Yorkville University — Attraction in Vaughan

I am a recent graduate from Yorkville's MACP program. Though I currently love my role as a psychotherapist, the way this program functions was not only inadequate for standards of a Masters, but was far from worth how much we are charged for tuition.

The positive was that the entire program online (until the last 8 months, which are practicum, in person or online depending on your placement site location). This gave a lot of flexibility to be able to work full-time alongside school.

However the tuition charged was INCREDIBLY high... not only because we were paying for services that were entirely online, but also just in general. For this amount of tuition, I would expect the online system and classroom platform to be of the highest standard. The courses were often scattered, website old-school and falty, and professors not compensated enough. The textbooks were also not included.

Moreso, there is only an optional honourarium for placement supervisors. Though I understand that some placements are NGO's or other such services that offer either pro bono or low-cost therapy services, most placements are private practices where clients are paying still quite high rates for therapy.

For example, I was working for a practice where the majority of clients came through my personal Psych Today profile (i.e. not through the practice's website/client base), and paid 100$ per session including tax. The money went 100% to the supervisor even though it was an online practice where I was paying fully my own rent, wifi, office supplies, etc.. The fees for supervision were not charged to myself and my practicum peer, but otherwise this was 100% profit for the supervisor.

Despite letting the supervisor know consistantly that we were both struggling indredibly with our economic situation and related mental health issues from not being able to meet our basic needs, our supervisor kept all the profit, and only gave a couple hundred dollars in honourarium at the end of practicum. I made it clear that I was struggling unable to make rent every month, while my partner and I working as much as we can to make ends meet, living in a mouldy basement and relying entirely on food from the local food bank.

This sort of program pigeon-holes only the privilaged to become psychotherapists, and expludes or makes incredibly difficult minority populations from becoming psychotherapists. This further causes major gaps of accessibility in our mental health systems, which further perpeturate major issues in our mental health crisis in this country.

Student therapists are often the ones struggling the most in terms of mental health because their basic needs are so stretched or not being met. They are also the most underqualified. With these conditions they are most often the ones working with the most traumatized and needy populations.

This system does not work, and the universities are putting their hands up as not responsibile for this, and put the blame on the Accredidation bodies and the government, while profiting millions each year.

Yorkville has responsiblity to improve its role in purpetuating systems of injustice, inequality, and the ongoing mental health crises in our country. Yorkville is a part of the problem, not the solution.

Yorkville needs to durastically decrease and make more accessible its tuition fees, and lessen the massive gap between profit and services. Yorkville needs to re-think and re-structure minimum payment for practicum students, if not for in the least delivery of ethical standard of practice, let alone quality and just learning environment.

In all of this, I want to shout out to Dr. Donna Spencer as being an incredible professor!! I had a couple of professors who did so well to hold space for students, and she was one of the highlights of my degree.

Yorkville, you have a long way to go to improve - and goodness knows you have the income to support a serious internal...

As an alumnus of Yorkville University's Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) program, I would like to take a moment to share what my experience was like. It is a very unique program, so naturally, there is a lot of fear an apprehension. For myself, a lot of fear arose for me purely around the idea of a fully online counselling program. Some questions I had were “…is this real? How do I know? Will I get my licence to practice? If I do, how will I be prepared with no lectures?” Ultimately, personal tastes & learning style matter, but there are some objective answers to be had here. Yes, you will get your license if you complete the program. How do I know? Look at the regulatory body in your area’s website. For me, this is CRPO. There should be a list of approved programs there. I think an important concept, that really, I think applies across the board to all post secondary institutions, is, “you get out what you put in.” There will be students with fantastic experiences. There will be students with terrible experiences. Sometimes, this is related to their actions. Or not utilizing (or knowing about) services available. Overall, I had a fantastic time. I did have challenges. But, being an online program, I sought support utilizing the online resources. Or sometimes by making a call. Or sending an email…just like any other program. I think a thing that is important to understand is the program was designed for online delivery, not just thrown online due to covid. Consequently, there are elements built in to compensate for the lack of a physical classroom (e.g., very strictly monitored discussion forum related to grading, interactive and collaborative assignments, video mock therapy sessions submitted or done live + reviewed with peers + profs., etc.). I know from my undergraduate program, the utility of lectures varied greatly depending upon the course & professor. It is easy to forget that. For some people looking to make a career switch, or who are mature students, or just want to have a greater income/flexibility while in the program – you can work. I worked full-time most of my time in the program. I also had a newborn child when I started the program. The flexible nature of the program allowed me to “wear these multiple hats”. Of course, there were times where I might of needed to miss an outing, or stay up later than I wanted, but I’m not sure a master’s program could be considered challenging or engaging if that was not the case. While there is a lot more I would like to talk about, I’ll close by mentioning a little bit about my experience securing a practicum placement. I “shopped around a little bit” but ultimately, I submitted one formal application, and had one interview. Being a Yorkville student seemed to weight in my favour, with various individuals on the team noting they had positive experiences with Yorkville students in the past. Some people I know had many more interviews. I say all that to say, it is absolutely possible to have a straightforward path to a placement – or not – as a Yorkville student. I also had multiple job offers before I finished my placement (which you can only accept if you apply for your “preliminary license” on time – something a fellow student, a year ahead, taught me). Unless not having a prominent lecture component to your education is severely discordant with your learning style, I would highly recommend the Yorkville University MACP program for strong...

Low Points Profit-Driven Nature: Yorkville University is a for-profit private institution, and this focus on profit is evident in many aspects of their operations. Sense of Community: As a virtual student, fostering a sense of camaraderie and support is challenging. Opportunities for connection are minimal, which is disappointing for a Master's program in Counselling, a field that thrives on human interaction. In hindsight, I would choose an in-person school for a more enriching experience. Practicum: The expectation to work unpaid for eight months after a course on ethics seems contradictory. Supervisors should adhere to higher ethical standards, as many exploit Yorkville students. Quality of Education: While the content is adequate, many courses need updating, particularly in areas like interventions, culturally aware practices, and spirituality. The primary homework format, Discussion Questions, fails to prompt in-depth reflection, becoming a repetitive task rather than an engaging learning activity. School’s Reputation: Post-graduation, I've noticed that many employers and colleagues hold a low opinion of Yorkville due to its profit-first model. Administrative Support: Communicating with Yorkville staff is frustrating and impersonal. Consistency is lacking, as you rarely speak to the same person twice, and student support is not a priority.

High Points Accessibility: The program’s main appeal lies in its high admission rates and virtual format. Professors: Some professors, like Dr. Thomasina Odom Lawson, are exceptional and leave a positive impact. Career Opportunities: For competent, kind, and curious individuals, this program can open the door to a career in counselling. However, many other schools may provide a better overall experience.

Summary If you’re a wealthy introvert looking for a Master's you can complete from home, this program may suit you. If you seek any sense of community alongside your education, consider choosing...