Soka University Inquiry

whenhen
Sat, 06 Jul 2013 15:09:56 +0000

I live within walking distance of the school, know three current students (actually just hung out with one last night), and have been to the campus many times.

Soka is probably the most beautiful school I’ve ever seen and within the community enjoys a good reputation, particularly because it always hosts cultural events and a massive haunted house. One thing you should be aware of is that it’s tiny. No I don’t mean tiny like most liberal arts colleges are tiny, I mean tiny as in less than 500 students enrolled and no other colleges nearby. Academically it’s fairly distinct because there’s only one major offered and a few concentrations allowed. Some students report feeling a bit underwhelmed by the course offerings, but others like the sense of community that a university which is entirely focused on liberal arts creates.

Though Soka isn’t technically affiliated with Soka Gaokkii (sp), a radical sect of buddhism, much of its funding and educational philosophy comes from the sect. As such, many Soka (although certainly not all) students are fairly religious and the party scene is close to non existent. There’s also a massive international presence relative to the size of its campus. I think something like 40% of students come from abroad which seems about right based on what I’ve seen when I go to campus.

Academically I’ve heard mixed things. The friend I hung out with today said classes are easier than at my high school, but I’ve heard other students rave about it, so maybe her experience is out of the norm?

Financially, my friend received an incredibly generous aid package. She’s going there for less than what a Cal State would cost, and I don’t think she’s particularly poor.

Just thought I’d point this out in my incredibly disjointed opinion of Soka, but Aliso Viejo is not a college town in any capacity. Public transit is extremely poor and the town center, although it has some impressive offerings, isn’t the “hippest” place. Most high school and college students in Aliso Viejo drive to nearby Irvine when they want a more active scene