Santa Monica College — Local services in Santa Monica

To update my review I still wouldn't give it more than one star even after a few years. Switching to another college was the best thing I've done to myself. Been even trying to reach student services for many weeks it's a waste of time.

This college is convenient in terms of location but it has a majority of horrible staff and temporary teachers.

I've never been to community or state colleges before, but in comparison to my past educational institutes, this has been the most mediocre and outdated one. The only new program is New Media, but the staff and admissions including Counseling are the worst in coordinating, responding and following up - outside of a couple great professors. Classes are mostly too full and you miss out on many of them if you are working towards a program. You will end up having to learn how to use design software on your own on Google or some online learning website. They are strict about attendance. The amount of information, books and homework is tremendous, so if you will be mostly learning on your own - in terms of design majors, and attending these long 4 -5 month semesters, then waiting for an open slot for the next class the following semester, you might as well save your time and money and learn online or take a bootcamp. The same goes to the cosmetology program - again, it's a joke the professor's think they are military; they have so much attitude they won't let you in a class unless you took the prerequisite even if you are already overqualified and have the experience, and all you want is to take an extra class, because this is a community college and it is normal to enroll in a single class. They will drop you automatically and there is nobody to answer your questions neither your emails nor the phone calls no matter how many messages you leave. Even when you talk to counselor this program will end up expanding to almost a year which is not worth it. There are new programs and other schools now that are organized and clear their facility is new versus the Raggedy Cosmetology department in SMC. Finally if you notice the five star reviews many users only have one review, which is most likely a...

Super woke, and the sociology department is full of it. Professors teach their own ideas of race, gender, and equity. Sad how one professor thought it was OK to be racist towards white people or blaming straight people for problems of today's society. The learning in some classes is 8th grade all over again.

Several of these instructors are equally hires based upon them belonging to a group and what they teach shows that. They prefer to just power point you to death, be a talking head and then give out very basic assignments that require little to no writing. Complaining to ombuds is a waste of time because they have zero power to make the instructor do anything. They only mention it until you actually email or call them.

I think the school cares more about money and uses marginalized groups to get more funding because enrollment has been down for years even before covid. The financial aid department during covid was a joke and they purposely didn't reply to emails, voice-mails and shut down their waitline because people had quit, retired or been fired because they didn't want to deal with the new system during covid.

I think this legalized fraud and ones being cheated are students, taxpayers, and the integrity of the education system.

Former student from fall 2020-spring 2022.

Update: 03/19/2024 The school was made updates to their 130 pg ar. To include recording of images/video and public distribution. They don't want this stuff getting out into the public and for parents to become aware of this...

SMC has been ranked #1 in college transfers in southern California and LA. The campus is absolutely terrific and fully diverse from around the world to connect and build new friendships along your college journey. The art building is definitely a perfect place to enjoy yourself, and they have an amazing display in every student artwork from sculpting, drawing, painting, design, and everything else related to art. Coming here was definitely the best choices I've ever made and to improve my grades and GPA needed to attend to a 4 year college.

This college campus helped me to transfer to CSULA and great courses offered online and in person to meet my college prerequisites to transfer. They now include a new student service building open in the fall of 2019 right at the entrance. I absolutely loved coming here since spring 2014 until spring 2020 during the COVID shutdown.

Parking here is a big headache. I encourage you to take the expo line or Rapid 7 BBB for a faster ride. This college includes a radio station from KCRW 89.9 down by Stewart St.

SMC has helped me meet my goals to transfer to CAL STATE LA and to pursue my goals as an art major after taking art courses. I also want to thank the wonderful professors I've met along the way by not giving up and to believe myself what I wanted to become....