Soka is truly one of a kind. Students will graduate with an understanding of various world cultures and an appreciation for cultural differences. They will have discovered and/or developed their passions and will be ready to go out into the world and make it a better place.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Come visit campus for yourself-- free tours begin daily at 10AM and 2PM, starting at Founder's Hall (the main domed admin building).
Be open minded to different cultures.
Study hard and do well your Jr and Sr years--you may just receive a huge scholarship.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Students can choose to take an academically rigorous or light course load.
Students have many opportunities to take classes which will stimulate their intellect more than anything they've experienced prior. Soka has a handful of very excellent professors-- just ask other students when you arrive on campus and you will have an idea of which courses and professors are a must take.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Dorms are, like the rest of the campus, beautiful. Rooms are spacious, 2 students share a bathroom. Incredible landscape views from certain floors.
Quiet in the dorms is enforced from 10PM to about 6AM or so (Sun-Thurs). This is good for people who enjoy sleeping, but if you want to party past then, other students may call noise complaints and an RA will come knocking at your door. Very few huge parties.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The buffet at the Soka bistro is one of the reasons I came here. Food from cultures all over the world is served here. Generally, there are 3 options every meal, as well as a made-to-order grill where you can ask for Stir Fry, Cheeseburger, quesadillas, etc. Miso soup is served every day, and the Cream of Mushroom, Cream of Potato, etc soups are awesome. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies are ridiculously tasty.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Join Clubs, go to the beach, work out--Soka's exercise facilities are world class. Our pool was modeled after the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Stadium, and professional athletes train in our facilities with a local training company. The British Olympic team trained on our track for a few weeks a few years back; it was good fun meeting them.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Tuition is very expensive, but Soka is very generous with scholarships and financial aid.
The Soka Opportunity Scholarship pays full tuition for students whose parents' income is $60k or less.
Academic scholarships are awarded as well, and can be combined with the opportunity scholarship. Five full scholarships (Tuition, Room+Board, Incidentals, 4-yr) are awarded every year to incoming freshmen.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Every year we hold a Spirit Festival and Student Festival, which are very unique to Soka University.
For Spirit Festival, each class (Freshmen, Sophomores, etc) get up and do a performance for the rest of the student body, and there are inter-class competitions as well. It's pretty fun, and is a great way to destress and get to know your classmates better.
Student Festival is a little different. There are performances by smaller groups, as well as small group breakouts where underclassmen have the opportunity to ask upperclassmen for advice on certain topics.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
There is an abundance of clubs on campus. Since Soka students are often very passionate about their interests, they tend to start a lot of clubs and work hard to build their membership.
Incoming Freshmen will have no problem making friends or joining clubs. At Club Expo they will be invited to join at least 20 or 30. There are many performing clubs, but also special interest (ie. Photography, Scuba Diving) and professional (ie. Medical Pathways) clubs.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
None. There is very little exclusion at Soka, and very few cliques.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Very safe campus, as Soka is surrounded by canyons on 3 sides. The only possible danger is wildlife from those areas. We've had deer on campus before.
Soka and the surrounding suburban neighborhoods are so safe, in fact, that it can get boring sometimes. It's nice to get off campus every once in a while and drive to LA for a night out.
Soka is truly one of a kind. Students will graduate with an understanding of various world cultures and an appreciation for cultural differences. They will have discovered and/or developed their passions and will be ready to go out into the world and make it a better place.
Come visit campus for yourself-- free tours begin daily at 10AM and 2PM, starting at Founder's Hall (the main domed admin building). Be open minded to different cultures. Study hard and do well your Jr and Sr years--you may just receive a huge scholarship.
Students can choose to take an academically rigorous or light course load. Students have many opportunities to take classes which will stimulate their intellect more than anything they've experienced prior. Soka has a handful of very excellent professors-- just ask other students when you arrive on campus and you will have an idea of which courses and professors are a must take.
Dorms are, like the rest of the campus, beautiful. Rooms are spacious, 2 students share a bathroom. Incredible landscape views from certain floors. Quiet in the dorms is enforced from 10PM to about 6AM or so (Sun-Thurs). This is good for people who enjoy sleeping, but if you want to party past then, other students may call noise complaints and an RA will come knocking at your door. Very few huge parties.
The buffet at the Soka bistro is one of the reasons I came here. Food from cultures all over the world is served here. Generally, there are 3 options every meal, as well as a made-to-order grill where you can ask for Stir Fry, Cheeseburger, quesadillas, etc. Miso soup is served every day, and the Cream of Mushroom, Cream of Potato, etc soups are awesome. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies are ridiculously tasty.
Join Clubs, go to the beach, work out--Soka's exercise facilities are world class. Our pool was modeled after the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Stadium, and professional athletes train in our facilities with a local training company. The British Olympic team trained on our track for a few weeks a few years back; it was good fun meeting them.
Tuition is very expensive, but Soka is very generous with scholarships and financial aid. The Soka Opportunity Scholarship pays full tuition for students whose parents' income is $60k or less. Academic scholarships are awarded as well, and can be combined with the opportunity scholarship. Five full scholarships (Tuition, Room+Board, Incidentals, 4-yr) are awarded every year to incoming freshmen.
Every year we hold a Spirit Festival and Student Festival, which are very unique to Soka University. For Spirit Festival, each class (Freshmen, Sophomores, etc) get up and do a performance for the rest of the student body, and there are inter-class competitions as well. It's pretty fun, and is a great way to destress and get to know your classmates better. Student Festival is a little different. There are performances by smaller groups, as well as small group breakouts where underclassmen have the opportunity to ask upperclassmen for advice on certain topics.
Open-minded, studious, inquisitive, good-hearted, passionate.
There is an abundance of clubs on campus. Since Soka students are often very passionate about their interests, they tend to start a lot of clubs and work hard to build their membership. Incoming Freshmen will have no problem making friends or joining clubs. At Club Expo they will be invited to join at least 20 or 30. There are many performing clubs, but also special interest (ie. Photography, Scuba Diving) and professional (ie. Medical Pathways) clubs.
None. There is very little exclusion at Soka, and very few cliques.
Very safe campus, as Soka is surrounded by canyons on 3 sides. The only possible danger is wildlife from those areas. We've had deer on campus before. Soka and the surrounding suburban neighborhoods are so safe, in fact, that it can get boring sometimes. It's nice to get off campus every once in a while and drive to LA for a night out.