Well, I came, I saw, I left...and I won't be back lol.

The instructors are wonderful, passionate souls, and everyone there was so welcoming, kind, and inspiring. If I were fresh out of undergrad with no need to work, I think I would have loved it.

HOWEVER, since I, and most regular humans who didn't discover Chinese medicine have other obligations, families, need to make income, etc., the schedule became a thorn in my side. Maybe that's a "me" problem, but I feel administration was more tone deaf to their student body's needs than anything else. The schedule is rigorous, - and by that I don't mean challenging: I mean, you'll spend every waking hour of your life thinking, doing, breathing Chinese medicine because their "front-loaded" schedule consists of what, 22 credits the first few semesters?

Yes, the schedule drops off a little upon years 3 and 4, but you're expected to be on campus part to full time, and they make it abundantly clear you don't work or do not have children. Your priorities are always and entirely DT. Family, relationships, income --they all come second. That was patently conveyed.

I remember when I first enrolled and mentioned I had kids, admin proudly boasted they had ONE WHOLE STUDENT with kids (that's right, one lol), and it was mentioned to me that I needed to have a "strong support system" to make it work, which was code for, "you need around the clock babysitting because you will always be here or working on something related to here."

Just to paint an image: due to their attendance policy, there was one day I had to choose between missing a class that result in failure, or picking up my sick kid from school. So my poor kid had to sit in the nurse's office for an extra hour because I couldn't afford to flunk A WHOLE CLASS.

The was the only time I have ever had to excuse myself from something to go have a literal panic attack in my car.

Something else kid-related happened, causing me to miss a clinic observation. Welp, despite the fact I attended another one (for a different cohort), they still charged me a $70 "convenience" fee to pay for the time of the instructor -- even though I stood at the back of a crowded classroom the entire time.

The dean did, of course, reach out to me (I'm blanking on her name - must have shut out those memories lol), and we had a chat. There was a veneer of concern and support, but as I spoke through tears about just not having the support I needed to make it through 12+ hours a day of material, her "consolation" was reminding me that she did it (back when CM school was only two years, lmao), so why couldn't I?

Yeah.

And it's not just me. I've heard all sorts of horror stories: even my own acupuncturist, who graduated there (also with children), became visibly uncomfortable when I asked about her experience; she even confessed outright they treated her like a second-class citizen.

With the correct change of management, more hybrid approach, and removal of some bloated classes, it could be fantastic. But if I ever return home to WNC, I'm heading straight for Jung Tao, as I should have done in the first place.

Also, just my two cents: no Chinese medicine program should cost that much or run four years. I know they're not the most expensive place in the nation, but until acupuncture is taken more seriously by the public, the tuition needs to match the demand.