Counseling FAQ at Barstow College

Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions. For additional information regarding counseling and other academic support services, consult the College Catalog or Student Handbook. Be sure to call us if you have any further questions.

Counseling offers assistance with academic advising, career advising, career decisions and personal problems which may interfere with college success. See Counseling Services for more detailed information.

You can schedule an appointment by calling (760) 252-2411 ext. 7236 or in person at the Admissions & Record Office. Appointments generally last 30 minutes. Our office hours are Monday –Friday from 8am to -5pm. Please remember to check in for your appointment when you arrive. Note: The main campus is closed on Fridays in the months of June and July.

Counselors normally see students by appointment. We do offer drop-in counseling times during the day, for brief questions.

You may choose to meet with any of our counselors. You can choose to work with one particular counselor or you may choose to see any counselor that is available. We do not require students to meet with a particular counselor based on last name, major, grade level, etc.

Counselors do not register students for classes or "sign off" on a student's schedule. They are there to assist you in course selection, goal setting and planning. It is recommended that you work with a counselor on a regular basis. If you need help with the registration process, you will want to refer to the current Schedule of Classes

Sixty units are required to complete the associate degree. Approximately half of the courses are general education and half are courses in the major.

The Barstow Community College counseling staff is committed to helping you achieve your educational and career goals. Whether the goal is to take one course, earn a certificate or an Associate Degree, or transfer to a four-year college or university, Barstow Community College's counselors are available to assist you.

Are Barstow Community College courses transferable to the California State University system and the University of California?

Barstow Community College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. See a counselor to obtain a list of transferable courses for the college you wish to attend. See the College Catalog or visit the Transfer and Career Planning Center for detailed transfer information.

How can I be sure that the courses I am taking will transfer to the college of my choice?

See a counselor for assistance. Some important general education patterns include CSU GE Breadth Certification, Transfer Admission Guarantee and the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). Visit the Transfer and Career Planning Center's web site for detailed transfer information.

Many college students are undecided about their major. Counselors have developed a course, Psychology 5 - Career and Life Planning, which helps students decide on a major and apply learning techniques. The course assists the student in assessing personality, interests, aptitudes and values as preparation for career research. The Transfer and Career Planning Center and Library have many sources of career information.

It is possible to be on both types of Probation at the same time. Each semester that you are on Academic and/or Progress Probation, you will receive a letter from Barstow Community College instructing you of your status and what is expected of you. Please read these letters carefully and ask any questions that you might have; it can mean the difference between sitting out for a semester or not.

Yes, you can speak with a Counselor about personal topics. All of our counselors are skilled professionals that are able to assist you with personal counseling and everything you say is strictly confidential. They are also able to refer you to outside assistance if needed. Call (760) 252-2411 x7236 for an appointment or stop by the Counseling Department.

Can I send a counselor a quick question online?

Yes, you can send a general counselor a quick question by e-mailing bcounselor@barstow.edu.

Do I have to take the assessment test?

Barstow Community College requires an academic placement of all new students. The placement test is part of the Matriculation process, which includes the assessment test and orientation to Barstow Community College, academic placement and advisement with a counselor. The placement test is not a pass or fail test. It is a way for you to know what course levels are appropriate for you. You will want to check with a counselor for questions about waiving the test.

What is a SEP (Student Educational Plan)?

A Student Educational Plan is a map of your time at Barstow Community College. A counselor is able to assist you in making an educational plan for you to reach your goals. This plan will map out which courses you will need to take for the following semester(s) through graduation..

What if I need help with a class that I'm attending?

Barstow Community College provides a number of services to assist students when they need help. The Tutorial Center in the Library provides tutoring in a variety of subjects. You may want to meet with a counselor to discuss the services that are available to you. You will also want to speak with your instructor.

There are courses at Barstow Community College that will require completion of prerequisites before you can enroll in them. In the Schedule of Classes, each course will inform you if it has any requirements or prerequisites. An example would be English 1B. The prerequisite for Eng 1B is English 1A with a "C" grade or better. These courses must be taken in the order specified and the requirements of the first course must be met before you can enroll in the second course.

A major is an organized program of courses within a discipline leading to an Associate Degree, Vocational Certificate, or transfer to a college or university. It is not mandatory for a student to declare a major. Normally, when you apply for admissions, there is a space for you to declare a major. If you haven't declared a major, and you would like to or if you have declared one and would like to change it you would need to fill out a Personal Information Update form in the Admissions and Records Office. You may want to meet with a counselor for assistance in major selection.

General Education courses are sometimes called "breadth requirements." These are courses outside of your major, required of everyone to obtain a degree, regardless of your major. They are designed to make you a "well rounded" person. It is recommended that you work with a counselor to ensure that you are following the correct General Education pattern.

Barstow Community College offers several different certificate programs. Certificates are designed to provide students with applied training in specific occupational areas. Students will be prepared with employable skills by completing a certificate program. Certificates are recognized favorably by business and industry, and they are often required for job classification advancement.

An AA/AS Degree consists of specific groups of classes including a major and general education. You need approximately 30 semester units of General Education, 18-20 semester units of Major Requirements and other courses or electives to add up to a minimum of 60 semester units. You must also complete these courses with a 2.0 ("C") cumulative grade point average or higher. Please refer to your Schedule of Classes, Barstow Community College's catalog and a counselor for the most up-to-date information and requirements.

Students must apply for graduation early in the semester that they expect to graduate by making an appointment with a counselor.

Barstow Community College conducts one commencement ceremony per year in May. Students who graduate in summer or fall will be invited, by mail, to participate in the ceremony. Diplomas are mailed to students approximately eight weeks after the end of the semester.

Completing an AA/AS does not guarantee that you are ready to transfer to a four year college or university. It requires careful planning to transfer. It is strongly recommended that you see a counselor as soon as you begin thinking about transferring. If you work closely with a counselor, you can fulfill your AA/AS and transfer requirements at the same time.

In order to transfer successfully, you will want to meet with a counselor and visit our Transfer and Career Planning Center. A counselor will help you to evaluate whether you have all of the requirements that you need to transfer. The Transfer Center is located inside the cafeteria. The Transfer and Career Planning Center offers catalogs, videos, internet searches, college applications, various college representatives and a College and University Fair each year.

The grade point average is calculated by assigning a value to letter grades A - F (A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1 and F = 0). Units are multiplied by the value of the letter grade to obtain a grade point for each course. To calculate the overall grade point average you will need to divide total grade points by total units attempted. There are two types of grade point averages. There is a term GPA, which is for an individual term. There is also a cumulative GPA, which is for all terms at Barstow. The grade point average is used as a level for academic achievement, good standing, probation, disqualification, dismissal, eligibility for graduation and transfer to another college or university.

You may want to meet with a counselor in order to decide whether or not the course requires repetition. In most cases, you will want to earn a "C" grade or better. Students are allowed to repeat a course twice, where a D or F grade was earned. Once a course has been repeated, the original or lower grade will remain on your transcript but will be removed from calculation in your GPA.

Counseling FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)