Direct Connect

General Counseling & Transfer Services

Achieve Your Educational Goals

Explore General Counseling & Transfer Services (GCTS)

Welcome to the best counseling department! Our goal is to ensure that all of our students have the guidance, support, and resources to successfully complete their educational goal(s). Educational goal(s) may include certificate completion, associate degree completion and/or transferring to their dream college/university. GCTS has an elaborate counseling department that strives to meet the needs of our students.

In-Person Drop-In sessions are available and allow students to meet with a counselor in person on a first come, first served basis.  Please note that we are limiting in person visits to one person per counseling session due to covid protocol. 

Students w. Disabilities: Students with disabilities who require assistance, interpreter or underage students will be allowed one additional person in the counseling session with them.

In Person Covid Protocols: Students arriving in person must first check in at the kiosk outside of the Student Services Center at the West Entrance facing campus.  Everyone entering the building will need to provide a photo ID and proof of full vaccination. Everyone entering the building must wear a surgical, KN95 or N95 mask and keep it on the entire time that they are inside the Student Services Center. 

Spring 2023

Weeks 1, 11-13 & Beyond

Monday: 8:30 a.m. to 7p.m.

Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 7p.m.

Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 7p.m.

Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 5p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m. to  2p.m.

Weeks 2-10

Monday: 8:30 a.m. to 6:30p.m.

Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30p.m.

Wednesday: 8a.m. to 5p.m.

Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 5p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m. to  2p.m.

Counseling Services Closed

Friday, Feb. 10, 2023 - Lincoln's Day

Monday, Feb. 20, 2023 - Washington's Day

Monday, May 29, 2023 - Memorial Day

Monday, June 19, 2023 - Juneteenth Day

Tuesday, July 4, 2023 - Independence Day

 

Discover GCTS Navigation Guide 

Learn about resources and access for GCTS.

 

Connect to GCTS Student Support

GCTS offers a variety of ways to connect to student services and support.
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Academic and Transfer Counseling (Phone)

Academic and transfer appointments are typically 30 minutes. Thirty minute appointments are ideal for starting an educational plan or more in depth discussions with a counselor. Students can schedule an appointment by logging onto Corsair Connect and selecting "Book a Counseling Appointment" under the SMC quick links on the bottom left-hand side of the main page.

Corsair Connect  

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Video Express Counseling (Zoom)

Video express counseling is designed for brief and quick questions. Video express counseling sessions are 10 minutes. In order to complete the Zoom appointment please makes sure to have access to an electronic device (laptop, desktop, IPAD, or cellphone). To meet with a Video Express Counselor click the link below for instructions and to view the schedule.

Video Express Counseling

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Drop-in Counseling (Phone)

Drop in appointments are 10 minutes. If students far exceeds the availability of a counselor, feel free to periodically try again. Please be mindful that based on wait time, counselors may not be able to reopen for the day. We will try our best to accommodate all students.

Join the Q-Less App to access the virtual line for drop-in counseling by phone. If you are using a phone to sign into Q-Less, please download the Q-Less app first (Android or iOS).

Once you have signed in:

  1. Look for Santa Monica College Counseling Call-back.
  2. We'll send you a text message to alert you when we are ready.
  3. The counselor will call you at the number provided when it's your turn to be seen

QLESS  

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Specialized Counseling Programs

We want to meet the needs of all SMC students. Therefore, we have a variety of counseling programs that specialize in specific ethnicities, majors, and other identities.

Specialized Counseling Programs & Services  

 

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Student Success Counseling Courses

Review our student success courses taught by our very own counselors! We encourage first year students to take Counseling 20 which offers student success skills and resources. Also included are courses for our non-credit and students with disabilities.

Counseling Courses  

 

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GCTS students, GPS offers access to support (counselors, support staff, or automated email)  based on the service. To find out more about the specific resources and services offered, follow these steps:

  1. Log into SMC GPS using your Corsair Connect login information.
  2. Click the three parallel lines next to "My Success Network", which offers a variety of resources:
  • Check your courses
  • Check your GPS messages
  • Use the "Raise Your Hand " feature and connect to a variety of resources
  1. In the "My Success Network" self select the available resources and services displayed under the GCTS. 

Thrive with GCTS Navigation Tools

Utilize these tools to successfully navigate GCTS services and resources.