Reviews

This is my second year at CSUSM and I'm love with my school. Ever since the orientation day the staff and student organization made me feel welcome. They showed me the school, the library, the cafeteria, the bookstore, the labs and the buildings around the school, good enough to not get lost on the first day or week. Professor are amazing! They know what they are doing and since is a small school with small classes we get to know really well the instructor and the other way around.

School enviroment is fenomenal! The student body has concerts, free food and even stands on the first weeks to help people with any questions. There is alot of room to study, the 4 floor library has plenty of space to individual or group study seasions. The library also has the math lab and the writting center where students get the chance to get one-on-one help at the moment.

Some tips I would give to prospective students are; come ready to school, have your material, be awake, be aware that it has a lot of stairs so get some comfortable shoes for your first day of class, while you get use to the work out.

I think CSUSM is great for students that care about their education. The school is great for students who don't want to be a number in a four hundred student class. This school is great for students who like nature, great view and a relax environment.

California State University San Marcos is a great school with a lot of students. however, many of the classes remind me of being in High school because they are usually very small with about 30 to 40 students this in turn makes the transition from high school to university less scary. Having less students also makes it easier to communicate with the professor and studies show that its a lot easier to learn in a small class. In addition, the professors and staff are usually very helpful and educated in their subjects.The school also has a 5-floor library with many resources from famous literary pieces such as In the Time of The Butterflies by Julia Alvarez in the fourth floor to an array of computers in the second floor. The five-floor library also offers a Math Lab, and Language Learning center. the Math Lab is a place in the first floor a student can go to if they are having difficulty in math, here they will have plenty of tutors and some professors ready to assist you. The Language Learning center is also located in the first floor and here a student can submit and essay for revision and advice on what he/she can write next. They also offer tutoring in the English language and literature. So, there is plenty of help if a student needs help in these areas;furthermore, if a student needs help in another subject then he/she can go visit the professor during their office hours and they are always willing to help.

I do like going here. They have a Starbucks! Which is nice because you will have those morning where you are totally exhausted, and you need a nice hot cup of coffee. The food is pretty decent. The Cafeteria offers a Pizza section, sushi, Chinese food, and Mexican food, and is you do not like any of that then you can bring your own microwavable food to the cafeteria where they have microwaves. in addition, they have a mini market where you can purchase chips, drinks, microwavable food, or anything else you might need for the day even energy drinks. It is a very diverse school with people of various racial backgrounds so your bound to meet some one interesting.

The school definitely gives you your money's worth. Your tuition itself includes the use of The Clark which is the Gym of the school. The Clark, has treadmills, exercise classes, and even personal trainers. If your worried about not getting your classes on time then you should join the O-team where you become part of team that helps during orientation of incoming students, this also allows you to register to classes quicker then any one else. your tuition also includes health benefits, as student you are allowed to go down to the clinic across the street and health screenings, talk to a counselor about any problems that you may be encountering, or to get any assortment of shots that you could be missing. In addition, if your looking for a Job you can a get one in any of these places although it may not be easy it would be worth it.

If you are an incoming student i suggest the following: TAKE AP/IB CLASSES! They are worth it in the long run, you can get credit for college courses if you pass you AP tests with a 3 or better and your IB tests with a 4 or better. In addition, in the math section of the SAT aim for a 550 which would exclude you from taking any lower level math class that wont count towards your major or General Ed requirements. If you decide to take the ACT aim for a 23 OR higher on the math section for the same reason, and you wont have to take any math placement test. In addition, aim for a 550 or above in the SAT reading/writing portion of the test this will exempt you from the English placement exam and guarantee you entrance to a college level English class. Also, make sure you have the immunizations you need before coming to the university because if you do not the school wont let you apply for spring semester classes until you do. The immunization you need are: Hepatitis B, and Rubella shots. I would also recommend if you are a high school student planning on coming to the university to take some language courses in a community college. By language I'm referring to a language other than English like Italian, Spanish, or french. The school is very flexible with accepting language credit from community colleges and its cheaper to get these courses over with in community college. So, get a head now.

I would say that you are a outgoing person then this college is great for you because it is very impacted meaning that it holds a lot more students than it should, but that's what makes the college experience fun, meeting new people. In Addition, i know for a fact that Cal State San Marcos specializes in Nursing, Business, and Education (becoming a teacher) ;therefore, you may find these majors impacted and hard to get into. Overall, if you are hard working, and dedicated to what you want to become then this school is for you. :D

the quality of the education really depends on the professor. I've had some GREAT professors and some not so great professors. Overall though, most of the professors really care about you as a student and are willing to help you in any way

I am a commuter student so when I'm at school, I'm in class. I'm not involved in any clubs or anything because I commute to school then return home for work. So I can't really say anything about life on campus

Tuition is about $2,400 which is incredibly cheap for a university. Definitely get a good education for a good price

1. Try to be a paid note taker in a class if you can because then you get priority registration
2. Take the computer skills requirement tests your first semester so you don't get a hold on your account.
3. Rent don't buy your textbooks for the first year or two, chances are they aren't going to be books you'll want to keep

1. students who can't afford a private university
2. students who want to save money
3. students who live in San Diego county and want to commute
4. future teachers

The teachers at CSUSM make sure you go deep in your learning. Their tests and exams help with making sure you do. A lot of teachers make learning fun by thier exercises they have the class do. They encourage study sessions and if you have have a question office hours is where you should go.

As a girl from a small town this was just perfect for me. I love the small campus so I don't get lost. I love living in the dorms becuase I get to be around other students and make memorable friends from not just all over California but International friends too. Just all the things you experience as a college student living away from home is exciting all the time. Never a dull moment at CSUSM!

The only thing is not being able to get the classes you need when registration time comes. I make sure I get priority by living in the UVA. Then you are guaranteed a spot in classes you need.

Keep trying, never give up! Stay focused and study study study. Know what you want and stick with it. You can do anything you put your mind to.

that you do not like big cities, you like small group settings, and that you like to get to know people. Mainly, that you like that one on one attention with our professors.

a majority of the majors at cal state san marcos are impacted- such as the nursing and business programs. overall, the classes and professors themselves have high expectations and standards, and are all willing to help you succeed. the classes are tougher once you enter your upper-division courses. it's always a plus to visit your professor's office hours and utilize other resources on campus such as the stem and writing center.

i didn't dorm at cal state san marcos, but i did have friends who stayed at the quad or uva their freshman year. both of the dorms on campus have a really nice apartment feel layout. the quad is still expanding- there are a few shops in that center that serve boba and mexican food. it's close to the sprinter, and there's also enough parking for students who bring their car to campus their first year.

there are many restaurants that are close to campus. it's only a 5 minute drive to get to san marcos boulevard, where students can indulge in a variety of delicious options from coffee shops, sushi, and my two personal favorites, thai and indian food.

the beach from cal state san marcos is only a 15-20 minute drive. you can grab an acai bowl from carlsbad village, a burrito from encinitas- the coast is not too far away. there are lots of trails close by for those who want to hike and explore the beautiful nature in san marcos, and there are also quite a few shopping plazas in the area as well.

i recently became a member of my sorority, alpha chi omega. joining alpha chi has by far been one of the best decisions i've made during my time at cal state san marcos. being a member of the greek community has made me feel more involved on campus- whether it's fundraisers, mixers, or attending philanthropy events, there's always something to do! i love giving back and making a difference in my community.

CSUSM has wonderful programs for students who are pursing business or nursing majors. The campus life is friendly and there are tons of activities to get involved. The resources and academic counseling offered by CSUSM is extensive.

Keep your grades up, especially when it draws closer to applying for colleges. However, try to not limit yourself to simple academics. Colleges, especially ones such as CSUSM, are interested in other activities that you do as well. Such as sports, community service, or clubs you may be involved in.

College in itself is demanding academically. At CSUSM I have not yet come across a teacher who hasn't expected the best work from me. On top of that, every class that I have had so far was taught by a knowledgeable teacher, and the assignments required me to take the time to complete them. Aside from that, the students in the class that contribute to discussions are all incredibly intelligent.

I've heard very good things about the dorms, but I am a commuter so I cannot speak specifically on this. The dorms look very nice and I have heard they are a comfortable size.

There are lots of yummy food choices here! I have had some of the best food I can remember having at the WOW Cafe. There are multiple restaurant type places to eat, as well as a cafe with pastries and coffee, a mini super market, and a Starbucks. (Actually there are quite a few coffee places on campus; hey, welcome to college!)

There are SO many activities! There is always something going on during U-Hour, which is an hour twice a week that there are no classes scheduled and many clubs come and set up booths! There are lots of clubs to participate in. As well as many events hosted by the school to get everyone involved! There are also sororities and fraternities that a large amount of students are involved with. And of course there are sports, both club and collegiate.

It is so much more affordable at CSUSM than it was for me to attend any other 4 year college in the San Diego area, even with academic aide! And to top it all off, there is great academics here; great classes, great teachers, great resources! Tuition cost includes the extensive online databases and access to the library! It also includes the use of the Clark, which is basically a full service gym. It is definitely worth the cost of tuition.

Business or Nursing Majors have great programs!

There are so many incredible activities and clubs to get involved in. The sports teams are great! And it seems like there is a club for everything!

I have never once in my time at CSUSM felt unsafe on campus. It is very well lit and open. There are emergency stations all around the parking lots, which are also very well lit. And there is always security and police driving around as well.

Its a good smaller, mainly commuters school. Its nice for most majors except for nursing. Planning to major in anything else and you'll be fine. Nursing and Kinesiology are both impacted and you need to have the highest grades to make it in.

I would say go for it in any major except nursing. Great professor and smaller classes leading to better grades. There are many stairs and it does earn its nickname CSU Stair Master, be prepared with walking shoes! Learn to be friendly with your professors, they truly are there to help you excel at whatever class you are in.

Good professor with smaller classrooms! Office hours aren't crowded making it easier to meet up with your professor. We do have some very challenging classes which you need to be prepared for by taking notes, doing homework and consistently study.

Up and coming the Quad is great when construction is done it will be super!

Once they get the new University Student Union up and running it will be 10x better.

Well you can jump on the sprinter in either direction: toward the beach in Oceanside or the shops in Escondido. From the Oceanside sprinter station at the end you can take the Amtrak almost anywhere. My roommate used it to get to LA and back.

For the price of a public school you get the education of a private school! Smaller classes meaning better professor student relationships.

There is this circle compass like floor decoration that its said if you step on it you wont graduate in 4 years. Also when you're on our campus take a look at the clock you may find something amusing about it.

There are some great clubs including ASI, Indian club, french club etc... We have Uhour on tuesday and thursday from 12-1 where they have some great activities happening and theres almost always free food!

Though they don't have houses there are opportunities to go Greek.

Campus police and emergency blue poles around campus you are safe. There is also a great program where if its late at night you can call the college police and they have volunteer walkers that will come to you and walk you wherever needed!

California State University is a very open, welcoming and relatively small school. The professors and the students become like a family to you while you experience college life. The campus is also very active in helping its students to do more than they are required, to reach out and be involved.

Don't look down on the CSU just because it is a state school, CSUSM has so much to offer, if you only give it a chance. A smaller school than its competitors (UCSD) CSUSM really offers the best classroom setting. The students learn to be around each other and learn from one another and the teachers are ALWAYS there to assist,. they even know you by name! :)

As a freshman, I don't know that much, but based on the classes I am taking, they are very rewarding. you get out what you put in. There have been no easy A' classes. they all teach you something vital about your life and future. at the same time, they are not impossible to complete and succeed in.

The housing is very nice, with very close proximity to classrooms, the gym and cafeteria.

there are many food options, sushi, burritos, pizza, and they even change the ethnic food every week! they also have a cougar mart, for the daily grocery shops and there is a Ralphs across the street from the campus.

There are always some activities going on on campus. whether it be a ball, improvisation play, or even gym activities! :)

club life is very abundant in CSUSM! clubs are always having events and always make being a cougar worthwhile!

there are emergency poles in every location of the campus. so the Campus Police are a push of a button away. Much care for the student safety is very noticeable and you never feel afraid, even at night!

Prof. are great and well educated, they are really committed to the students education. The campus, although a commuter campus, has a great community scene and has many opportunities to get involved and develop not only character but leaderships as well. There is always classes to choose from, even when sections are closed as long as you are on top of it, you can usually crash and get into the course.

Do not take the elevators and you won't need the gym.
Make sure to get involved and take advantage of all the resources the campus has to offer.

The classes are not easy and you have to do the work to get the grade, but learning is always first! As long as you do the work, ask questions, get help (if needed) then there is no reason to fail a class.

I have heard a lot of great things from peers.

Campus recently changed vendors and there is now a great selection of nutritious meals available, as well as lots of snacks and not so healthy meals for the fast food lovers. The cost is also great!

There is U hour every week and there are also tons of fun field trips that the student org puts on every week for all students. Recently there was rock climbing everything included all day for $15. Recreational opportunities are also abundant and we get a gym that offers programs, classes, or just a place to be healthy.

Not any different than any other CSU. Its still expensive but the education you get is quality and the resources available make it worth it.

The curriculum room is great! for studying or just hanging out!

Campus is real safe, very rare of anything happening on campus EVER!

CSUSM is a fantastic school! I am a transfer student and this is my first semester at this school, and I absolutely love it here. They have a wonderful campus, fantastic programs and great teachers.

Be prepared to work hard because they move fast and the work load is constant.

I am not living in a dorm, but they are brand new very nice facilities

Join clubs within your major or interests to get involved and meet new people. Also there are several sports that you can get involved in as well.

Hard working, determined

There are always fantastic clubs and activities and they are all driven to help students get on track for their careers after college.

Safety is a number one priority at this school.