Santa Monica College provides counselors to assist students in sorting out and defining their education goals, then mapping out a plan to reach those goals. Counselors also recommend SMC student-support programs that can benefit students, help students who find themselves struggling to keep up with class requirements, and help students whose personal and/or school-related problems are interfering with their success and wellbeing.
All students are strongly encouraged to meet with a counselor when first arriving at SMC as a new student, and a meeting is also recommended at the start of each new academic term.
Any student may meet with a counselor at General Counseling & Transfer Services on a first-arrival basis at any time of year. During peak enrollment times, waits can be lengthy. During non-peak times, students may make half-hour counseling appointments by calling 310-434-4210. More information about General Counseling & Transfer Services can be found in the Special Programs and Support Services section of this catalog.
All first-time college students are required to complete an abbreviated or comprehensive education plan in order to enroll in courses their first term. Students. are also required to complete a comprehensive education plan if they are students who will have either earned 15 degree-applicable units by the end of the term or will have completed a third semester (whichever comes first). Students can choose to complete their education plan with the help of a counselor, or they can go to either Stellic at stellic.smc.edu or Corsair Connect at smc.edu/cc and complete their plan on their own.
An education plan created through Stellic helps students plan for courses in the future, stay aware of major/program/degree requirements, sequence courses to meet prerequisites and corequisites, and track the progress made toward meeting education goals. Stellic also allows a student to submit an education plan directly to a counselor for review.
To find out more about Stellic, students can go to stellic.smc.edu to view a tutorial that prepares them to use the planning tool. Students may also sign up for an Online Stellic Workshop by going to Corsair Connect (smc.edu/cc) and clicking on “Online Stellic Workshops” in the “SMC Quick Links” menu on the left side of the screen.