Santa Monica College provides counselors to assist students in sorting out and defining educational 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. New students should go to the Welcome Center, where they will find a wide variety of resources available. Assistance is offered on a first-arrival basis. During peak times, students should try to sign up in the Welcome Center before noon. More information about the Welcome Center can be found in the Special Programs and Support Services section of this catalog.
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 halfhour 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 smc.edu/myedplan and complete their plan on their own.
MyEdPlan — an award-winning education-planning tool that allows students to create and edit an education plan online at any time — 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. MyEdPlan also allows a student to submit an education plan directly to a counselor for review.
To find out more about MyEdPlan, students can go to smc.edu/ep to view a tutorial that prepares them to use the planning tool. Students may also sign up for an Online MyEdPlan Workshop by going to Corsair Connect (smc.edu/cc) and clicking on “Online MyEdPlan Workshops” in the “SMC Quick Links” menu on the left side of the screen. MyEdPlan “Planning Your Future” In-Person Drop-In Workshops are also offered (see smc.edu/ep for schedule).