See Dominican University of California reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending Dominican University of California. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free Dominican University of California reviews, or contribute your own Dominican University of California review if you're a current student there.
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6 out of 7 people found this review useful.
Amber from El Sobrante, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot 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.
Am enjoying being here 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.Bang for the buck 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.
Tips for prospective students 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.
Great for these types of students 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.
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4 out of 4 people found this review useful.
Nina from Richmond, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot 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.
Am enjoying being here 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.
Bang for the buck 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.
Tips for prospective students 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.
Great for these types of students 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.
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4 out of 4 people found this review useful.
Angelina from American Canyon, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot 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.
Am enjoying being here 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.
Bang for the buck This university is quite expensive but it is very likely that you will receive some sort of financial aid.
Tips for prospective students 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.
Great for these types of students 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...Login to rate or flag the reviews
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3 out of 3 people found this review useful.
Tamara from Palmdale, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot 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.
Am enjoying being here 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.
Bang for the buck Dominican is Pricey but you get a GREAT education for your money the experience is worth it.
Tips for prospective students 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.
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2 out of 2 people found this review useful.
Erika from Oakland, CA
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Great for these types of students Students who like small schools and prefer one-on-one attention from teachers. Who don't mind teachers calling you if you are absent to class. Should visit the campus it is beautiful. The people are very kind and welcoming. I love it!
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0 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Briana from San Diego, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot The challenge at Dominican University is very clear. It is very different from high school and is a wake up call to expose you to the major you want to look more into. My experience as a Biology major at Dominican has exposed me to a lot of material whether its lecture, lab or seminar.
Am enjoying being here My college experience is there, even though it's known to not have a lot of students than a UC. But the college experience seems no different than any other college. There are things to do at school and outside of school. It's the matter of you wanting to make thee best out of college.
Bang for the buck It is expensive to attend this college due to it being a private university. But for the most part it is worth paying for because of the amount of experience and material given isn't what you would get the first year at any other university.
Tips for prospective students Apply for as much scholarships before you go to college and during because it will take a load off of worrying about your grades than financial aid. If you plan to go to Dominican, focus on your studies because there will always be parties. The first semester will show you if you want to continue your major, so by the next semester you will need to think fast about other interest you have otherwise you will be known as another freshman than a sophomore.
Great for these types of students Yes it's great for any type of students. Just work hard and keep applying for scholarships. Do not take them for granted!!
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0 out of 3 people found this review useful.
Elizabeth
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Login to rate or flag the reviews
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Clair from Lakeport, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Going to Dominican University was the best choice I've ever made, the professors provide you with one on one attention and truly care about you as an individual. On top of that, the campus is beautiful and it is easy to be inspired while there. It does cost a lot, but the tuition is totally worth it!
Tips for prospective students Make sure that you live on campus at least one year, it is a great way to make new friends! Also, get to know the professors because they have connections that will help you further your prospective career and land you a job eventually.
Academic Rigor The professors make classes challenging, but you have to keep in mind that they're doing it to help you. As long as you put the work in and do your best, you'll pass.
Dorm Life I have never lived in the dorms, but from what I've heard they are nice enough.
Food and Dining The food is awesome (most days)! They use a lot of organic ingredients and there are is a lot of variety.
What to do for fun The campus is right in the middle of a residential neighborhood so there isn't much to do there but it is a short walk to the downtown area. Thursday nights there is an awesome farmers market with all kinds of good food and entertainment!
Great for these types of students All types!
Greek Life Non-existent.
Campus Safety Security is always available if you want an escort to your car.
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Alivia from Algonquin, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Unprepared, slow, dissatisfying
Tips for prospective students only go to this school for nursing or for dance.
Academic Rigor not challenging whatsoever, most of my classes left me unsatisfied wanting more. especially out of the GED courses
Dorm Life need apartment style dorms with kitchens, food/cafeteria on campus suck
Food and Dining horrible
What to do for fun lay in the grass, house parties, not a typical college town
Bang for the buck WAYYYY TOO EXPENSIVE
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus laying in library lawn on sunny marin days
Great for these types of students independent, prefer one on one attention in the classroom, likes the outdoors, able to make friends outside of your click,
Clubs and Activities they just recently started a grief support group for loss! something i greatly needed when i was a freshman
Greek Life nonexistent, i loved that about DU, but some others may want a Greek system.
Campus Safety good, responds quickly.
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Carrie from Sonoma, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences 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.
Tips for prospective students 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.
Academic Rigor 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.
Dorm Life 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!
Food and Dining 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.
What to do for fun 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.
Bang for the buck 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...?
Great for these types of students Ones who are used to small schools, enjoy a green campus, and want personal relationships with their classmates and professors.
Clubs and Activities 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.
Campus Safety Security does their job well.
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sally
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Not worth the money, lack of student support and horrible dorm conditions, no local transportation
Tips for prospective students don't let the pretty campus and old buildings lull you into some sort of trance
Academic Rigor inconsistent, some dept's super easy, others haze the students
Dorm Life parties, and squalor conditions
Food and Dining only 1 place, only open an hour and a half for breakfast and lunch and 2 hours for dinner....otherwise closed. Oh, weekends only open twice a day. No where else to get food or drink
What to do for fun if you don't have a car you are out of luck, the only fun places to go is into the city of San Francisco, this community is an old person's place, nothing stays open past 9:30pm, even on weekends
Bang for the buck Not, very expensive, money goes ???? doesn't go to student support, housing or dining
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus none
Great for these types of students lots of money, lots of parties,
Clubs and Activities very limited, student population is only about 2,000
Greek Life does not exist at this university
Campus Safety safe community, in a residential neighborhood, no campus police, only the city police
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Suzy from San Francisco, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences it is a small and beautiful campus, but i don't feel like it is as tight knit as i believed it would be. the classes are very intense and have a rigorous curriculum. i haven't found the people to be so nice either.
Tips for prospective students participate in extra curricular activities and be a part of the social activities because you will find that it can be hard to make friends if you do not. also, do not get behind in your classes because it will get difficult to catch up.
What to do for fun there are plenty of social activities on campus but the downtown area can also be fun. the mall is close as well.
Bang for the buck this is a good school and it has many good classes but i dislike the social aspect of it because i do not feel like i have fit in with my classmates so i plan on leaving next semester.
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Cali
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences it's a small school with a big heart. but it's a little too small for my liking (it feels like high school). i'm only here for nursing.
Tips for prospective students come here if you like the very small, woodsy setting. nursing is a good program here. the people are not as diverse as i'd hoped.
Academic Rigor it's not that hard, but the small classes really feel like high school. a small high school.
Dorm Life high school part 2. petty drama and lots of cliches.
Food and Dining the food is organic, but you can get sick of it sometimes.
What to do for fun there are a lot of events from the asdu, but not everyone comes to them so it's not that great.
Bang for the buck good education, but not the college experience i'd hoped for.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus there's a haunted house where a rumored ghost of a child resides. it is also a dorm.
Great for these types of students small school. private. people who aren't concerned about partying and want to pay close attention to their studies.
Greek Life none whatsoever
Campus Safety i feel very safe.
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Brianna from Sacramento, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot Being able to have one on one's with the professor's make learning and understanding the concepts being taught that much easier. Each day in the class is a step closer to passing or a least getting a firm grasp on the material.
Am enjoying being here The campus is gorgeous, the people are well rounded and being here is just amazing. Everyone is into the sports, so supporting one another is a huge deal for us. We've all became almost like a family. There isn't any way you can walk through campus and not see at least 15 familiar faces, all of which, if you say hi or definitely going to say Hi back.
Bang for the buck It's quite expensive, but the education you receive here is amazing. The teachers know what they are doing, the TLC center is perfect if you need to get help with assignments or just trying to find a tutor and even the library is a huge help.
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Penguin from Inglewood, CA
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Tips for prospective students When applying be involved and show that you care don't be shy. Showing interest is a big deal since it is a small enough school that people will notice if you don't care.
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Tiffany from Riverside, CA
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot Just by talking to the professors and administration over the phone, they have already began to help me in so many ways. They already want the best for me, while they have only seen me once.
Will enjoy being here The campus is beautiful. And the people are nice and friendly. It's a great atmosphere!
Bang for the buck For the amount you have to pay for the school, the education should be amazing. So far I'm pretty optimistic that I wont regret attending this school.
Great for these types of students Great for people who value their education, and want one on one help from their teachers. If you don't mind knowing pretty much everyone that attends the school, you'll be fine.
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