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Newly Accepted Students

Welcome to Palomar College’s International Student Program!!!

Check out our Welcome Guide!
Please follow the steps below to prepare for your arrival to our campus.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEW STUDENTS

When you receive your Palomar student ID number and Palomar email in your acceptance letter, you can then create a password to log into MyPalomar and your Palomar email.

  • Go to www.palomar.edu and click on MyPalomar (link at top, right of the page).
  • Click on the MyPalomar Student Login box.
  • Click on Password Setup/Reset ID Help.
  • Enter your Palomar student ID number in the top box, enter your date of birth, select a challenge question and enter a response that you will remember.
  • Enter a new password – twice and click to Submit.
    • This password will be used for both your MyPalomar login and Palomar email account.
  • Login to your Student Email directly by clicking on MyPalomar and then the Student Email box. 
 
If you do not have an F-1 visa yet, please see Visa Information.
 
If you have not made any housing arrangements, please see Housing Accommodations page.
 

Class Selection and Registration Steps

Before enrolling in classes, make sure to read, sign and submit the Acceptance of F-1 Rules to internationalstudents@palomar.edu. It is highly recommended to meet with a Palomar academic counselor before enrolling each semester to ensure you are taking classes based on your major and educational plan.

Follow the steps below to select your courses:

  1. Complete the math and English/ESL(English as a Second Language) self-assessment. Your placement will be displayed in your MyPalomar student portal under “Test Scores” from the “Academics” drop down menu on the left, red column of your Dashboard.
    • Students receive math placement based on the Palomar College application and a self-assessment survey in the MyPalomar student portal after initially signing in.
    • For English/ESL, students will read writing examples and email us letting us know which example (Writing A to D) best matches their current writing skill level. We can then assign English/ESL placement.
  2. Review the Palomar College Orientation Presentation. We recommend taking notes and write down any questions you may have to ask a counselor.
  3. Review the current catalog and the general education requirements based on your program goal. You will go over some of these resources together with an academic counselor.
  4. Schedule an academic counseling appointment via Zoom. You can request an appointment by emailing us at internationalstudents@palomar.edu and we will let you know the dates/times available (Pacific Standard Time). Once you are scheduled, you will receive a Zoom link for your session sent to your Palomar email. The counselor will develop an educational plan for you, recommending classes based on your program and major.
  5. Follow the steps to purchase the school health insurance policy. The International Education Office will receive notification once purchased and will remove the hold to allow you to enroll in classes.
  6. Enroll in your classes through your MyPalomar student portal. View the how to select classes tutorial.
    • REMINDER: SELECT 9 UNITS IN PERSON AT THE MAIN CAMPUS IN SAN MARCOS.
    • Use the Plan Your Schedule Sheet to avoid classes that overlap or are offered at other campuses.

If you have difficulties, you can refer to Students MyPalomar Instructions or Student Help Videos.
 
Make sure to pay fees immediately after your registration to avoid being dropped from the classes. You can make the payment in your Student MyPalomar account using a credit card. Please note the following:
  • If you are using a non-USA credit card, please enter the Palomar College address as the credit card address when processing your payment, (1140 W Mission Rd., San Marcos, CA 92069).
  • Palomar College offers a payment plan. Visit the Nelnet Payment Plan for additional information.
 

New Student Check-In and Orientation for Fall 2025: (More information to come) Orientation will be held on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

Meet the International Student staff in the International Student Office, SU-103.  Map.

Please bring the following items:

  • Passport and Visa
  • Palomar College I-20 Form
  • Local Address & Telephone Number

We look forward to meeting you!!!