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    San Marcos, CA

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    Palomar College

    2.8 (111 reviews)

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    Sloooow!

    Financial aid here is useless and sloooooow. My transcripts prove that I've got enough credits to be a second year student, but they sent it to the evaluation office to see what credits they're gonna accept and what credits they aren't. So, I'm a first year student they told me "for now," and I don't expect otherwise even after they evaluate my transcripts, so my loan amount reflects. I had a counseling appointment months ago and they can't do anything about making me an education plan because my transcript needs to be evaluated. It should take 2 to 4 weeks. It's been 9 weeks and STILL no word. Professors and classes so far are great, but I have two little kids and no income and then I have the college harassing me over the $29 health fee and student representative fee that's due or I'll be owing interest on it or whatever and it's like can I opt out of that like I could at my other school? I don't want to and can't pay for that or use your health services, I'm an online student. I said maybe if you process my financial aid I'll be able to pay, tell your financial aid office to get on it. Then, they said my financial aid will be processed in 2 to 4 weeks IF it's not flagged! I FINALLY got it processed after 7 weeks and was excited until 2 hours later I got something saying it was flagged because they need to verify my identity. After they did that on video, it NOW takes two weeks to get that done, it probably will be four weeks, if I'm LUCKY and it's not 7! So, here I am depending on financial aid to get by with two children and this place sucks! I came on here to see if other people have the same experiences as myself and, of course. I find it funny that they can process your financial aid immediately for the waiver to make sure THEY get paid for any classes you enroll in, but anything/EVERYTHING else takes a while. Doesn't that waiver go through FASFA as well? Why in the world do they stop at that process and don't allow YOU to get any money to go to school, buy the books, etc? They're just about the money, so much so that they won't even hire more people to handle their outrageously long list of students just WAITING on them to do SOMETHING! You don't want to pay more employees to handle the student load, just being cheap? Since I actually went to another school and I know how my other school was I can compare the differences and the differences are HUGE! I suggest they hire more people to handle their student load and be able to process things quicker, FOR THE STUDENTS! They claim that my hold was put on there by the government, but the funny thing is, my finance away was processed at my other school and there was no hold there! Just bs! If you're in the same situation as me probably like 100 other students are, I feel your pain and I'm sorry! Maybe they should stop serving all the undocumented immigrants and start taking care of people who are legally in this country so they can get an education! I wouldn't be saying that if I felt like this college wasn't so overwhelmed by something that they can't process ANYTHING, in a timely manner.

    Alex D.

    God I wish I could warn everyone not to go here. The counselors are almost impossible to get an appointment with, and they make you do some of your own counseling work instead of them helping when it's their job. I had to plan out all my own classes...no one helped me. I also had to figure out which schools accept my AA from palomar because again, the counselors won't help you figure that out. If you have no idea how to do college forms and transcripts, where to start or where to go, DO NOT GO HERE. You will be your own student, teacher, and counselor.

    John C.

    For those interested in history you can start here: http://wikimapia.org/676190/The-Palomar-College-P Having grown up in North County it was a staple for me and many other residents as it sits like a monolith on the hilltop towering over the College as if a deity. My first trip here was in the early 2000's as an assignment with my physical fitness class I took at Palomar. The easiest way to conquer the P is to take the trail from the bottom of the hill directly across the Borden campus entrance. Once at the summit you get some awesome vistas: Camp Pendelton and Fallbrook to the north, Oceanside, Carlsbad (the power plant), and Leucadia to the west, and San Marcos (Discovery Lakes) to the south. There is a vast network of trails to branch off of that can take you as far north as Abeja Pond. The trails are a great workout as most of them have a very steep incline. Lots of rock and some sandy areas but overall good dirt compaction. I have seen mountain bikes and dirt bikes on these trails in addition to runners and wild animals. The flora consists of chaparral, sage, sumac, anise, and some other native shrubs,

    Tae G.

    Came here for a basketball tournament. There was a full empty parking lot, yet no signs stating that a parking permit was needed in the lot in front of the gym on a Saturday. So many people walked in and out during games to move their cars after hearing other people talk about the parking situation. There is metered parking. Sadly, several of them were out of order as well. Get it together, Palomar!!

    Oceanside PD showing off their cool truck at Palomar

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    Review Highlights - Palomar College

    “The counseling office is great and super helpful, as is the financial aid office.”

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    University of St. Augustine - San Marcos Simulation Lab

    University of St. Augustine

    2.5(14 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Faculty involvement with student success for academic success…read more Does not support students for success. More drop out then matriculate. Too expensive for a haphazard education. Why would a university change a students grade make r them ineligible without notifying the student first?

    I am a former employee, and I would like to advise all from working and going to school at this…read moreinstitution. First and foremost, this is a private school. So, everything is for profit. Tuition is INSANE for what you are getting. Students complain about the services, or lack of services, and honestly the money isn't going anywhere apparent. The departments that help students were drastically cut during my time working here, and in my department alone, more than 8 (out of about 12) people either were fired or layed off or quit due to stress in the course of a year. Meanwhile the CEO is making business class flights to washington dc and meeting with congressmen, directors are having fancy lunches as business expenses, and they do all they can to try and suck more innocent students into there very pretty trap. On our orientation and open house days, we were instructed to show off they schools assets, even though students would likely never use or have the opportunità to use the technology available. I truly hope this BUSINESS (not a school) CRASHES AND BURNS. B Corp my **** Yeah right. The people who run this place are cooperate junkies, FRAUD teachers who repost research under the guise of new titles (true true true), and a bunch of cheap sell outs. DO NOT GO HERE :---)

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    University of St. Augustine - San Marcos Campus

    San Marcos Campus

    University of St. Augustine - MIami Campus

    MIami Campus

    University of St. Augustine - San Marcos Campus

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    San Marcos Campus

    Stanbridge University - Stanbridge is training the next generation of nurses, whose confidence in their skills is coupled with a genuine concern for helping others.

    Stanbridge University

    3.7(6 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    Walk-ins welcome
    Available by appointment

    I came to Stanbridge University and was immediately welcomed with two big smiles from two women at…read morethe front desk. They were kind and immediately stopped their conversation to greet me. I signed in, and was welcomed right on time for my appointment that I had with Kimberly G. She was amazing at making me feel welcomed. She told me about the programs I had asked for more information on in detail. She was clear with the information she gave me. I needed guidance on two separate programs, and she was so graceful in giving me all of the information that I needed to consider the school. She always asked if I had questions and never made my questions sound dumb. Kim booked me for some testing and gave me a tour. It is small, but will expand soon. I was very impressed by this university. Kimberly G was the best advisor for me, and anyone who needs guidance on their next steps in healthcare should consult with her. Thank you Kimberly!

    DO NOT attend this school. Please read before enrolling. I TRANSFERRED TO THE SAN DIEGO LOCATION,…read moreBUT I CAME FROM THE OC LOCATION. The only reason I'm still here is because l'm too deep into my program to transfer. They WANT young, aspiring and scared people to come here because we don't consider rating, reviews, money. but please do your research before confirming enrollment. This school isn't what they say it is. While the accreditations are real, the way the school works is demeaning. You have no power, the student handbook is only written out because the bppe states that every university needs one, but stanbridge is not a school that cares for their students. I used to attend Yasith Weerasuriya's Orange County location, one of four campuses under his ownership. But now I am at the San Diego location. This nursing school is for-profit, and it shows--they're here to make money off of students, not to support our education. From the moment you get in, things change fast. The person who helped you through the enrollment process? They disappear. You'll never hear from them again. After that, you're left to deal with counselors (called SSOs)--and if you're lucky, you'll get one who actually cares. But even then, they have no power. They're not allowed to fix anything that matters. The professors? They don't really teach. Most are kind people stuck in a system where they have to say, teach, and grade exactly how the dean or administrators tell them to. They are at the bottom of the chain, controlled by Yasith and his team. It's like watching puppets being forced to dance. One day, the dean came into our class and said, "I'm sure you guys came here because you didn't get accepted anywhere else." Whether that's true or not, it was harsh, disrespectful, and completely unnecessary. Many of us came here because we wanted to become nurses quickly but this school makes that dream harder, not easier. I've personally witnessed students get unfairly failed and dismissed, even when their work followed the rubric. Professors can fail you just because they don't like you. And don't bother with the appeal process, it's just a delay tactic. They don't read them, they just deny you after a few days and we all get the same email. Why aren't there more lawsuits? Great question. That's because before you even start, they make you sign an arbitration agreement. What is that? An arbitration document means you're giving up your legal right to sue them in court. If something unfair happens, you can't file a lawsuit or be part of a class action. Instead, you have to settle things privately, through a process that usually favors the school. Most students don't even realize what they're signing. Oh, and Yasith the owner? He has no nursing background. His degree is in engineering, yet he's making decisions that affect your education and future nursing license. On top of that, the public face of the school, Victoria S., is just the social media director, not the owner or founder. If they're misrepresenting that, what else are they hiding? I've seen so many students dismissed for no valid reason and am terrified of getting dismissed from the San Diego location. Many believe it's to fund the campus I now go to, the newer San Diego campus. (This campus) This school is a money scheme. If you're serious about becoming a nurse and want to be respected and supported in your journey, go somewhere else. This place will take your money, your time, and your peace of mind and leave you with nothing in return. If you do decide to come here, keep a paper trail. And do not be afraid to speak your voice. They can not treat you unfairly due to you speaking up. Don't be afraid of them. They run off of scared individuals. THIS REVIEW IS GOING TO CONSTANTLY BE UPDATED THROUGHOUT MY TIME HERE. 5/9/2025

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    Stanbridge University - Work one-on-one with faculty as you practice in the on-campus Nursing Skills Labs.

    Work one-on-one with faculty as you practice in the on-campus Nursing Skills Labs.

    Stanbridge University - Hands-on practice with real patient care scenarios allows nursing students to prepare for their future careers.

    Hands-on practice with real patient care scenarios allows nursing students to prepare for their future careers.

    Stanbridge University - Join the next generation of healthcare professionals, ready and able to make a difference in patients' lives.

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    Join the next generation of healthcare professionals, ready and able to make a difference in patients' lives.

    California State University San Marcos - Study Room or Lecture Room inside!

    California State University San Marcos

    3.0(115 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    The campus is big. The Cafeteria is a 20/20. They have dorm rooms and plus a lot of regular…read moreclassroom buildings and lecture hall. I have toured the campus so many times plus the library and the outdoor events they offer, etc.

    CSUSM is a hit and missed depending on what you plan on majoring. The biology department is a…read morecomplete joke. There are some older and good professors, but most of the newer professors are all UC rejects who seek a tenured position at this school and care very little about students once they tenured. The chair of the department, Jancovich is a lost cause. Now, I am starting to understand why the department of education is being dismantled. You get people who sits on their butt with 6 figured salaries and not actually helping students. The chair used to be Dr Escobar and he was ok. But now it's Jancovich and he will find ways to push students away. His emails will always say " there's nothing he can do" I mean that should be his life quote of sort. Pretty useless. If you're planning to major in biol, go to UCSD. Even if it means staying at the comm college a bit longer. Or a different school, don't come here it's a complete joke. This is coming from me, a current student who had to deal with it and eventually changed my major to biochemistry. The two more organized departments are the chemistry and computer science departments. The chemistry depart is organized, and the computer science department is very solid. Though not everyone want to major in it because of the amount of math that students have to take. Other than that, nobody cares especially if you're a biology major. I changed my major to biochemistry because of how unsupportive and disorganized the biology department is.

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    California State University San Marcos - Me in the back parking lot near the other side of the campus.

    Me in the back parking lot near the other side of the campus.

    California State University San Marcos - Waterfall Sticker on windowsill

    Waterfall Sticker on windowsill

    California State University San Marcos - You could stream online too.  68K Alumni ‍!  Wowza!

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    You could stream online too. 68K Alumni ‍! Wowza!

    Pima Medical Institute - San Marcos

    Pima Medical Institute - San Marcos

    3.9(42 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    I was in the RT program San Marcos Campus and talking about the extensive ness and hard work needed…read moreto get thru was a challenge indeed. I had the opportunity to start out w Ms G and another group of great professors, then ended with Ms Castro & Mr. Smith and some new professors which were great as well. This program is no joke. It's hard, tests you, and I promise you those sleepless nights will be worth it. With that being said I was offered phone numbers after hours, tutoring, and if you knew me I ask a BUNCH of questions so I stayed after a lot. In between classes they would stop by the tables ask if I needed help with anything, just to say hello, or to reserve/open the lab. Of course the grading scale is NOT IDEAL but again RT is a serious role ... ask around this program isn't easy anywhere. This program takes alot but with Ms Castro and Mr. Smiths guidance I believe it's doable. Main advice ask ask ask. I canNOT leave out Ms. Marilyn Quindo that has helped me with EVERYTHING and kept my semesters in line with all that comes along with this program, she made my life easier! Front desk girls are the best, personable, positive attitudes and trust me that's great to see after no sleep on some days. Thank you TARA! Fast forward to now. (Still talk to Ms G) Ms.Castro/Smith is still in contact with me, helped me with some great advice with my boards, I continued to go on campus after being done, and now new grad interviews. This program has the ability to get you there you just need to give it the chance! Thanks always guys.

    The pharmacy technician program has it's pros and cons. Pro is the instructor who is really good,…read moreknowledgeable and cares if you learn. Con is their career services department who act as the gate keepers to this profession and oversee the externships. My externship experience has been useless - I am allowed to observe and clean. That is literally it - 20k to become a glorified free cleaning service and no actual hands on instruction. I will have to get that when I actually obtain employment, which despite Pima's claims is 100% on you as they use their secretaries as career services staff and they will lose your paperwork, blame you for it, and then punish you with an externship like mine. Really disappointed and disillusioned now.

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    Pima Medical Institute - San Marcos - Dental Assistant programs

    Dental Assistant programs

    Pima Medical Institute - San Marcos
    Pima Medical Institute - San Marcos - Our Vet Tech Training

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    Our Vet Tech Training

    Smith Chason College - One of the lab classrooms

    Smith Chason College

    2.6(24 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience trying to get information about Smith Chason's…read moreMRI program has been incredibly frustrating. It's been over a month, and I still haven't been able to get accurate information about the program. After filling out the online inquiry form, I spoke with someone in admissions who recommended I attend a Zoom information session. I arranged daycare and adjusted my schedule so I could attend. Once the presentation started, the instructor explained that the session had nothing to do with the MRI program. It was exclusively about the Ultrasound program. I notified my admissions representative, who apologized and said he would send me a presentation with information about the MRI program. Instead, he sent me the exact same Ultrasound presentation. I then asked to be referred to someone else who could actually answer my questions about MRI, but I never received a response. I cannot emphasize enough how frustrating and unprofessional this experience has been. If a school can't provide basic information to a prospective student after more than a month, it doesn't inspire confidence in the program or the institution as a whole.

    UPDATE: I stopped attending Smith Chason San Marcos in June…read more2025, and the school continues to confirm exactly why I left. Current students still contact me ...a former student ...because they are experiencing the same ongoing issues: biased grading, inconsistent expectations, and an EPL course that seems designed more around personal preference than actual educational standards. At this point, it's unclear whether the root problem is poor management, lack of structure, or simply a refusal to acknowledge the program's failures. Regardless, the results are obvious ! students are failing, withdrawing, or transferring at a rate that should concern any institution claiming to prepare future professionals. So here is a direct question for the San Marcos campus How do you plan to maintain graduation rates when your own program repeatedly undermines the success of the students paying to be here? Is this going to reflect on the San Marcos website for the school ? The fact that students trust a former attendee more than their own instructors is telling. It reflects a level of dysfunction so normalized within the program that students no longer expect fairness, clarity, or support from within the school itself. I cannot recover the time or money I invested, but I can make sure future students enter with accurate expectations. I will continue updating this review, and I will also be posting TikTok videos breaking down these issues in detail so prospective students can see exactly what they are signing up for. A refund would be the bare minimum acknowledgment of the program's ongoing failures. Whether you choose to offer one is up to you .. but the pattern is already documented, and I will continue adding to that documentation as long as current students keep reaching out.

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    Smith Chason College - Front view of the school

    Front view of the school

    Smith Chason College - Smith Chason College WCUI San Marcos

    Smith Chason College WCUI San Marcos

    Smith Chason College

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    Palomar Community College Cafeteria - In clasd

    Palomar Community College Cafeteria

    3.0(4 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    A recent decision made impacting all students taking asynchronous classes was made this week. The…read moreimplementation of the decision, as well as the decision itself was clearly not well thought out, forcefully and abruptly put in place during the seventh week of the Spring 2025 semester. That is the seventh week of a sixteen week semester. The decision directly conflicts with most course syllabi by way of materially changing the requirements of courses nearly half way completed. The change implements a test proctoring requirement where previously this requirement was unavailable, non-functioning or not required. Being that the requirement was unfairly implemented, it leaves students no opportunity to withdraw and receive a refund due to the very late notification and poorly planned timing. Due to this, students are subjected to unfair practices added after they have completed substantial course work or withdrawal with financial loss in tuition and materials. In addition, asynchronous courses as advertised and as described in Palomar course catalogs are intended to be without scheduling requirements for meeting or other activities. Palomar students depend on this type of course delivery to attend classes due to other time commitments such as children, family, work, etc. The poor timing and lack of consideration of the implementation of scheduled test proctoring is a very questionable endeavor.

    I don't like the TV's in here. This should be a place for people here to eat and dine. Plus…read morestudying or reading a book here. Why all these TV's? Easy distraction.

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    Palomar Community College Cafeteria - Get rid of the TV's! Lol!

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    Get rid of the TV's! Lol!

    John Paul the Great Catholic University

    John Paul the Great Catholic University

    3.5(35 reviews)
    6.1 mi

    John Paul the Great Catholic is the perfect school for those who are considering pursuing the…read morecreative arts, business, or the humanities, who are serious about higher education, and who are seeking an authentically Catholic experience. After receiving an associates in communications with honors from a local NJ community college, I wanted to pursue a bachelors in business and I was ready for an adventure. Although I had achieved success at previous school, I yearned for an environment that would support my beliefs as a Catholic. JPCatholic was able to tick all of the boxes on my list: 1. Authentically Catholic 2. Excellent Professors 3. Small Class Sizes 4. Beautiful Location 5. Flexible and Caring Administration 6. Affordable 7. Supportive Community 8. Aid in Finding Part-Time Work 9. Internship Opportunities 10. A 'Real World' and 'Hands On' Approach to Learning John Paul the Great Catholic University far exceeded my expectations and excelled in each of my desired categories. Now, as a JPCatholic alumnus from the class of 2022, I am very pleased with my decision to have come here and I highly recommend this school to those who are passionate about their craft, are willing to work hard, and want to impact culture for Christ.

    Do your homework before choosing this university…read more I'd like to encourage prospective families, students, alumni, and donors to ask some additional questions before making a significant commitment to this university. John Paul the Great Catholic University has excellent marketing. The picture presented to prospective families is very appealing, particularly for Catholic and homeschool families looking for a university where Catholic identity and values are central to the experience. The university also has a distinctive position among Catholic colleges (Newman Guide), which makes it especially attractive to families looking for something outside the traditional liberal-arts model. The problem is that what is presented and what you ultimately experience may not always be the same thing. My advice to anyone considering the university is simple: don't rely exclusively on what you hear during the admissions process. Ask very specific questions, get answers in writing when appropriate, and most importantly, talk to people who have actually experienced the university. And don't just talk to the people the university recommends you talk to. Talk to current students. Talk to recent graduates. Talk to people who have been there for several years. Ask what they wish they had known before enrolling. Ask what surprised them after they arrived. Ask what has changed. And pay attention not only to what people say, but whether you hear the same themes repeatedly. Another thing I would investigate carefully is turnover. Look at faculty and staff biographies. Look at how long people have actually been at the university. If you notice a large number of relatively recent hires or short tenures, don't automatically assume something is wrong BUT don't automatically ignore it either. Ask: * How long do faculty typically stay? * How long do administrators typically stay? * What has turnover looked like over the past several years? * Why have there been so many changes in certain areas? * How do those changes affect students and the overall experience? There may be perfectly reasonable explanations for turnover. The point is that prospective families should know the answers before making a major investment. I would also encourage people not to dismiss negative reviews simply because they are negative. Obviously, online reviews should always be read critically. Every institution has unhappy students, unhappy employees, and people whose individual circumstances influence their perception. But when you see similar concerns appearing repeatedly across different reviews and different time periods, I think it is worth investigating rather than automatically assuming everyone is simply disgruntled. In my experience, some of those recurring concerns are worth taking seriously. That doesn't mean everyone will have the same experience. I'm sure there are people who have genuinely had wonderful experiences at JP Catholic. My point is simply that the university's promotional materials are only one piece of the picture. A college education is a significant financial, educational, personal, and for families choosing a Catholic university, spiritual investment. So read everything. Ask uncomfortable questions. Talk to people who aren't part of the recruitment process. Look at faculty and administrative turnover. Read the positive reviews but read the negative ones carefully, too. You may ultimately decide that JP Catholic is the right place for you. Just make sure you're making that decision based on more than the brochure. My honest opinion: Find another university to invest your time and money into.

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    John Paul the Great Catholic University - 200 W Grand Ave

    200 W Grand Ave

    John Paul the Great Catholic University
    John Paul the Great Catholic University

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    Palomar College - collegeuniv - Updated October 2026

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