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 Follow the steps to purchase the school health insurance. The International Education Office will receive notification once purchased and will remove the hold to allow you to enroll in classes. 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:
- Complete the math and English/ESL(English as a Second Language) self-assessment survey in the MyPalomar student portal after initially signing in. When meeting with a counselor, you will review which math and English or ESL courses to begin with.
- Review the Palomar College Orientation Presentation. We recommend taking notes and write down any questions you may have to ask a counselor.
- Review the current catalog and the general education requirements based on your program goal. You will review some of these resources when meeting with an academic counselor.
- Palomar College Catalog
- Associate in Arts Degree General Education Requirements & Supplemental Guide
- The California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
- Assist.org is a great resource if you plan to transfer to a public university in California.
- Schedule an academic counseling appointment. You can request an appointment by emailing us at internationalstudents@palomar.edu. 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.
- Enroll in your classes through your MyPalomar student portal. View the how to select classes tutorial.
Helpful Reminders:
- Enroll in at least 12 units with 9 units in person (partially online classes count as in-person).
Use the Plan Your Schedule Sheet to avoid classes that overlap and managing your time effectively. - If you have difficulties, you can refer to Students MyPalomar Instructions or Student Help Videos.
- Make sure to pay fees or set up a payment plan immediately after your registration to avoid being dropped from the classes. You can make the payment in your student 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).
- Visit the Nelnet Payment Plan for additional information.
- If making an online payment with international option, refer to the instructions from the cashier’s office.
In-Person Orientation on Monday, August 17, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Lunch will be provided!
Before coming to campus, please submit the Arrival Form.
Please bring the following items to campus:
- Passport and Visa
- Palomar College I-20 Form
- Emergency Contact Info
We look forward to meeting you!