Reviews

At Dominican, class sizes are, at most, twenty students per teacher; however, if you plan to major in nursing (a competitive major), be sure to expect classes of at least fifty students. All the teachers I have encountered have been easy to get along with, understanding, kind, and helpful; they are the best teachers I have ever had because they cater to the student's needs instead of their own agendas. They are sure to stay after class, come early to class, and follow office hours if students need extra attention; some of my favorite teachers even offer one-on-one tutoring. They try to stay very involved in their student's education.

Dominican has a gorgeous campus, with lush grass and tall green trees with beautiful weather (even when it's winter and raining). Dominican is about a fifteen minute bus ride to the mall and a ten minute walk from a bustling downtown area complete with small independent movie theatres, to little boutiques, to mainstream shoe shops.
The social life is a bit strange. From the exterior, Dominican seems extremely friendly and inviting, but what I have noticed so far is a lack of the college cohesiveness I had expected. Dominican is similar to a high school because of how small it is. The students are VERY tight knit and stick to their own group of friends instead of the social freeness I would've expected from a college campus. The students are cordial with each other and are extroverted, but in an almost superficial way.

I love Dominican (I will be an incoming sophomore), and I find that with the combination of merit-based scholarships Dominican offers, private scholarships, and let's not forget...loans, Dominican is doable. The social life is there, but more importantly the small classes, knowledgeable counselors, and helpful career counseling department are all reasons to give Dominican a try.

Make sure to balance your priorities: at a small school it's easy to get caught up in drama and rumors, but remember you're in college and education is the goal. Take advantage of your teacher's willingness to assist, because the small individual attention is what you're paying for. Have fun meeting new people and getting to know the city, but also keep in mind Dominican takes education seriously.

Dominican would benefit students who really enjoy learning but also crave the help from instructors. Dominican will cater to your every need, if you are willing to ask.

Dominican isn't the average large college that makes it easy to get lost in. It is very small and the class sizes are much like a high school classroom ranging from 20-30 students. The teachers here educate exceptionally well. They relate to their students and make it their number one priority to make sure the students understand the material at hand. There is also plenty of other educational resources if a student needs a little extra help. I have first hand experience because I needed help myself and with all the assistance Dominican provides, I passed my classes with flying colors and no sweat.

Dominican is a very pleasant, peaceful place to be. There is an abundant amount of nature on campus and benches to sit and relax for quite study or for clearing of the mind. You can walk up to anyone and share a smile and you wont be looked at like a criminal. Everything is peaceful in Dominican.

The school is rather pricey however every penny is worth it. Dominican promises graduation in 4 years and any longer that it takes they will pay the remainder of the tuition. I think that's a great deal.

The only thing that needs to be watched out for in Dominican is the fact that it is indeed a small school which means that it is easy to get caught up in rumors and high school drama but it is also easy to extricate yourself from all of those situations. The benefit of going to a small school is that you are actually a person to everyone rather than just a number or a student ID. Everyone is pretty close and its a real community.

Its great for the type of students that enjoy a slower paced environment or students that need to truly focus on school such as myself. I know that if i was placed in a large school with plenty of partying and everything i would be completely distracted from my studies so Dominican is the perfect fit for me.

I was admitted into the nursing program here at Dominican University. The class are very difficult but the instructors here are very flexible. Their attention is focused on the students. If a student can not meet with the instructor during their office hours, the instructor will likely meet with the student at the students needs. The instructors offer lots of help that will help a student to become successful in the class. I just finished my first semester, thanks to the help of my instructors.

I enjoy being at this school. The university is small and it gives me the chance to meet other people. Since I live on campus, it's easier for me to get to my classes, meet with my instructors one-on-one, and attend school events.

This university is quite expensive but it is very likely that you will receive some sort of financial aid.

If you want to attend a small university that focuses more on your educator and your ability to graduate within 4 years, then this university is the best place for you. It'll take more than 4 years to obtain your bachelor's degree at a public college, but at this private university, the classes are small and the instructors actually care about your education.

1) If you want a small class
2) If you want one-on-one help from your instructor
3) Likes to meet other people quickly
4) Likes to attend different school events
5) Get involved with campus ministry

AND there are many different activities to do in this area such as:
1) traveling to one of the most beautiful city, San Francisco
2) shop at Northgate Mall 2 exits away from Dominican University.
3) explore downtown San Rafael.
(Try Sol Food's Bistec's Sandwich. It's delicious! )
4) Go on a hike to see the sunrise or sunset.
And much more...

Dominican is a School where you can learn from being interactive in class and getting used to the material very easily. The teachers are always open to help you every step of the way and give one on one extra help that may be needed.

Dominican Is a very relaxing and peaceful environment. The people are really nice and everything is within a good distance so you get exercise without thinking so much about it. The students here are very close nit and you will always find a friend to hang out with during the weekends so you'll always have something to do and you'll never get bored.

Dominican is Pricey but you get a GREAT education for your money the experience is worth it.

A few tips for new students, Get to know as many people as you can so that you will know students in different study areas and they will be able to help you when it comes to homework and other things.

Dominican university provides a quality education by having small classes and very knowledgable professors who care about the success of each student. The student throughout campus go out of their way to make all new students feel welcome and at ease.

Get involved early with the activities the school provides especially midnight mayhem. Early on you may feel home sick but the school has many programs available to assist if needed. Enjoy yourself get involved.

The academics is challenging however with the small instructor to student ratio it is easy to get individual help. The school also has a very supportive tutor program available as well.

Dorm life is great but takes time to get use to. The school is small so you get an opportunity meet all the new freshman as we all live in the same dorm. The room are nice size vs some of the dorm at other colleges I visited. All in all a nice experience.

The food and dinning facility are clean and nice.
The food is good and menu's change with regularity to keep you from getting bored with the same taste. The dining hall in centrally located so it easy to get to and chilly's is open for quick snacks

The school is small so activities are some what limited however
San Fransico is only 20 minutes away providing big city adventures.
We also have several sports teams which participate in NCAA Div II athletics which play through out the school year.

The school has Midnight madness wear all the athletic teams perform dance routines for the student body very fun and funny

Campus has 24 hour security and has a close relationship with the local police dept. I feel very safe but common sense still applies.

Dominican has a very helpful and caring staff that go out of their way to help us get through college. I can tell they actually care about where we go after college and do a good job in preparing us for the real world. Not to mention the campus is beautiful and the atmosphere is very mature but fun at the same time.

I would consider the fact that it is a small school, you may get tired of seeing the same faces everyday. However, they will help you get a job right out of school which you can't count on at many schools today.

It is expected that we are there to learn and prepare ourselves for the next step in our lives. There is no longer room to play around as if we are in high school. However, if we are struggling the teachers are always more than willing to help us.

Getting to know people in the dorms was a very needed experience. After staying in the same town/city for more than ten years, it is definitely time to meet new people and explore new places. Moving to the dorms at Dominican was great because there are three people to a room, plus the other three people we share a bathroom with. Getting to know people on that personal of a level is great--it feels like we're living in a crazy humungous house full of people our age!

The food is great compared to what I've seen at other schools. We don't only get better meals but more variety. The food is also all organic which makes me feel better about what I'm eating.

There are things to do for fun, we just have to look for them. Making our own fun has been most successful because sitting back and waiting for something fun to happen gets old very quickly.

The school is great academically and all, but I'm not sure exactly where all of my money is going. Maybe they are spending too much on something that's not necessary...?

Ones who are used to small schools, enjoy a green campus, and want personal relationships with their classmates and professors.

I'm not currently apart of a club but during club fair it seems like there are a lot of people passionate and interested in the club they are apart of.

Security does their job well.

Dominican staff is very helpful and nice and offer a lot of assistance to students. The low teacher to student ratio allows the students to maintain contact and support from teachers. This school offers a great environment to study with many calming areas to relax and focus on school.

It is expensive but don't let that rule this school out. The best thing to do is to apply for as many scholarships as possible and apply for FAFSA. It is possible to achieve a great education and will be well worth the expense.

I find the classes to be very engaging and it is amazing to have a voice in class.

I don't stay in the dorms.

I had the buffet once and it was good. There was a variety of foods to choose from including tacos, salads, pasta, etc. If you are not going to stay in the dorms it is not mandatory to purchase food plans.

Dominican is always hosting events which are a fun way to connect with other students and relieve the stress from schools.

The campus is beautiful with open space and nature, providing a peaceful academic space. Staff, teachers and students are all very friendly and helpful. Dominican has a very accommodating schedule, it works for students, parents and working adults.

Be prepared to be offered an excellent education with Dominican University. A helpful staff and friendly teachers. Also, Dominican is affordable! There are plenty of resources provided to you and some that can be easily researched. Tip: Prepare to succeed.

Dominican provides a very rigorous academic catalog for students. Teachers give a good amount of work and go over in great detail.

Although, I do not live on campus the dorms look beautiful and seem to be affordable.

Food and dinning commons are healthy and provide a lot of variety for all.

There are plenty activities on campus that you are notified through your school e-mail account. From tail gating for sporting events, club events, coffee and donut socials etc. There are plenty of things to do on campus and it does not hurt to be 20 minutes away from San Francisco.

Dominican University is worth every penny. The experience of campus is very pleasant.

This campus is great for students who like a smaller ratio of students to teachers. Appreciate interacting with fellow peers and professors.

There are a great amount of clubs and activites on campus. From black student union to starting your own club. You are provided with a lot of options that accommodate to your liking.

The campus seems to be very safe. If there is anything going on you will be notified and reassured that campus police will handle issues. There is always campus police available on campus and visible.

Dominican is a great school for those focused on academics.

THIS IS NOT A PARTY SCHOOL. This is not Chico, Arizona, or Santa Barbara. The only reason I say this is because I know so many people who regret coming to Dominican and complain about the lack of parties all the time. Yes, there are parties sometimes (mostly in the beginning of the year), but Dominican is a mostly academic school.

As with any college, the academic rigor of classes vary, but I found all of my classes to be challenging.

With such a small population living on campus, you get to know everyone and living in the dorms can be so much fun. I was totally against it at first, but this is my second year and I will be living on campus again.

The dining hall is very hit or miss. You never know how the food will be, although lunch is probably the best meal of the day. We have Ice Cream Thursdays and Burger/Hot Dog Fridays, which are both great.

Honestly, Dominican can be a bit boring sometimes. It is not a large school with Greek life or intense school spirit. There are sports games to attend and occasional events, such as male beauty pageants and auctions, a Christmas Tree Lighting, etc. Many things are sort of poorly advertised, so you may miss some events.

Dominican is great for hardworking, focused students.

Dominican University of California was worth every penny, although I did receive substantial scholarships and grants from the institution. The campus is beautiful, and situated in a great neighborhood in San Rafael. The faculty is amazing.

Try to get as much fin aid as you can from the school. Come with an open mind. Spend your first year in the dorms, live off campus and save money afterwards.

As a private school it's probably hard to fail a course, but professors and course material is challenging and intellectually stimulating. Hard enough to make it worth it.

Dorm life is awesome, but you are crammed into a room with two other people and three other suite mates that share a bathroom. Dorms are super expensive but worth it the first year, lots of good times to be had and really easy to meet people.

The required meal plan if you live on campus is $600 a month and totally not worth it. The food is good but you'll get tired of it. It's not organic or local or free-range. The good news is there are hundreds of small business restaurants in San Rafael and Marin that are terrific and affordable in addition to several great health food grocery stores and farmers markets all in walking distance to campus.

Hiking, road biking, mountain biking, exploring, Mt Tamalpais, Muir Woods, the bay, the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco, local bars and restaurants, farmers markets, Lagunitas Brewing Co, creek spots, lakes, climbing the radio tower, parties, kickbacks, and more.

Education and experience worth the price.

Haunted building previously owned by the De Young family (owners, San Francisco Chronicle).
Fruit trees all over campus with oranges, apples, pears, figs, pomegranates, and quinces ready to pick.
Plenty of trees to climb too.

Self motivated students that want to change the world.

Associated Students of Dominican University (ASDU) is a joke. From my experience the clubs are loosely organized and not really worth the time.

None. Let's keep it that way.

Campus security always available.