle service that is free for students to use. They can make special requests to use it as well. If you have a friend with a car, Disneyland is also not too far away. Really generous financial aid and it honestly is the right school for me. Glad that party scene is responsible and also low-key. I’ve never felt pressured to go to one and I don’t feel like I’m missing out. It’s just a really good environment to study in and make friends. Don’t take the liberal arts/small school aspect as homogeneity. We definitely have some strife on campus when it comes to politics, but everyone is willing to have healthy discussions and talk things out and learn. That’s what I really appreciate about the people here. I feel like I can become a better person on this campus.
After meeting with a SUA alumnus educator in Japan, I started studying English. Since I was from a poor rural family, I never thought it would be possible to go abroad. However, after studying hard, I was able to get a full-tuition scholarship from SUA and now I’m studying at an extremely beautiful campus in California with great friends from over 45 countries around the world.
This school is geared towards those that want to question life as we know it. Many of the courses are very discussion based and ask students to evaluate things from many perspectives. It offers a mandatory study abroad program, which is amazing because it is included in tuition! Many people are paying WAY less than the base price for tuition + room and board, so don’t let that deter you. SUA definitely makes the college affordable for everyone. My time here doesn’t feel wasted and I feel like my understanding of the world has really broadened. The courses can be challenging, but also very rewarding! It’s very small, but then I don’t feel like I get lost in the sea of students. 100% recommend.
Soka is a great liberal arts school! If you are looking for a small, intimate school to study liberal arts, I would highly recommend it. The close contact with the professors creates unique opportunities and opens many doors. Furthermore, the small student-faculty ratio challenges every student to do his best. One of the most rewarding things about Soka is the guaranteed study abroad semester that is included in the tuition. Last but not least, Soka is located in beautiful Orange County, with gorgeous beaches in close proximity.
Soka is an inspiring place. I think coming to Soka is the best decision I have made in my life. Although Soka is a unique environment in terms of its smallness and the surrounding environment (green, poor access to stores etc), there are many things to do within the Soka campus.
Small class size made me think who I am and what I can do to improve this society as a person. Most professors are really friendly, and they are always willing to help students. Mandatory study abroad program is one of the most popular characteristic of Soka, and as an International student, going to the US and studying abroad to another country broaden my future options and gave an opportunity to grow as a person.
I am currently a third-year student at Soka University. As an international student, I really feel the positive influences of the diversity here. Leaving my home country, I realized how hard it is to overcome differences (any differences like nationality, race, gender, sex, language, social status, personality…). People automatically categorize others and have biases if they are not like “us.” That’s why diversity sometimes hurts- we may experience exclusion, contempt, stereotype, disrespect, and so on. I should admit that it happens at SUA too. It’s very hard to avoid anywhere in the world. However, I feel that SUA really changes students’ perspectives by giving an opportunity to be a “minority.” At Soka, students from over 45 countries live on campus together and study abroad in their 3rd year. I see many people start to respect others thanks to these opportunities. After coming back from study abroad, some domestic students told that they didn’t expect how hard living abroad and learning new language was and started to respect international students more.
I notice that there are both positive and negative comments here. I found a review saying that “brainless” SUA students never be able to change their lives at SUA, but I definitely disagree with that because of the reason above. You might be confused if my opinion is wrong or other people are biased, but you’ll never know the reality until you actually visit SUA and talk to Soka students. I can’t tell which college is the best for you; the only thing I can tell is that Soka is a great college for me so far, and I hope you love it too.
I’m currently a second year student at soka university of America. Soka truly embraces diversity; students come from more than 45 different countries. I learned many different cultures in terms of food, manner, and values. I have so many friends who are religiously, culturally, and nationally different from me, but I can say that all of them are wonderful human beings. I believe that Soka represents a world, where people can understand each other and create friendships beyond any differences. If you want to become a global citizen who contribute to a society as a member of humanity, I would recommend this Soka university.
I am currently a second year student at SUA and have no regret to have chosen this university!. Classes at Soka often involve dialogue and discussion, and we have a lot of opportunities to work in small teams. The average class size at Soka is about 12 students in a class, and the student-faculty ratio is 8:1. Professors are very passionate about teaching and always welcome to answer students’ questions. Despite of its small campus size, Soka has high quality facilities including recreation center and performing art center. What makes Soka special would be its affordability. Financial aids are available for any students depending on their economic situation and academic performance. The fee of mandatory study abroad program is included in tuition, which can also be covered by SUA scholarship. I also want to emphasize the beauty of our campus! Our campus is modeled after the Italian village, and you will find many travertine tiles used in the buildings. Thanks to the proper care and treatment of flowers and trees by the staff members, we enjoy the beautiful nature at our campus. You will absolutely love the campus life here. :)
Soka University of America has a unique mission statement: to foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life. I’ve never seen such a mission statement or focus of a university like this before. While learning and academics are one of the main reasons for my decision to attend college, I wanted to become a better, more socially aware person. To me, Soka seemed like a great fit.
I’m a sophomore at Soka University of America. It’s definitely a unique environment when it comes to small class sizes, having more contact with professors, and the generous amenities (aka spacious dorms and no communal bathrooms). Some aspects of Soka may not be your cup of tea; but like any college, you receive what you put into the experience. Thanks to Soka, I have so many resources at my disposal to further my education/experience such as networking to alumni who are in my field of study and generous study abroad curriculum in my choice of country. This school isn’t perfect (small student body, only four concentrations of study, quiet surrounding area and student life) but it’s a great deal and I’ve grown so much here. Soka is definitely worth it.
I’m currently a first-year student at SUA. This campus has a lot of opportunities to learn cultural differences. Many students are international students, so in daily life, we face lots of difficulties caused by cultural differences. However, we talk each other and find a solution for this situation by our selves. I believe this is a precious experience in my life. I definitely recommend this school for future students.
I’m currently a first-year international student from Nepal enrolled at Soka University of America. Soka is a great liberal art college with students from over 40 nations of the world. It has a small student body, which facilitates interaction with professors within and outside the classroom. The interdisciplinary education and diverse community of Soka provide students with an ability to view things from a broader perspective.
What I particularly like about Soka is its unique program called Learning Cluster that takes place during the month of January. A Learning Cluster is a research seminar where students work in teams with faculty facilitators to investigate a specific question. It helps in bridging theory and practice, and evoke an educated outcome. Apart from its great education, Soka is aesthetically gifted with a beautiful campus and natural beauty of the surrounding canyon. It’s a great place to visit and take a walk!
I’m currently a first year student at SUA and having a wonderful opportunity to learn and get along with my friends. Soka has been my dream school since when i was young. I visited the campus at the age of 11 from Japan and got impressed with the campus and people studying there. I was longing to get in and decided to go to the high school in the United States to get into SUA. I’m so happy to be here now and enjoying so much to learn something new every day. What I got most impressed was the discussion in class. Although American education is half based on discussion and lecture from my experience in high school, Soka offers us incredible opportunity that regards discussion. Since we’re from over 30 different countries and 23 different states, the discussion often gets diverse. This always makes me think that this diversity always makes me learn and try something new every day. I really love this environment and so glad to be here. I would like to keep studying in this wonderful environment and be a global citizen who truly contribute to helping other people.
I am currently a third-year student at Soka University of America. This school caught my attention with its small class sizes, international focus, and emphasis on humanistic education. I chose to pursue my undergraduate education at SUA because I wanted an academic experience that would nurture me as an individual, and provide the environment for me to strive alongside my peers and together with my mentors to gain the intellectual foundation for my future educational and career pursuits.
Classes at SUA are small and intimate, with 12 to 18 students in a typical classroom. There are about 8 students per faculty by-the-numbers, so it’s easy to get to know professors. Classes are always taught and graded by the actual faculty themselves rather than teaching assistants, so throughout each semester, students develop a direct relationship with their instructors. Learning Clusters provide a month-long opportunity to pursue interdisciplinary study of a particular topic of interest; examples range from sustainability in South America, to the politics of Southeast Asia. Some of these classes even have the opportunity to travel abroad. The best thing about the academics at Soka is that you receive as much value from your interactions with your fellow classmates and professors as from the class materials themselves. This puts a personal touch on the educational experience and allows students to engage in genuine experiential learning.
SUA has a mandatory study abroad program that provides students the opportunity to solidify their foreign language skills in a country where the target language is spoken. Currently, Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish are taught. The international focus of the schools is also reflected in the diverse student body, of which about 40% comes from outside the United States. The meeting of cultures and languages on campus is a manifestation of SUA’s commitment to global citizenship. Sharing ideas with people from all over the world who strive to become leaders in the global community is clearest way in which SUA provides a practical, concrete way for students to contribute to world peace. SUA’s mottoes, values, and mission are not mere abstract concepts, but are realized in the day-to-day elements of all students, faculty, and staff.
Residential life at SUA is organized yet diverse. First-year students live in double rooms with a bathroom, while upperclassmen get suites. This means that students never need to share a room (or bathroom) with more than one other person during their four years at Soka. The residential life staff works hard to make sure that students are supported all throughout. There’s plenty of opportunity for socialization, whether in one of the campus’ many student-led clubs, or by having fun in students’ free time. Students can choose to hang out during free time, but there is never any pressure to do particular activities simply because of certain peer groups. The campus community is very open and accepting of different preferences, aiding the school’s focus on humanism and educating the whole person.
On the whole, I am very thankful and happy for my decision to study at Soka University of America. Generous financial aid from the institution works to eliminate whatever concerns about college accessibility, so students from all backgrounds can pursue their educational goals. SUA works diligently to make sure that Soka graduates are equipped with the intellectual and social principles to live contributive lives on any path they choose to follow.
Studying at Soka University has been a truly life-changing experience. Soka University of America is a small (approx. 450 students) liberal arts college founded upon Buddhist principles of pacifism, sanctity of life, and environmental stewardship. Soka’s location is on a hill surrounded by a county natural reserve, canyons and a residential community in the sunny South Orange County, California. Even though Soka’s campus presents unparalleled architectural mastery and splendid views of nearby canyons, it’s biggest strength lies in academics. Soka’s progressive and inclusive curriculum has allowed Soka University to rise rapidly (over past 15 years) among thousands of American liberal arts colleges and place itself as one of the TOP 50 Liberal Arts Colleges in the US. Soka University has achieved national recognition due to strong emphasis of its values, such as global citizenship, diversity, financial aid, and rigor. The faculty members become students’ mentors; they are acclaimed in their fields and always available to students. Soka University mandates all of its students to study abroad and to join hands-on learning periods. Soka has great modern facilities, and each student has more than 100 square ft. of personal space.
I am currently a student at Soka University of America. I am so thankful that Soka offered me many opportunities to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures. Soka students come from 23 US states and 40 countries, and I get to talk to these people and form friendships through chatting at the dining hall, doing club activities, etc. I treasure my friends at Soka and dialogues with them. They make me laugh, give me some insights about life, and take challenges together. The student body is like a family because we have such a small number of students, which is 450. I also made precious friends in Spain through our mandatory semester study abroad program. I chose Seville, Spain for my study abroad location because I heard so many good things about the program in there. The best part about my study abroad was that I made wonderful Spanish friends whom I still keep in touch with. I learned a lot about Spanish cuisine and cultures from them. I feel so fortunate to go to Soka.
I am a fourth-year-student at Soka University of America, and I am very grateful for the education I received here. One of the amazing experiences I had was study abroad. SUA has a mandatory semester study abroad in student’s third year after 4 semesters of learning foreign languages. Students have options of taking one of four languages: Chinese, Spanish, French and Japanese. I studied Chinese and went to Beijing University for a semester. The homestay experience with local Chinese family, friendship from all over the world, and travels across China not only helped me better understand its cultures and language, but also helped me grow and be a better person. Although I had several challenges – being sick etc, I will treasure these experiences for my life. I am very thankful for all the benefactors who make this education possible to everyone.
I think the reviewer who called it a “school upon a hill” never read the text “city upon a hill” after which this school was satirically named in a local news article. It is not a good thing to be associated with a group of people who are delusional in their beliefs, and that is what the student body at Soka is. Religion can truly make you think that nothing is something. Teachers here are average. The small student to teacher ratio is annoying when your teachers treat you like children and try to guide every step of your education like overbearing mothers. This is the school to go to if you are afraid to go to a real college. But admin is pretty horrible for such a small school. Make sure they get your transcript right and be prepared to talk to financial aid advisors who don’t take the minimum initiative to help you.
Liberal arts education here has helped me look at the world from many different points of view. I have also developed critical and creative thinking and communication skills, which are necessary for any kind of job. Small class size helps us actively engage in learning through class discussion. Also, it is easier here to reach out to professors (Student/faculty ratio is 8:1), and they help your learning with passion and kindness. You can find your favorite professors and make strong connections with them. You could even create an independent study with a professor where you can learn the subject you like with the full support of a professor. In addition, because of the diversity we have here and the small student body, you can meet and work with people of different race, nationality, and culture and learn from each other regardless of any difference. You can make friendships beyond boarders. Also, SUA is very student-centered, so students take responsibility of their learning and campus life, and professors, administrators, staff fully support them. I wouldn’t say it’s flawless, but as long as you have a will to learn, SUA offers a lot of resources for you.
I am currently a senior at SUA. SUA has given me so many opportunities to broaden my perspectives and explore various places of the world over the past few years. First of all, I went to China for study abroad and had precious experiences there, which helped me deepen my understanding of Chinese culture and also think about my future career. I lived with a Chinese host family and we had meals together. Not only was I able to study Chinese on site, but also I learned how to survive in China. Because I learned to appreciate China and the Chinese people, I am planning to go back to China for my work in the future. In addition to the study abroad program, there are many wonderful professors who teach valuable things in our life. For example, I have learned works of ancient and contemporary philosophers, which enabled me to think of things from multiple viewpoints. Besides philosophy classes, I have been taking several psychology classes as my concentration is Social and Behavioral Sciences. Through studying psychology, I was able to expand my views of how and why people behave in certain ways and how to live life fully. I really appreciate SUA for giving me such wonderful opportunities to develop as a well-rounded person.
I am currently a student at Soka University of America. Through attending Soka University of America, I have gained great experiences which helped me broaden my perspectives and reinforce my belief. One of these experiences is dormitory life. At Soka University of America, all the students are required to live in dormitories. Since 38% of the students come from abroad, diversity each student brings coexists on campus. The diversity is especially perceived in the dormitory. By actually sharing a room, spending a lot of time, and eating together with friends who have different perspectives, I was able to learn from other cultures and values, rethink who I am, thus deepen my character as an individual. For academics, although the school is liberal arts (which means we will get diploma of Bachelor’s degree in liberal arts), we have four concentrations: Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, International Studies, and Environmental Studies. Here at Soka, the relationship between instructors and students is very close and we can ask questions freely. Professors are willing to help me and very caring. I am very grateful for this. Classes are interesting and eye-opening too. The good thing in liberal arts education is that we can explore broader field of study. I first thought biology is not interesting at all, but I found out I am actually very interested in this. Many people may think that Liberal arts education is useless for job hunting, but I can confidently say that liberal arts education enables me to realize my new possibilities and capabilities I would’ve never thought of, therefore the education and experiences at Soka definitely have enriched my life.
Soka University might not be the best school in the US but it’s certainly very decent (Top 50 National Liberal Arts Colleges, not too bad for a 13 years old school).
The most important factor that students should consider when applying here is its extremely generous financial package. Anyone with whose family income is less than $60,000 will receive free tuition; plus, there are other types of scholarship like merit-based, athletic, legacy, research, etc. So, it is even possible for an international student to get full ride here (i.e. no charge for food, housing, nothing). I myself is an example, all the way from Vietnam and yet I haven’t even touched my parents’ emergency fund, paid everything myself so far.
In terms of academics, since this is a Liberal Art College, courses here are designed to “broaden your perspectives” rather than specialize you in one field. So yeah, if you’re not sure what you want to pursue or looking for an interdisciplinary experience then this place suits you better. That being said, it is possible for one to pursue serious research if enough commitment to the field is demonstrated. For example, SUA is not very strong in Sciences, since most Sciences courses are pretty new, and a lot of people here keep whining that Sciences are too hard for them. However, I am one of those rare students who actually love Sciences (I came here because it’s the only school I can afford myself), and I was fortunate enough to work and learn from Professor Robert Hamersley, a well-respected microbiologist. Thanks to him I’ve got to work in the Jennifer Martiny Lab at UCI, one of the top Genetics Laboratories in the nation. Also, I was able to go to Hawaii, Peru, and next year Spain to attend conferences and to present my research, best thing is that the school pay for all of the fees, even food and hotel. Yes I know it sounds unbelievable, so come here and check it out yourself.
Next, since this is a small school, everyone knows everyone, even the staff and faculties. Nevertheless, like any place in the world, there are plenty Mr. Nice Guys and a lot of Scumbag Steves. There are people here that will become your “bros for life.” One of my Hispanic friends calls me “yellow monkey” and I can ask him if he had any trouble crossing the border lately, or my Chinese American roommate whom I can “ching chang ching chong” with all the time and he can retort with whatever Vietnamese sounds like to American people. I don’t have to mention what I said to my Caucasian friends at dance nights, do I. Some professors are very friendly as well. My Physics Professor once told my class he can read palms, and he told me I was struggling with my sexuality, just to explain a faulty way to reduce statistical errors. And of course there are people you can’t stand, for me would be those hyppies who know nothing about GMO yet keep on arguing how bad they are. Some professors are that close-minded as well, but thanks to the student evaluation, they got kicked out pretty quick, except for one since she got tenure. Another thing is that the school fight pretty hard to maintain its ideal of peace and harmony so unorthodox methodologies are not always welcomed, but you know, you can always walk in the President’s Office, open door policy.
A lot of people have mentioned the school being sectarian, affiliating with SGI. Well, guess what, I was a member, and I quit, nothing happened (SGI is too peaceful for me, or maybe I’m too cynical, or both). I have friends who are Christian, Islamic, Atheist, Agnostic, Hindu, traditional Buddhism, etc. Most professors are not even SGI. The reason why there are a lot of SGI student members here is because the school was founded and partially funded by SGI, so their parents told them to check it out, plus a lot of them are international students, the financial aid alone was enough to convince them. Some of them can be annoying, that, I agree, but some are awesome people, it’s like anywhere else, there are always good guys and a******s. In short, yes, this school has SGI members walking around its campus, but they are not summoning Satan or brainwashing students to turn them into secret soldiers so get over it.
If you want proof or more information about anything, you can always come here or contact me directly (but I’m graduating next year so yeah, do it soon).
I am currently a student at SUA and I absolutely love it here. SUA has been a dream school for me and coming here is almost unbelievable. The main reason why I loved this school is because of it’s mission to foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life. I love the fact that almost all the students and faculty are here for the same reason: to change the world for the better. Having everyone with the same mindset allows education for all to be easier. We all know why we are here and our purpose. SUA is also a beautiful school located in Southern California, therefore the weather is always amazing. The opportunity to study abroad without having to worry about it financially is also great, because every student will be able to really be a global citizen. As freshmen, all students also receive a laptop. Overall, SUA has met my expectations.
Dorm experience
Students, in general, are very sociable. The campus has only around 450 students. Approximately 98% of students live on a dormitory. Students can naturally remember everyone’s faces. For homework, we have some group presentations, group papers. Since we live in a dorm, it’s very easy to get together to work on a group project. We can cultivate our group work skill.
Events
This school has many events such as peach gala, spirit festival, student festival, Halloween, winter formal and international festival. Student body is very small, 450 students, so students have many opportunities to get a leadership experience. For example, Halloween needs many leaders for planning, recruiting monsters, managing the budget of decorating the basement of a gym as a haunted house, dealing with tickets, advertising this event to the community, traffic control, making sure the safety in the haunted house. Thus, this university gives students various opportunities to learn leadership.
Culturally diverse
Our university is culturally diverse. There are Indian Dance club, Japanese Taiko club, Hawaiian dance club, Korean club and so forth. Besides, Performing Arts Center, which is the auditorium with 1034 seats and opened in 2010, had culturally diverse performances like Italian opera, Chinese acrobat. We appreciate diverse religions. In dormitories, there are two multifaith rooms where students can pray at any time for any religions.
Financial Aid
I’m confident that our school’s financial aid opportunities are one of the best. Every student whose parents’ income is less than $60,000 doesn’t have to pay tuition. Based on SAT scores, grades, etc, students have a chance to get respective free scholarship. In addition, 80% of students get some kinds of financial aids.
This school is very average and to say it’s exceptional is a self-indulgent lie. One thing this school has more than enough of is PRIDE. It’s sickening. I was a student here. I watched people eat dinner, conforming and avoiding any criticism of this place. People responded like hungry wolves when one single article mentioned a tiny bit of doubt about the perfection of the school system. That’s how you spot weakness – cruel attempts to cover up your own flaws.
Soka University of America (SUA) is an exceptional institution. Based on the belief that education is for the happiness of the learner, we have small classrooms (average 13 students per class), we live on campus with neighbors from all over the world, we have many extracurricular activities we can join, we have the opportunity to shape the curriculum with the guidance of professors and the deans, and we have multiple resources for financial aid and career services. I am currently a senior at SUA and I have loved 99% of being at SUA. The remaining 1% refers to the fact that there is no public transportation and, although there is a shuttle service every 30min provided by SUA, it would be wonderful if there was more accessibility to get out of Aliso Viejo and Orange County. I wish every person in the world could attend SUA, for it has really made a difference in how I look at life and how I take responsibility of the world issues. I am happy to have come to SUA.
Dorm experience
Students, in general, are very sociable. The campus has only around 450 students. Approximately 98% of students live on a dormitory. Students can naturally remember everyone’s faces. For homework, we have some group presentations, group papers. Since we live in a dorm, it’s very easy to get together to work on a group project. We can cultivate our group work skill.
Events
This school has many events such as peach gala, spirit festival, student festival, Halloween, winter formal and international festival. Student body is very small, 450 students, so students have many opportunities to get a leadership experience. For example, Halloween needs many leaders for planning, recruiting monsters, managing the budget of decorating the basement of a gym as a haunted house, dealing with tickets, advertising this event to the community, traffic control, making sure the safety in the haunted house. Thus, this university gives students various opportunities to learn leadership.
Culturally diverse
Our university is culturally diverse. There are Indian Dance club, Japanese Taiko club, Hawaiian dance club, Korean club and so forth. Besides, Performing Arts Center, which is the auditorium with 1034 seats and opened in 2010, had culturally diverse performances like Italian opera, Chinese acrobat. We appreciate diverse religions. In dormitories, there are two multifaith rooms where students can pray at any time for any religions.
Financial Aid
I’m confident that our school’s financial aid opportunities are one of the best. Every student whose parents’ income is less than $60,000 doesn’t have to pay tuition. Based on SAT scores, grades, etc, students have a chance to get respective free scholarship. In addition, 80% of students get some kinds of financial aids.
I love that these last few comments criticize a school that you have not attended. I believe most people would use the term “hater” for you guys. This school takes a humanistic approach to education by actually empowering individuals, along with a good education. They don’t just shove knowledge down your throat and say regurgitate. How can you be upset about studying abroad being a requirement? To me that already puts an individual ahead of other students because they have experienced things outside of our American box that most people never take the time to step out of. Open your mind before you disrespect this school.
College should be about challenging yourself and ideals and struggling HARD in upper division classes and actually ACCOMPLISHING something. Not prancing around the world taking ridiculously east HS level classes and then thinking you are educated.
You can tell how brainless these students are when all they do is praise the school in their reviews. What other student body would think so highly of an institution that there is no room for criticism? These people have their heads in a cloud. They want to think that the school changed their life, but if you really observe these students they are no different from how they started out. If they came in as judgemental, phony, and unimaginitive students, they most likely have left in the same fashion.
This school is ridiculous. The people here are brainwashed by their religious leader and forever will be. I have never seen a such a massive group of people acting like one hypnotized team of proud egotistical maniacs. They have to do everything in unison because they are too weak to go it alone. Every thought is the same although they try hard to pretend they thought of it all on their own – they just had someone to “guide” them in the “right” direction. The school is getting better now that it is not completely composed of spoiled rich kids of elitist parents. I can only hope the wiser students stay strong and show everyone else what a real education is.
Whatever the school brags about is bogus wrapped in a cute little ribbon. Even the study abroad programs are not all they are hyped up to be. Half of them are easy enough for a junior high student to get through, and everyone knows its actually a vacation for people to get wasted and say they actually accomplished something.
Whenever a professor is lacking in ability, they come in and give an excuse wrapped up in another pretty ribbon – they say it’s the student’s opportunity/responsibility to foster the way for fellow students. What a brilliant way to spend $160,000.
Soka University tries its best to stick to its motto of “fostering a steady stream of global citizens.” However, I have left this school with the realization that it does not help people to become independent thinkers. Maybe that is a symptom of all schools, but I was really disappointed with how much the students here depend on their professors. I don’t know how they would survive in another school where they have to use their own mind and the books assigned to them.
I am a junior students at SUA and I have just come back from studying abroad in Japan 3 weeks ago. Studying abroad is definiately the fastest way for you to master your second or third languages and also let you know how to respect other cultures and get used to be the one in other societies. If you are interested in going to other countries during your college life, SUA is the school that you want because we have the highest ratio of study abroaders among all the universities in the U.S. Also one more thing, since the new performing arts center opened from last year September,much more musicans groups have rented the place and performed here already. The purposees for us to build this performing arts center are providing local musicans a ideal place to perform and also offering a much cheaper affordable ticket price for our neighbors to learn and appreciate other countries’ culture, especially music. Therefore, I highly recommended people who never been to our school should go to see our performing arts center and the performances there. Also they can try to make a campus tour appointment and had a campus tour with our tour guides. I believe they will refresh their minds about this unknown, small university on the top of the hill of Aliso Viejo.
I would suggest that you only attend Soka University if you are not sure what you want to study and can afford it. As many reviews have stated, the course difficulty is very sporadic. Some courses will allow you to fly by without any effort. Others will be very demanding. This is the same for professors – some are exceptional and others will waste a whole hour talking about how brilliant they are. The worst courses will waste your time reviewing material you should have already read, and requiring you to listen to other students’ opinions which half the time are not relevant or insightful. Basically they just want you to talk so you can get your participation points out of the way. If that is your cup of tea then you will love it.
Soka University is such a great university located in Aliso Viejo, CA. In addition to the great environment for study, the student body is very diverse, and we can learn various cultures and different ways of thinkings from interactions with my fellow friends! Students come from more than 30 different countries and territories. Also, last May, new Performing Arts Center opened and every week we have concert and performance by professional musicians! Of course it is open to community member, please visit our campus for the concert, and if you really like it, please come visit us sometime later!
I’m currently a sophomore in Soka University of America. Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Indonesia with a class to study about poverty, child rights, and education. The experience I had in Indonesia was amazing. We were obviously able to learn about poverty, child rights, education, what undermines them, and what’s being done to fight for them, but what I gained most from this experience is a fresh perspective on the world. I didn’t realize how complex the problems of the world were and all of the dilemmas the people who fight against the problems need to face. I knew that things are more complicated than it looks, but this experience made everything very real for me and definitely strengthened my motivation to study harder.
I can say with confidence that the four years I am going to spend here at Soka University are going to be the best four years of my life. Not because I love being a college student, but because I know that my time here is laying the foundation for my success in the future. Beyond the norm of college experiences, this school has allowed me to view my life in a broader perspective. I am currently into the second month of my sophomore year, and I cannot express how many challenges I have encountered in this period of time. The classes here are difficult and require ample amount of studying. There are numerous extracurricular activites to get involved in, and social lives that are more intricate because of the small size of the student body. Although there have been many struggles to overcome, I can keep going because I know that I am growing with each winning. This school has enabled me to view my life in this persepective, and I cannot appreciate enough for this. I absolutely love being here, and I hope that more and more students will discover their personal growths here in the future.
The campus and the area around it is absolutely amazing, it\’s very a very green and healthy environment. There are also various town centers around the area and malls and local attractions. On campus there are nearly 70 clubs to participate in, and the Student Union is always active and busy hosting events on campus. Soka University is an Amazing Campus, there is a small student body size, so you are better able to meet and get to know as many people as you can. The area around the campus is beautiful, and so is the campus itself. The University also offer free tuition to incoming students who\’s family\’s income are $60,000 and under.
Soka University of America, or as I sometimes call it, the school on top of a hill in Aliso Viejo, CA. I am now a Senior at Soka University of America (SUA) and these four years here have gone by ever so fast. I’m anxiously awaiting the future and the exciting paths are still to come. How could I review an entire college and 4 years in just one simple online review? How could I explain what my understanding of these years at SUA – my second home… means? To the way-faring online reader who may or may not have heard of Soka University of America; I am glad you have found this review. To me, Soka is a college experience where we are all forced to come into contact with ourselves – think critically about who we are, and what we want to do in the world that will build world peace and secure the well-being of the Earth? Soka University of America has helped me find and foster my own unique and creative self. As students we need to discover – where does my passion lie? Do I want work in an NGO for Woman Rights? Is translation and interpretation my dream? Am I dedicated to education – improving it and fostering the next generation by being a teacher and/or administrator? I see Liberal Arts at Soka as a pathway into part of what the world needs most criticially now: Individuals who are able to think at the global level, and are able to further understand their own views and opinions as well as those of others. What better place to discover this than at a place where the faculty, staff, students are all there supporting you 110% of the way? If I could, would I do it all over again, would I? Yes, definitely.
Studying at Soka has been a life-changing experience for me. Especially, if you want to receive humanistic education, your best choice would be coming to Soka. Soka embodies humanistic education by basing its curriculums on the university’s four principles: (1) Foster leaders of culture in the community, (2) Foster leaders of humanism in society, (3) Foster leaders of pacifism in the world, and (4) Foster leaders for the creative coexistence of nature and humanity. It is a liberal arts college with 4 concentrations (Humanities, International Studies, Social Behavioral Science, Environemtal Studies). There are several required courses. For example, all the freshmen have to take CORE 1, which is a intense one-month class, in which you study about different kinds of philosophies. There are some other required courses that encourage students to take multiple perspectives. Through these courses, students are trained to become “global citizens.”
Love it! SUA is not an easy college either to get in to stay here. Classes are very small so attendance and participation is crucial for your academic career (unlike the “normal” lecture theatre that you may have seen) Life here is culturally enriched. You’ll meet people from all continents of the world and will surely learn from their stories also. The most important advice that I can give you is probably … if you sincerely want to make a positive impact in this world… SUA can surely give you that preparation. Please keep in mind that it will not be easy. If you like challenges, SUA will give you that along with many opportunities
Soka University of America (SUA) became affordable to many students after the adoption of a new tuition policy two years ago. Specifically, students with family annual income is less than $60,000 can receive free tuition. Those students still have to pay for room and board fee, which is roughly $10,000. But everyone has equal chance to get scholarship and is liable to loans and grants. Because three meals and other live expenses are included in tuition, you do not have to spend much money after you paid tuition. You only have to buy textbooks by yourself or pay to have fun.
Some people are worried about the liberal arts degree not helping after graduation. I recommend you to plan ahead what you want to do after graduation. And you can take all related courses. Also, you can even propose a class during winter block. Winter block is a one-month period of gaining first-hand experience. One class went to Panama to study economic situation, another class went to Colombia to research water pollution in Amazon. Of course, there are many classes taught on campus too. But the point is that you can take initiative of your learning experience.
Many students were accepted to prestigious grad schools, such as Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, UCLA to name quite a few. Also, other students work for NGO and other international institution.
Also, mandatory study abroad program is a big advantage of grad school application, job hunting, and your life. Not only it improves your foreign language skill, you can also grow up as a person. And it is MANDETORY, meaning you must go. How cool is that??
To make my review more believable, I have to mention a downside of this school too (although I truly love this school!)… I would say the school’s location might be not ideal for those seek to enjoy night life unless you have a car. SUA is located in suburb of Aliso Viejo, which is one of the safest cities in the States. Therefore, it is really quiet. Some people consider this is a good location because you can concentrate on academics and also you can face your/everyone’s flaws and challenge them. Other people think the location is boring and feel isolated from the world..But it is up to you to decide! In addition, school provides students with free shuttle service, which takes you to local area. And students here are friendly so you can always ask for a ride.
Overall, I rate this school positively, considering financial support and strong academic curriculum.
Soka University of America is a private, 4-year liberal arts university that opened in 2001 in Aliso Viejo. Currently, we have about 400 students (about 100 students in each class) who come from more than 30 countries. Soka offers students various unique curriculum, such as the required study abroad program, Learning Cluster (you create and investigate your interested topic with professor for one month. In the last few years, we received donation that greatly helped students go to another country to study the target topic), and Core program (philosophical discussion), just to name a few. Each course has 13-16 students on average, and both professors and the students are very engaged in discussion and deeper understanding of the course.
I am a senior student at Soka and just came back from my study abroad in Beijing, China. Soka’s required one-semester-long study abroad program in junior year is one of the most popular and fantastic programs that Soka offers, and my experience in China for a semester was absolutely one of my eye-opening experiences. I not only learned Chinese language and its culture, but also deepened my friendship with my Chinese roommates through having fun and difficult times together, and found more appreciation for my environment.
We all have various kinds of differences; however, ultimately we need to cherish those treasures that only you have, and each one of us should respect it. Soka’s curriculum prior to my study abroad absolutely helped me make the most of my life in China, for example, small class size, residential life, and students’ diversity. All of us live in residential halls where students from over 30 countries around the world gather. Of course there are many challenges every day, but this is because we are in the midst of training and this is why we grow so much as an individual.
Soka’s mission is to foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life. This is our lifelong mission as Soka student, and that is why we have such wonderful curriculum.
When I started my college career, I had no idea what I was in for. I thought I was going to school essentially to party and make friends. However, coming to Soka University of America was a completely different experience than I had expected to have. The campus is absolutely breath-taking, the classes are super small and focused on the success of students, and we are definitely spoiled by the staff and our professor! We receive an immense amount of care and attention, and in turn we are expected to give 100% in everything that we do. Isn’t that the way it should be? In addition, the classes are challenging, and often quite busy. Students with poor time management who also participate in many extracurricular activities may find school very stressful, but we all learn eventually that academics are our priority and we begin to better manage our time in order to fit in all the things we wish to do! It is a very enriching experience to look back at these past four years and realize I have become so much more responsible through the growth I have experienced in this amazing university!!!
Being at SUA has given me the opportunity to become not only a better student, but also a better person. Most students here are serious about their studies, but also study to acquire the necessary knowledge to be able to make a difference out in the world. Talks about human rights, education, and even recycling are common topics among students during lunch hours or other free times. Never before have I met so many people willing to do anything to contribute to the well-being and betterment of society. I used to be a very close-minded person compared with who I am today, but I believe with all of my heart that thanks to the education I have received at Soka University of America I have grown, matured, and visualized a concrete dream for the future.
Furthermore, all Juniors at this university, are required to study abroad for a semester after studying their language of choice (Spanish, Chinese, or Japanese) for two years. Without a doubt, my study abroad experience was the best thing I’ve done in my life, so far. I stayed with a host family in Japan and met a great amount of fabulous people. The Japanese culture is completely different that the LAtin American culture, but I truly enjoyed it!! The friendships I made while I was abroad are definitely unique!! I still keep in touch with many of my friends and hope to one day be able to travel the world and visit them. In addition, my language skills improved beyond what I thought possible. I even felt sad at the end of my study abroad for having to come back home.
I truly believe that SUA offers one of the best educations out there. Soka has a very student centered curriculum that values the opinion and uniqueness of every single student. I would not trade my university for any other. Soka University of America has changed my path in life!!
There were two events that led me to choosing Soka.
Ayear ago I as working in an NGO in Malawi (Africa). I visited a coleague/friend of mine who is an alumni of Soka class 2006. In her office she had three big boxes full of stationaries that had been donated by Soka for the primary school at the community. The stationaries had been collected by the Student Affairs department and the shipped all the way from America to Malawi. Any University that is willing to support their student’s or alumni’s work even after they’ve left the school, is a University traully commited to the student’s contribution; a University that goes beyond the office/classroom relationshiop; a University, that in the end, will be a part of you for the rest of your life.
Second, after I had recieved my letter of acceptance from Soka, I was still hesitant as to whether th desition of coming here was the correct one or not. A few weeks before coming here, I recieved a HANDMADE letter from a student. Again, with this simple gesture, Soka proves once again it’s unique relationship with it’s students; the letter was not just printer and then sent; it was made with care and patience.
You’re absolutely right — I have not attended the program, and what I’ve supposed about the community and its cohesiveness is pure speculation on my part. ,
Soka University of America is a 4 years private, liberal arts university. We have students from all over the world so it’s very diverse. We currently have about 400 students. SUA is a very unique university. All students are required to take foreign languages, and go study abroad for a semester. SUA currently offers Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese classes. I went to Chile for my study abroad. It was very good opportunity for me to learn different culture and broaden my view.
At SUA majority of students live on campus. Because SUA is such a small university, we are able to get to know people, and interact with faculties easily. Average class size is 13-16 so it is very student-centered.
Residence hall life is very comfortable. Each room has its own bathroom, AC, room phone, bed, chair, and closet. It is very clean and safe.
Club activities are very active in SUA. There are more than 30 clubs: Soccer, Track and field, tennis, hip hop dance, Indian dance, Hawaiian dance, Salsa, Chorus group, Korea, MUN, medical path, and many other clubs.
Mission of Soka University of America is to foster a global citizen committed to living a contributive life. By communicating with students from different countries, studying both East and West philosophy, studying abroad, we are able to develop ourselves as global citizens.
Soka University of America is a private school located in South Orange county, in the city of Aliso Viejo. The mission of the school is to “foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life”. Thus, every student here, aims at bringing about a positive change in the world, by their collaborative efforts towards realizing the cause of peace at a local or global level.
Soka University is an independent and a non-profit institution committed to the buddhist principles of Peace, Human Rights and the Sanctity of Life. The school’s diversity talks a lot about its uniqueness. Having students from 30 different countries and about 23 different states across the world, Soka embodies an amalgamation of various cultures. Some of the great aspects of the school include the student is to faculty ratio. There are 9 students to every professor which makes it an enriching classroom learning experience. The study-abroad program is mandatory for every student for which the school pays. The residential life setup is par excellence and has been put up for the highest comfort and safety of the residents. Yet another important factor is the food, keeping in mind the diversity of the school, the cafeteria has special facilities to provide its students with outstanding meals on international days. Special cuisines from the remotest parts of the world like India and Chile are laid down. By and large, there are a ton of positives which have been made possible by the hard-working students that go here. But like any other school, some of the negatives include the restricted social life. Since every student is extremely busy and committed to a lot going on, their social lives get restricted to the people on campus.
Great aspects of Soka
* Scenery
* Housing
* Facilities, particularly the library
* Faculty and students
* Good food
* Stimulating studies, courses…
* STudy abroad program
* connecting with people from different countries at a personal level (and therefore having places to go when you travel around the world)
Good aspects of Soka
* Bookstore is affordable
* Visitors to the cafeteria
* IT in the classrooms
Bad aspects of Soka
* you get caught up being BUSY with extra curricular, studies, internships…etc all the time
* Not many chances to connect with other people off-campus because you could get by without leaving campus
* Social-networking is limited unless you make an effort on your own to connect with off-campus people at other universities
I’m a student of Soka University. There were three reasons why I came to Soka: 1, small student body 2, diversity and 3, study abroad program. Because we have a small student body and most of us live in student dorms, we know one another very well and we have “culture of care” everywhere on-campus. Personally, I made many good friends whom I can share anything and show my true self without hiding. Not only among friends but faculty-student relationship is very good. Faculty members often keep their doors of their office open and welcome to hear students’ questions and opinions anytime. Because of the size of student body, students are able to maximize their learning opportunities in classrooms and building strong bonds with friends and faculty members outside of classrooms as well.
In terms of diversity, we have students from about 30 different countries. Students appreciate the diversity of student body and respect different cultures. Throughout the four years, we have been trained to be global citizens in many senses. When we have discussion in classrooms, we are able to listen to diverse opinions and voice from students from different countries. It is very fun to be in classroom to learn from them and share about myself as well. In the beginning, it was difficult for me to accept very different cultures and that made me think how I can make this world a better place with such many people from different backgrounds. However, recently I came to really respect and appreciate them by being around with friends who have different backgrounds from mine.
Lastly, we have very unique study abroad program. We have three different language classes, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese. I believe we are preparing to have French in the future. Language classes and study abroad are requirement for all students. In fall semester of junior year, I went to Beijing, China for my study abroad. Although I have studied language and learned a lot about Chinese culture, to be there and to live there were very different from what I have imagined. Of course, I had a hard time to adjust myself to life in China, but more than that I could build strong friendship with Chinese people and also I was able to know serious problems which they are facing. After study abroad, I was more determined to live a contributive life for world peace. Life in Soka is great and I believe that this university is bringing a number of global citizens into the world.
Hello. My name is Aoi Sato and I’m becoming sophomore at Soka University of America in this September. I’m from Japan so I still have been struggled with academic in English. However, I really enjoy my life at Soka with my great Soka family. One of the uniqueness of this university is small class size. We have about 13-15 students per class and it is discussion and dialogue based. Since we have small people in class, it is easy to ask questions and jump in the discussion. This is great opportunities especially for international students whose first language is not English. This small size class gives me stronger motivation to study more. Another great characteristic is residential hall. Our university has around 450 students (overall!!). Almost every student lives on campus so students become very close as real family. Underclassmen adore upperclassmen as their older brothers and sisters. And upperclassmen take care of underclassmen as their younger brothers and sisters. Since we live on campus together, we always encourage studying each other. Even if I feel sleepy at night, I start to feel I want to study even little bit more when I see friends are studying. Then, the best aspect of Soka is our founder, Dr. Daisaku Ikeda. He says that a university should exist for those who are unable to attend university. Also, he states “For what purpose should one cultivate wisdom? May you always ask yourself this question!” “Only labor and devotion to one’s mission gives life its worth.” Soka students are working so hard to create value each day with appreciation for everybody who supports SUA. Also, Dr Daisaku Ikeda always encourages students by sending message or giving night snacks during final week. I never heard that a university founder supports students like this before. When SUA is established, our founder put effort to make great residential hall and meal at cafeteria. Without nice residence and meal, students would not study hard, he thought. Now, I really feel that I’m very fortunate to be here as a student. With SUA’s mission, I would like to study harder and be the person who works for the sake of peace.
One of the uniquenesses of this university is its international background. We have students from 35 different countries and they all interconnect on campus. Although each student has his/her own cultural/ideological background, Soka equally accepts all.
Also, interaction between students and professors is also frequent. Professors’ offices are right next to the classrooms so that students can easily go there. Also, we have a lot of opportunity for dialog between students and faculties. In addition, every school year, we invite one professor’s family to our dormitory so that they can live with students and interact with them on daily basis.
Soka University is a great place for those looking to develop themselves and to hone their ability to effect change in the world. The goal of my school is to “cultivate global citizens dedicated to living a contributive life,” and that really is a summation of most peoples dispositions on campus.
We have a sister school in Japan that’s been open for almost 40 years, however my campus (in temperate Orange County, 15 minutes from Newport Beach, 10 from Laguna Beach, and an hour from either LA or San Diego) has only been open since 2001. This newness affects everything: we have a gym in perfect condition and athletic equipment that’s all brand new, multimedia integration in the classroom that is completely up-to-date, the students tend to hear of our school through firsthand sources, students have very hands on access to policy change new faculty hirings, etc.
The name comes from a Japanese word meaning “to create value,” so most of us try to be partially conscientious… The teachers are top notch for the most part, and many have come from much “better” schools such as Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Duke, etc. because they like our mission statement and what we stand for.
Because of our small size (400 students now, growing to a maximum of 1200), Soka does function similarly to a small town in that everyone knows everyone’s business. However, despite the fact that this is at times very trying and seems horrifying to many at first, it also has its benefits. We’re forced to consider our actions, to deal with problems instead of avoiding them, and we have quite a unique chance to become close friends with our teachers.
The housing is great, and food is above par. We have over 70 clubs despite only having 400 students, study abroad is mandatory for graduation (Soka pays for it), AND we get a laptop to keep as our for free upon entrance.
As a small, and new, school Soka certainly has its problems. For example, kinks are being worked out in academic, punitive, and res. life policy; our athletic teams are not as competitive as we’d hope they’ll be in the future (recruiting in progress); we’re relatively unknown by the larger population, etc. But everything is two sided and from that small and new enviornment we also develop much more thoroughly our sense of self, our morals and commitment to ethics, faculty always comment on our propensity to develop quite strong bonds as classmates and schoolmates even among people who are not close friends, the teacher:student ration is absurdly awesome and thus our relationship with the faculty is quite good–you are more than just a number or bar code and able ask any question you may have as they come up, engage in discussions at length, meet them off campus for work or pleasure, etc.)
The campus is beautiful and although the neighboring town of Aliso Viejo is a quite suburb the beautiful beach is close, weather is always nice, and two of the best cities in California are less than an hour away.
Overall, despite my qualms with it, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else; furthermore i wouldn’t advise anyone with a passion to learn and a heart that isn’t black to go anywhere else.