1. I've never gone to college and want to come to Mission College. What do I need to do?
2. I attended another college and now want to come to Mission. How do I begin?
3. How can I speak with a Counselor?
4. Can I get Financial Aid?
5. How do I know what classes I need to take?
6. Do I have to take an assessment or placement test before I can register for classes at Mission?

7. Where are you located? How do I reach a Counselor? What hours are you open? How do I make an appointment with a Counselor?
8. Do I have to make an appointment to talk to a Counselor?
9. Do I need to be registered as a Mission College student to speak with a Counselor?
10. Do Counselors have special areas of expertise? Am I assigned a Counselor? What if I would rather meet with a different Counselor?
11. How do I get an Educational Plan?
12. What kinds of concerns can a Counselor help me with?
13. I want to get a 4-year college degree someday. What do I need to do? What courses do I need to take at Mission College?

14. Why am I on probation? How do I get off probation?
15. What is Dismissal? Does it mean I have to drop out of school?
16. I received some bad grades at another college right after high school. Will they affect my Grade Point Average here at Mission?
17. I'm having a hard time keeping up in class. What can I do?
18. One of my teachers is very smart but hard for me to understand. What should I do?

19. What do I need to do to graduate from Mission College?
20. What degrees and certificates are offered at Mission?
21. How can I find out what I need to take for a particular major?
22. Are You on Course? .pdf

1. I've never gone to college and want to come to Mission College. What do I need to do? We're glad you've chosen Mission. Here are the steps to take:

   First, apply either online or in person at the Admissions Office, Main Building room E1-501.

   Next, take the free English, Reading and Math placement tests at the Assessment Center, Room E1-101.

   Then, register for a one-day Orientation class, Counseling A and for other classes. Counselors are available daily at our drop-in Counseling Office, E1-301, as well as by phone 408-855-5030 and e-mail at askmccounselor@wvm.edu.

2. I attended another college and now want to come to Mission. How do I begin? Start by applying to Mission (see #1 above), then request that copies of transcripts from colleges you have attended be sent to the Admissions and Records Office, Mission College, 3000 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054. If you would like your transcripts officially evaluated, you need to see a Counselor.

   Contact the Counseling Office at 408-855-5030 to make an Educational Plan and register for classes.

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3. How can I speak with a Counselor? You can call our main number 408-855-5030, and either set up an appointment or leave a message for a Counselor to call you back. You can also email us at askmccounselor@wvm.edu, or come by our drop-in Counseling Office during our regular business hours.

   Please check the rest of our Counseling website for more information and answers to questions.

4. Can I get Financial Aid? It depends on your needs, units completed, and other factors. Contact Financial Aid 408-855-5065, or at mcfa@wvm.edu. They are located in the Main Building room E1-401.
5. How do I know what classes I need to take? That's the main reason we have Counselors! Please contact a Counselor to identify your goals and review any courses you have already completed. We'll be happy to put together a plan that can help you reach your goals efficiently.

   Call 408-855-5030 or come to the Counseling Office, Main Building room E1-301 to schedule a phone or face-to-face appointment. You should bring to your appointment copies of any previous college transcripts and any placement scores for English, Reading and Math unless you have already taken classes in those areas.

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6. Do I have to take an assessment or placement test before I can register for classes at Mission? It depends on several things. If you already have a college degree from a U.S. college or university, you don't need to be assessed. If you have already taken an assessment test at a California community college and have the scores, we can use those scores to accurately place you. Likewise, if you have taken English, Reading or Math classes at another college, we can review your transcript (even unofficial copies) and place you based on previous coursework. Finally, if you are only here to take a class in some area other than English, Reading or Math, you may not need to take the assessment.

   However, most students are required to complete assessment tests during their first semester at Mission College. There is no charge, and we’ll usually use the higher of your current assessment result or prior test or coursework.

Counseling Department

7. Where are you located? How do I reach a Counselor? What hours are you open? How do I make an appointment with a Counselor? Our Counseling Department office is in the Main Building room E1-301. You can call our main number 408-855-5030 and either set up an appointment or leave a message for a Counselor to call you back. You can also email us at askmccounselor@wvm.edu, or come by our drop-in Counseling Office, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Friday from 10:00am to 3:00 p.m. Please check our website for more information and answers to questions.
8. Do I have to make an appointment to speak with a counselor? No, we are available on a drop-in basis as mentioned above and do our best to return calls promptly. However we do get backed up at times and there may be some delay in our response. We can generally respond to emails within 48 hours. If you schedule an appointment, your Counselor has a chance to prepare for your questions and your meeting will be more productive. Appointments are required for preparing Educational Plans, completing Financial Aid appeals, and more complex concerns. Call 408-855-5030 to schedule an appointment.

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9. Do I need to be registered as a Mission College student to speak with a Counselor? In order to see a Counselor, you must first apply to the College and obtain a Student ID Number. After obtaining a Student ID, We would be happy to answer your questions and help you reach your goals.
10. Do Counselors have special areas of expertise? Am I assigned a Counselor? What if I would rather meet with a different Counselor? You aren't assigned a specific Counselor and you are always free to ask for a Counselor. Each of our Counselors is highly skilled and has at least a Master's Degree in a counseling related discipline. Each counselor knows about all majors offered at Mission. Since some Counselors are particularly knowledgeable in certain majors, be sure to let our Office Assistant know when you call if you have a particular major in mind.
11. How do I get an Educational Plan? Please contact Counseling Services at 408-855-5030 or in-person to schedule and appointment.

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12. What kinds of concerns can a Counselor help me with? The goal of counseling is to help you clarify and reach your goals and to succeed in school. Counselors can assist you in learning more about your interests and skills, setting effective goals, and dealing with obstacles that may be slowing you down. We can help you deal better with all kinds of issues that may interfere with your progress. Personal counseling is also available through Student Health Services, Main Building room W1-303.

    In addition to individual counseling sessions, the Counseling Department offers a number of classes that can contribute to your success, such as Couns*001, College Survival Skills, Couns*005, Strategies for Success, Couns*010, Crisis Intervention, Couns*012, Careers and Life Styles, and Couns*051A, Personal Growth - Self-Esteem. See the Schedule of Classes for additional classes and times.

13. I want to get a 4-year college degree someday. What do I need to do? What courses do I need to take at Mission College? Because you plan to transfer to a 4-year university, it is especially important to contact the Counseling Office and schedule an appointment. Call 408-855-5030 or come in-person to schedule an appointment. A Counselor will evaluate courses you have completed and what you need in order to meet general education and major requirements. They will make a detailed Educational Plan to insure you take the necessary courses.

    Other Student Services: Mission College offers many services and programs to help you to reach your goals successfully. Please explore the Student Support webpage for more information.

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14. Why am I on probation? How do I get off probation? There are 2 kinds of probation, 'progress', and 'academic'. You are placed on progress probation when you pass fewer than 50% of the units you signed up for in a semester. We realize this can happen for reasons beyond your control. For example, your job assignment may change or a family member may become ill.

    Academic probation results from your grade point average (GPA) dropping below a 2.0, or C average. We encourage you to drop classes as soon as possible if you know you won’t be able to successfully complete the course. It is better to sign up for fewer classes and pass them all, rather than jeopardize your progress by trying to take too many at once.

    You get off probation by successfully passing classes until your cumulative total units passed is at least 51% of units attempted, or by getting your GPA above a C average. If you received a poor grade in a class here at Mission (a D or F), you can repeat the course, and only the higher grade will be counted in your GPA.

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15. What is Dismissal? Does it mean I have to drop out of school? No, you don't have to drop out of school, but you will need to speak with a Counselor and submit a petition to the Academic Council to be reinstated. Dismissal results when you have been on probation for 3 semesters or more. It is crucial to speak with a Counselor and develop a plan for succeeding in your courses. We know you want to do well and we will do all we can to help you with a clear and effective plan. If you have a solid educational plan and can explain how you will be able to make good progress in the coming semester, the Academic Council is likely to approve your petition to register for classes.
16. I received some bad grades at another college right after high school. Will they affect my Grade Point Average here at Mission? Yes, they will be added to your grades at Mission College. However, if you are planning to transfer to a 4-year university, the university will often put more weight on your most recent coursework. Many students have entered good universities in spite of some earlier bad grades. Please talk to a Counselor if you are concerned about your grades. Don't get discouraged!

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17. I'm having a hard time keeping up in class. What can I do? We encourage you to talk to the instructor and let the instructor know how you are having difficulty. Instructors are there to help you learn the material. Please be aware that they expect you to study two hours a week outside class for each hour you spend in class. They also expect you to attend class and to complete reading and other assignments. If you find you have signed up for more classes than you can manage, it may be wise to drop one or more classes. Remember, it is better to do well in two classes and really learn the course work, than to take four classes and do poorly.

    We highly recommend you go to the Tutoring Center in the Academic Skills Department, Room TC-2, above the Bookstore in the Campus Center. Check this link for their hours and services. Working with a tutor could prove very helpful. There is also the Math Learning Center (Main Building rooms S2-301/401) for Math students, and the Academic Success Center (Main Building room S-201) for students who wish to improve their writing skills.

    If you have learning disabilities or think you may have learning disabilities, please contact the helpful staff at the Disability Instructional Support Center (DISC) located in Main Building room S2-101.

18. One of my teachers is very smart, but hard for me to understand. What should I do? Try sitting near the front of the class so you can see and hear clearly. Be sure to do the reading and assignments before you come to class, since that will greatly help you understand what is going on. Another good strategy is to find a "study buddy," a student in the class that you can meet with, compare class notes (yes, be sure to take notes), and talk over the questions you may have. Finally, be sure to raise your hand and ask questions and participate in class discussions. Don’t hesitate to meet with the instructor during their office hours to ask further questions.

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Additional Academic Questions