Academic Counseling

The Counseling Department is staffed by professional counselors with training and expertise in the areas of personal, educational, and vocational/career development. In addition to services provided by the professional counseling staff, the Center is also staffed by teaching faculty who can provide academic  advisement in their areas of concentration or major. Counselors and advisors will assist students in making satisfactory progress in their program of study and will confirm that they are taking appropriate prerequisite course work necessary for success in higher level courses which may be required for their major. 

Services

  • Academic Advising
  • Academic & Progress Probation Counseling
  • ACCUPLACER (Placement Test) Evaluation & Course Placement
  • Athletics Counseling
  • Information About Majors
  • Career Planning
  • Course Registration
  • Educational Planning:  Semester-by-semester plan
  • Graduation Application & Degree Audits
  • Guidance Courses
  • Email Counseling
  • Transfer Planning
  • Veteran’s Counseling

Counselors are assigned to other support services and programs, including Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOP&S), Disabled Student Program & Services (DSPS), International Student Services, the Career/Transfer Center, Veterans Services, V.T.E.A., CalWORKS, Non-credit SSSP and Student Athlete Support.

Schedule an Appointment

Want to make college less complicated? Schedule an appointment with a counselor to help navigate the right educational path for you.

Meet with a Counselor

Crisis Counseling

Need Counseling? Personal Counseling services are available to currently enrolled students at Merced College. Counseling provided is short-term and available during the fall and spring semesters.

Counseling
Student Health Services

Services

A Comprehensive Student Education Plan is a road map to your goal. It includes the courses that you will need and helps plan out when to take these courses. Your education plan is based on your goal whether it is to graduate, transfer, or obtain a certificate.

Abbreviated vs. Comprehensive Student Education Plan 

Abbreviated Student Education Plan  Comprehensive Student Education Plan* 
Maps out courses for the first and sometimes second semester  Maps out all semesters required to meet educational goal 
Required in order to register for the first term  May be required in order to maintain priority registration 
To get this plan, attend a new student orientation session and then meet with a counselor. Attend this session in Merced or Los Banos.  To get this plan, schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor 

Commitment that pays off…15 to Finish
Merced College wants to help you stay on track. Register for at least 15 units each semester and graduate sooner.

Taking 15 units a semester has benefits:

  • Better academic outcomes
  • Earlier graduation
  • Earlier entry into your career

How to 15 to Finish

  1. Plan for it
    • Talk to a counselor if you have any questions.
  2. Schedule it
    • Register for 15 units x 4 semesters
      OR
    • 12 units x 4 semesters plus 6 units/semester for 2 summers
  3. Commit to it
    • Get to know your professors, use good time management, schedule your study time, and talk to a Merced College counselor for help.

info coming soon

If you are on academic or progress probation, you must schedule an in-person appointment with a counselor in order to have your probation hold lifted. No walk-ins or drop-ins are allowed. 

View our Probation Assistance page for more info 

Earlier registrations is better! Students are assigned a registration window based on specific criteria. For more information see Priority Registration Dates or Board Policy 5055. 

Counseling Office Staff