Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Home Health Aides
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Pasadena City College, Riverside Community College, Reedley College, and Citrus College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider University of Antelope Valley.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider University of Antelope Valley.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Palo Verde College, Lake Tahoe Community College, Merritt College, and Cerro Coso Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Santa Barbara City College, College of the Siskiyous, Lake Tahoe Community College, and City College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of College of the Siskiyous, Reedley College, Shasta College, and Sierra College.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at City College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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National University • San Diego, CA
Studying Counseling Psychology (completion in 2008)
• 7/10/2011
"I really liked my school because they had caring teachers who were very knowledgeable and also because the school worked around my day job."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely recommend my school for people going into psychology. However, if they were going to be a home health aide, then I do not know what school to recommend since I got my certification in upstate New York and I didn't need to go to school to get it. I was hired by the agency and they trained me. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | National is known as a good school and it is popular because it's geared towards working adults. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It was a very small class. Therefore, there was more one on one teaching and there was a lot of small group tasks that were given. |
| Instruction | 9 | I believed that the program that I was in prepared me well and I learned a lot. I have a better way of understanding people and it's easier to establish rapport with people which I think is crucial in the home health field. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It was extremely difficult because it was an accelerated class. Plus, there was a lot of prep for presentations. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a lot of role play and oral presentation given by the students. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The class schedule was awesome because it was only two days a week and it was after I got out of work and it ended at 10 pm so not too late. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | I guess it was average. They all have computer rooms and high tech libraries. |
| Social Life | 8 | This was a school geared for adults and therefore there were no sports or organized events. However you are put in the same group from the beginning of your program until you graduate. So you get to know your peers really well and end up studying and going out together. |
| Placement Services | 2 | The school did not provide any assistance when it came to job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I would say not good because I graduated and have not received anything from them except when they want money. |
Castro Valley Adult School • Castro Valley, CA
Studying (completion in 2008)
• 7/18/2011
"The school gave me all the skills I needed to pass the state certification exam. The cost was very reasonable."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's cheap and the faculty is very approachable. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Very few people have failed the course. The program was new when I started. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The cost was affordable and the instructor enjoyed her work. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructor knew what she was talking about. The hands on portion of the education was helpful. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Homework consisted mostly of reading, which was easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The course provided intense book work and also allowed for hands on training at two facilities. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | A lot of material was covered in a short amount of time. The schedule was rigid. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Adult schools aren't well funded. The have limited resources. |
| Social Life | 1 | Adult schools don't have funds for social events. They are very small. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Adult schools don't provide job placement services. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | Adults schools don’t offer support. I live in a different state from where I was trained |
Palomar • San Marcos, CA
Studying Nursing (completion in 2009)
• 8/1/2011
"The populace was rather large, and many people were in my classes. The only down side was that the program had very little support from the major department."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's a great school. Others will benefit from this program. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | My school's program is known for its difficult tests. It is also known for making great nurses. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The program was quick and easy. It was also very informative and fruitful. |
| Instruction | 10 | Everything my professors taught me I have to utilize in my day to day work. It was an amazing program. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The program had rigorous deadlines and tests. It is easy if you are organized and not a last minute studier. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was an even mix between the two. It was a good experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | They were incredibly flexible. It made having two jobs and going to school easy. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Very helpful and honest. It was a great experience. |
| Social Life | 10 | People in your same program huddled together and helped each other out. It was a very nice experience. |
| Placement Services | 7 | There isn't much effort in that area. But with the material you are given it is more than enough. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | It's not the best. It is rather small and weak, but not enough to make it crumble. It's growing. |
California State University, Dominguez Hills • Carson, CA
Studying Humanities (completion in )
• 12/4/2011
"Both universities that I attended were top-notch. I am proud to be an alum of both."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I received my Handicapped Learner Credential from CSU, Chico, and had a great hands-on experience. My BA in Psychology and my MA in Humanities were done at CSU, Dominguez Hills. I feel that all three programs prepared me well for the PhD program in Transpersonal Psychology I am studying now. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | My university is what they call a commuter school, because so many of us were working while going to school. This was good for building camaraderie with other students. |
| Instruction | 10 | When I was going to school for my CNA certificate, we were allowed to be very hands on. I remember bringing my baby to school to show a bed bath. |
| How Difficult | 1 | I am a nurturing person, so working out of love while I was going to my classes was no bother. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Very hands-on programs. I even got to have a workshop with disadvantaged kids. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Flexibility was great. Weekend, summer, evening and online classes were available in the program. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Many facilities and resources were available to us, including library resources, computers, tutors and advisors. We especially had good professors who understood the working family student. |
| Social Life | 10 | I know that many social events were available. However, my family obligations prevented me from participating much. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Job placement services were excellent. It so happens that I worked in this office and had the practical experience of practicing and videotaping interviews. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I hear from CSU, Dominguez Hills frequently. It is nice to know what is happening. |
Cal State San Bernardino • San Bernardino, CA
Studying BSN (completion in 2013)
• 12/4/2011
"I like that it's cheap, and I like the mini community my program has created with myself and my classmates."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on what you're looking for. You can go to Summit or Chaffey for a shorter amount of time, but none of those units transfer. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | They are just starting this program. CSUSB is more known for their teaching and credentialing programs. |
| Program Quality | 7 | It's a decent curriculum. It's fairly cheap compared to other programs in the area, and all of my units would transfer if I wanted to switch programs or schools. |
| Instruction | 10 | All of my instructors are knowledgeable. The atmosphere is engaging. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Course load is pretty heavy, and lab/hospital hours can be trying. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We are required to have hours in a hospital/nursing home setting, and most of the procedures (like an occupied bed change) are better experienced in person than read in a book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | There are no online courses. And those available fill up quickly. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | The school staff and instructors have been very engaging and helpful. The media centers and labs are being developed and improved, and they should be more serviceable in the next year or so. |
| Social Life | 2 | This is a commuter and night school. There are some 20-30 year olds, but the majority of students are older. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There are too many applicants and not enough resources. The program is not established enough to really make a difference in placement after graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I haven't seen any real benefit to being an alum. Cal State isn't really known for its connections or placement after graduation. |
Cuesta College • San Luis Obispo, CA
Studying Nursing (completion in 2002)
• 12/19/2011
"I had a great experience at this school. The allied health programs are great and have a high pass rate."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a great school in a great location. I highly recommend this school. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | They have a great reputation for the graduation rate and they seem to be well known. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The school and faculty are amazing. I felt prepared when I began working in the field. |
| Instruction | 9 | I felt prepared when I finished the program. The teachers are great. |
| How Difficult | 5 | If you study and pay attention, the information is not extremely difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had days in the classroom and days in the hospital. It is always better to learn hands on, though. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | They only offered the classes on certain days, early mornings and every other semester. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Great resources and great instructors. |
| Social Life | 5 | I really enjoyed the people and the faculty. The athletic department was awesome and sports was a big part. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There was no job placement or help after the program was completed. |
| Alumni Network | I'm not too sure about the alumni. I do know that many healthcare programs are grant and donation funded. |
Humboldt State University • Arcata, CA
Studying English And Women's Studies (completion in 2009)
• 1/9/2012
"I feel that I encountered a very rich and diverse learning community at Humboldt State University. However, I feel that this college did not prepare me for life in the "real world," as I have been employed in home health and caregiving since graduating almost 3 years ago. I have no opportunities to advance any further in my career at this time. This is extremely frustrating to me. I wish I would have learned more about how to manage and run my own business while I was in college, because I did not realize how much I would be exploited by working for others."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would recommend to others that they look at other schools that have better career options for students. I would encourage other students to learn more about business, because I feel that business skills are needed in any field after graduation. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Humboldt State University is on the cutting edge of feminist/women's studies programs. Recently, the women's studies program has been expanded to include critical race, gender and sexuality issues. These topics are mutually related and will ensure a broader scope of study for students in all fields involved. This is the new wave of feminism, and it's being proven in action at Humboldt State University. The women's studies department and English departments have great reputations, but few highly successful graduates. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I feel that I was educated very well in theories, but was not adequately prepared for life after graduation. I was not pushed to envision myself using my degree in an applied field. |
| Instruction | 8 | While attending Humboldt State University, I experienced very low teacher-to-student ratios, which provided for intimate and personalized instruction. I feel that my education was tailored to my personal interests, possibly at a disadvantage to my future career goals. |
| How Difficult | 8 | This program required a lot of reading and writing. I was asked to create and expand upon theory, and to assist in teaching courses to others. I was constantly challenged intellectually in this program, but I always feel that I could learn more. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I was pleased to find a balanced mix of both hands-on and book-oriented learning options at Humboldt State. Even my English and literature classes offered options for creative projects and finals in lieu of written papers. I appreciated this recognition of multiple learning styles throughout my educational journey. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | While attending Humboldt State University, I enrolled in several online and evening courses. As a full-time student and full-time worker, I took advantage of flexible class schedules, to ensure that I could work enough to pay for my school. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | My professors were extremely accessible during office hours and appointments to assist me and provide additional instruction when I encountered difficulties. Many of my classrooms and lecture halls were equipped with the most advanced technological tools available. I facilitated classes and workshops online, used PowerPoint and computer labs, accessed advisors online and in person, and was employed as a tutor in the campus Learning and Writing Centers, which offered free tutoring to other students. I feel that my academic success was greatly enabled by this environment. |
| Social Life | 9 | I am not interested in athletics, but I found support networks continually growing and expanding through extracurricular activities. During my time at Humboldt State, I was involved in an internship at the Women's Resource Center. I attended many on-campus and community events, which were publicized and funded through the departments I studied within. I facilitated and organized dozens of events, coordinated speakers and performers for on-campus and community events, and met hundreds of other students through such interactions. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I feel that Humboldt State University does not encourage students to envision themselves after graduation. I was pushed to accept career services before I had even finished my major. Once I graduated, these services were no longer available to me. I felt that they would have been more useful in my last semester of college and during the summer following graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | The alumni association at Humboldt State University exists mainly to draw financial support from graduates. There is no real support network as far as implementing educational work into a career. The career center also does not offer free support for alumni after graduation. |
Oroville Adult Education • Oroville, CA
Studying Nursing (completion in 2014)
• 2/22/2012
"I have no complaints about my school or the education I am receiving. I am happy with my education choices."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I am having a very positive experience. I want others to have the same and I would highly recommend my school. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I have a lot of friends who are nursing students and have spoken highly of my school. Other friends who are and have attended different schools have heard nothing but wonderful things about mine. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My schooling so far is going very well. It is never dull or boring, and I look forward to learning new things every day. |
| Instruction | 10 | My instructors are great. Very straightforward and helpful. I never feel like I don't understand them or what is expected from me. |
| How Difficult | 6 | It is a lot to learn. I concentrate very hard to make sure I am retaining all of the information. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I think it is a very good mix of both. I enjoy the variety as well. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | All of my classes are easily scheduled. I have taken some online as well, which is very convenient. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Everyone I have encountered at my school has been very helpful. I have never felt like my questions or concerns have gone unanswered. |
| Social Life | 6 | I am involved in several study groups. I also meet weekly with some classmates for coffee. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I was not offered any job placement as a caregiver/aide. I will have a job placement opportunity once I have completed the nursing program. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Since I am still studying to further my career, I will soon see how the alumni network is. On the surface and based on what I hear from other students, it is good. |
Shasta College • Redding, CA
Studying Liberal Arts (completion in 2000)
• 3/28/2012
"It's a school that tries to provide for the students. It needs more funding because there are too many cut backs."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | The long wait-list is a concern as is the requirement to have all prerequisites completed. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It takes too long to get into the school because there is a long wait-list. Pre-requisites must be taken first. |
| Program Quality | 5 | There is limited space in the program and the wait list is over 2 years long. |
| Instruction | 5 | The school was excellent in preparing students in testing skills. More hand on experience is needed. |
| How Difficult | 3 | The program material was easy to understand. The material was taught with visuals. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school focused more on book learning and not enough with hands on experience. Over the years this this has changed. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | On line classes are available for prerequisites. They work with other colleges in the areas students can attend needed classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | Professors are easy to talk with and make time for students . The college is in a beautiful setting which provides a good study environment. |
| Social Life | 5 | I was not involved in social aspect of the school but there were always many activities to attend. |
| Placement Services | 7 | They provide job fairs that bring prospective. employers in to talk with the class. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | On going support for classes is available. There is a newsletter is sent out to encourage the students. |
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