Preparing for life

When people think about choosing a college, they often think about which college will best prepare them for their career and lead to maximum professional success.

Fair enough. But here is a statistic to consider: within four years of graduating, nearly half of all college graduates are working in a field unrelated to their major field of study.

This shouldn’t be surprising. The world is changing more rapidly than ever. It’s not unusual for people to have four or five different careers and a dozen or more jobs in a lifetime. But what does this mean for a student’s college education? College involves a tremendous investment of time and money. If you invest in preparing for a certain career and soon after graduating find yourself doing something else, what return are you getting from your investment?

Preparation for life

Ideally, a college education should prepare a student not just for a career but for life. Since the time of Plato’s Academy, self-knowledge, or development of one’s full inner potential, has been considered the highest ideal in education. Unfortunately, far too few universities today offer students the type of self-knowledge that develops their human potential—the source of success—no matter what career they end up choosing.

Growth from inside out

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Maharishi University of Management, created a university based on the motto, “Knowledge is structured in consciousness.” This means that what is most important in education is developing the knower, and that educational programs that develop students’ consciousness are the foundation of academic study, not an elective or afterthought.

This has been the legacy of our university, now celebrating its 40th year. Here students can choose from a range of disciplines—traditional fields like business and mathematics and exciting new ones like sustainable living and media and communications—gaining the latest knowledge in an environment of active learning and critical thinking. But along with that, and most importantly, students acquire real self-knowledge, developing themselves from inside out. This is what we call Consciousness-Based^SM education.

How do we do this?

All our students practice the Transcendental Meditation technique twice each day. This enables them to “dive within” and experience the unlimited reservoir of creativity and intelligence deep inside. Many students also practice an advanced meditation procedure called the TM-Sidhi^® program, including Yogic Flying. This program accelerates the already powerful benefits of the Transcendental Meditation technique.

It’s working

This Consciousness-Based approach directly enhances brain functioning. EEG (electroencephalographic) studies show that with regular Transcendental Meditation practice, brain functioning becomes measurably more integrated and coherent, much like an orchestra shifting from tune-up mode to playing in synchrony. Along with this, other published research shows that MUM students become more intelligent and creative, more field independent, and more morally mature. Students become happier and healthier as they progress through their years here.

There is no better preparation for a career or for “living life to the fullest.” And this growth does not stop when students receive their diplomas—it continues year after year, supporting professional success and personal fulfillment whatever direction students take.

What do our alumni say?

Elisa Fritsch earned a bachelor’s degree in Literature and Writing from MUM in 2003 and an MBA in 2005. Here’s what she says about her job and her preparation for it:

“I’m a real estate agent focused on hotel sales in Baltimore. I spend my day interacting with hotel buyers and sellers, and negotiating deals, which often requires persuading the buyer to come up in price and the seller to go down. It’s not for the faint-hearted, and there are few other women in this industry. I value my MUM education mostly for the confidence, stability, and self-knowledge it gave me.”

Damian Lodge, originally from New Zealand, graduated in 2003 with a computer science degree and a minor in math, then got a job as an information technology manager:

“I have a deep appreciation for the
education I received at MUM. As a
computer science student, I received
the technical background I needed to work in the IT
sector after graduating. At the same time, especially in
comparison to friends who studied in other institutions, I

feel I gained a lot in self-confidence and the ability to constructively work in teams with other people. This comes from the University’s Consciousness-Based approach, and it’s a huge help in my IT job.”

Emily Marcus graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Physiology and Health and is now a medical student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland:

“MUM created a great environment to connect with creative people and learn both ancient and modern knowledge. I loved being able to study subjects from ancient Ayurvedic medicine, to classical Shakespearean literature, to the latest knowledge of quantum physics. Through Transcendental Meditation and yoga, I gained tools to stay grounded in myself and prioritize my own well-being. This has allowed me to maintain a balanced perspective in a field that’s both mentally and physically demanding, and has helped me succeed in an intense environment.”

Other worthwhile features

• One full-time course per month—enabling you to immerse yourself in what you are studying and learn more without the usual stress
• Organic, vegetarian, freshly-prepared meals—because a pure, wholesome diet is vital for good health and well-being
• A healthy daily routine—a balanced schedule of classes, exercise, meditation, and free time that still enables you to get a good night's sleep each night.

Says Craig Pearson, MUM Executive Vice-President, “If you are serious about getting a good education but also serious about personal development and good health and well-being—and having fun along the way—check out MUM online or through a Visitor’s Weekend.”