1. 1. Does everyone need to meet with a counselor?
2. 2. What should I bring to my counseling appointment?
3. 3. How do I make an appointment to see a counselor?
4. 4. Are phone appointments available?
5. 5. Are evening appointments available?
6. 6. Can I meet with a counselor without an appointment?
7. 7. Can I just email a counselor?
8. 8. What types of counseling are available?
9. 9. Am I assigned to a particular counselor?
10. 10. Can I get counseling for personal problems?

Assessment and Orientation

1. 11. Am I required to take an assessment and attend an orientation in order to enroll in classes?
2. 12. Do you accept assessment scores from other schools?
3. 13. Where do I go to take the assessment? Do I need an appointment?
4. 14. How long does it take to do the assessment?

Associate Degrees and Certificates

1. 15. What is the difference between an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree?
2. 16. What is a certificate?
3. 17. What is General Education (GE)?
4. 18. What is a major? What majors are offered at LTCC?
5. 19. Will classes I took many years ago count toward my degree?
6. 20. How long will it take to achieve my goal at LTCC?
7. 21. How many units does it take for an AA degree?
8. 22. Can I use courses from other colleges and universities toward my degree requirements?

Transfer

1. 23. If I get an AA degree, can I automatically transfer to a 4 year university?
2. 24. Do I have to get an AA degree in order to transfer?
3. 25. Can I just take my general education requirements at LTCC, and then take my major courses after I transfer?
4. 26. Aside from the general education requirements for transfer, how do I know if I have met the requirements for my major?

Registering for and Dropping Classes

1. 27. When can I register for classes?
2. 28. When must I pay for the classes I register for?
3. 29. How do I drop a class?
4. 30. If I don't attend class, will the instructor automatically drop me?
5. 31. What if the class I want to take is full?
6. 32. How many units is considered "full time?"
7. 33. What is the maximum number of units I can take per quarter?

Prerequisites and Corequisites

1. 34. What is a prerequisite?
2. 35. What is a corequisite?
3. 36. Is there a way to take a course if I don't have the prerequisite?
4. 37. What if I took the prerequisite course at another school?

Grading and Probation/Dismissal

1. 38. What is Pass/No Pass (P/NP)?
2. 39. Do I have to repeat a D or F grade?
3. 40. Is "D" considered a passing grade?
4. 41. What is academic probation?
5. 42. What is academic dismissal?

Student Educational Plan

1. 43. What is an Education Plan and do I need one?

Career Counseling

1. 44. I need help in choosing a major or career. What kind of help is available?

Answers

1. 1

   Does everyone need to meet with a counselor?

   New students who are pursuing a certificate, degree, or transfer and who have less than 30 semester or 45 quarter units of college coursework completed must meet with a counselor prior to registration. Students who have prerequisites which they completed at other colleges must also meet with a counselor to show proof of completion of the prerequisite. All other students are encouraged to meet with counselors if they have questions, but they are not required to do so.

2. 2

   What should I bring to my counseling appointment?

   Please bring any transcripts from other colleges (unofficial is fine), as well as any other pertinent documents like AP scores or assessment scores from other schools. If you've recently graduated from high school, you may also bring your high school transcripts, though this is optional.

3. 3

   How do I make an appointment to see a counselor?

   Call Student Services at 530-541-4660, ext. 231 or email studentservices@ltcc.edu.

4. 4

   Are phone appointments available?

   Yes. Call 530-541-4660, ext. 231 for a phone appointment.

5. 5

   Are evening appointments available?

   On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings we are open until 6 p.m. The last appointment time available is at 5:30 p.m.

6. 6

   Can I meet with a counselor without an appointment?

   During registration periods, counselors are available on a first-come, first served, walk-in basis. No appointments are necessary or available during these times. Please contact our office for drop in times.

7. 7

   Can I just email a counselor?

   Yes. Counselor@ltcc.edu.

8. 8

   What types of counseling are available?

   We offer general academic counseling, transfer planning, career counseling, and personal counseling for problems that are interfering with your success in college. We do not offer psychotherapy or ongoing counseling for psychological issues.

9. 9

   Am I assigned to a particular counselor?

   No, however you are welcome to request an appointment with a specific counselor.

10. 10

    Can I get counseling for personal problems?

    Yes, however if your problems are of an on-going nature, you will be referred to outside agencies or service providers, as we do not offer psychotherapy or ongoing counseling for psychological issues.

Assessment and Orientation

1. 11

   Am I required to take an assessment and attend an orientation in order to enroll in classes?

   If you are new to LTCC, pursuing an associate degree, certificate, or transfer and have fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter units completed at another college, you are required to attend orientation. If you have never taken math and/or English at another college, you are required to take the assessment test.

2. 12

   Do you accept assessment scores from other schools?

   Yes, if they are not more than one year old and you provide us with a copy of the placement recommendations.

3. 13

   Where do I go to take the assessment? Do I need an appointment?

   Assessments are given in the Student Computer Lab - Room D-120. When school is in session, no appointment is necessary. Regular hours are: Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Fridays 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. During school breaks when the college is open, please check with Student Services at 530-541-4660, ext. 231 for the assessment schedule.

4. 14

   How long does it take to do the assessment??

   The math assessment is timed and takes 45 minutes. The English assessment is not timed. The average student completes it in 60-90 minutes. Please allow at least 2 hours for the entire assessment process.

Associate Degrees and Certificates

1. 15

   What is the difference between an associate's degree and a bachelor's?

   The highest degree which can be earned at Lake Tahoe Community College (and other community colleges) is the associate's degree. It is a total of 90 quarter or 60 semester units. To earn a bachelor's degree, students must transfer to a 4 year college or university. Students may complete approximately the first half of a bachelor's degree at a community college.

2. 16

   What is a certificate?

   A certificate is a short term educational program intended to give students the skills needed for employment. Certificates do not have general education requirements. Please see the Majors and Certificates page for certificates currently offered at LTCC.

3. 17

   What is General Education (GE)?

   All college degrees have general education (GE) requirements. These are courses such as English, math, science, social science, arts, and humanities. At LTCC, we use three different GE patterns, depending on your goals. Students should meet with a counselor to ensure they are following the correct GE pattern.

4. 18

   What is a major? What majors are offered at LTCC?

   A major is an area of specialization within a degree. They are listed in the college catalog and on our website click Majors.

5. 19

   Will classes I took many years ago count toward my degree?

   Most general education courses taken at regionally accredited schools will count toward a degree, regardless of when they were taken. Courses within majors may not count if the material is outdated.

6. 20

   How long will it take to achieve my goal at LTCC?

   It depends on how many units per quarter you take and whether you are starting at pre-college level math and/or English. You should meet with a counselor to set up an Educational Plan which will give you a better idea of how long it will take to achieve your goal. The majority of students take between two to three years to complete their associate's degree.

7. 21

   How many units does it take for an AA degree?

   It takes 90 quarter units to earn an AA degree. The ninety units consist of specific requirements and electives.

8. 22

   Can I use courses from other colleges and universities toward my degree requirements?

   Yes, if the other institutions are regionally accredited and if the specific courses are required for the degree at LTCC. You should meet with a counselor to request an official credit evaluation of college credits.

Transfer

1. 23

   If I get an AA degree, can I automatically transfer to a 4 year university?

   To be eligible for transfer, you must complete specific requirements for transfer. The AA degree alone is not necessarily sufficient. If you plan to transfer, you should meet regularly with a counselor to ensure you are completing transfer requirements.

2. 24

   Do I have to get an AA degree in order to transfer?

   No. However, for some majors, an AA degree may be earned without taking additional classes.

3. 25

   Can I just take my general education requirements at LTCC, and then take my major courses after I transfer?

   That is usually a bad idea. Many majors have lower division major preparation or prerequisites that should be completed at a community college prior to transfer. The more impacted the university and/or major, the more critical it is to complete the major prerequisites.

4. 26

   Aside from the general education requirements for transfer, how do I know if I have met the requirements for my major?

   ASSIST provides current articulation agreements for majors between LTCC and most public universities in California. Additional information and assistance is available by meeting with a counselor and students are strongly encouraged to do so. Where can I see more information about transfer? Please visit the LTCC Transfer home page for more questions and answers: Additional information about transfer can be found at  CSU Mentor and UC Transfer Information.

Registering for and Dropping Classes

1. 27

   When can I register for classes?

   Check the class schedule every quarter for the priority registration dates. The schedule is available online.

2. 28

   When must I pay for the classes I register for?

   Classes must be paid for by the close of business the day that you register. Students applying for financial aid can contact the Financial Aid Office at ext. 236.

3. 29

   How do I drop a class?

   You may drop a class either online or in person up until the Friday of the fourth week of classes. Between the fourth week and the seventh week, you must come to Admissions and Records to withdraw from a class. After the seventh week, you may no longer drop a class. (See the back of the schedule for important dates and deadlines).

4. 30

   If I don't attend class, will the instructor automatically drop me?

   Not necessarily. An instructor may or may not drop you. You must take personal responsibility to drop a class or you may receive a failing grade.

5. 31

   What if the class I want to take is full?

   There are no 'waiting lists' yet. In Spring Quarter 2013 LTCC will impliment the waitlist feature in WebAdvisor. Currently, if a class is full, you may continue to check the online schedule to see if someone has dropped the class. You may also attend the class the first class session with a pink 'late add' form, available at Admissions and Records, and ask the instructor if they will add you. It is up to the instructor's discretion to add students after a class is full.

6. 32

   How many units is considered "full time?"

   12 or more units is full time.

7. 33

   What is the maximum number of units I can take per quarter?

   You may enroll in 19 units per quarter. If you wish to enroll in more than 19 units, you must meet with a counselor for approval.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

1. 34

   What is a prerequisite?

   A prerequisite is a condition of enrollment that a student is required to meet in order to demonstrate current readiness for a course or education program. Students who have completed prerequisites at another college must meet with a counselor to show proof in order to register. Prerequisites completed at LTCC with a "C" or better will be automatically approved when the student registers for the course.

2. 35

   What is a corequisite?

   A corequisite is a course in which a student is required to enroll AT THE SAME TIME that he or she is enrolled in another course. (Alternatively, it may be completed before enrollment in the course for which it is a corequisite.)

3. 36

   Is there a way to take a course if I don't have the prerequisite?

   You may appeal a prerequisite by meeting with a counselor and filling out a prerequisite appeal petition. The appeal may then be approved or denied by the instructor.

4. 37

   What if I took the prerequisite course at another school?

   You must meet with a counselor and provide an unofficial or official transcript to show successful completion of the prerequisite.

Grading and Probation/Dismissal

1. 38

   What is Pass/No Pass (P/NP)?

   You may elect to take a class for a grade of Pass/No Pass (P/NP), if the course is available for that grading option. Grades of P/NP do not affect the grade point average (GPA). A limited number of P/NP courses may be applied to a degree. Please refer to the catalog or meet with a counselor to make sure the P/NP option is appropriate for you.

2. 39

   Do I have to repeat a D or F grade?

   You have the option to repeat a D or F grade. The new grade will replace the old grade in your GPA. You are not required to repeat the class unless  the class is required for your major. Example: ENG101 is required for all AA degrees and for transfer. There is a limit on repeatability of three times total for any one course.

3. 40

   Is "D" considered a passing grade?

   A "D" in English or math is not degree-applicable, nor is it sufficient to advance to the next level. A "D" is acceptable in some courses as long as the overall GPA is 2.0.

4. 41

   What is academic probation?

   A student is placed on academic probation once the student has attempted at least 12 quarter units with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) below 2.0. Students on academic probation who wish to enroll in more than 3 units must meet with a counselor before registering for classes. (See probation policy in the catalog).

5. 42

   What is academic dismissal?

   A student who is on academic probation shall be subject to dismissal if the student has completed 30 units with a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 in each of three consecutive quarters. Students who are subject to dismissal must meet with a counselor to develop a Success Contract. (See dismissal policy in the catalog).

Student Educational Plan

1. 43

   What is an Education Plan and do I need one?

   An Educational Plan is like a personal road map that you develop with your counselor. The "map" lays out the courses you should complete quarter by quarter in order to successfully reach your educational goal. You should schedule a counseling appointment to develop an education plan. An Educational Plan is required for EOPS students and recommended for all students with a degree goal or goal of transfer.

Career Counseling

1. 44

   I need help in choosing a major or career. What kind of help is available?

   Students uncertain about their major or career goal can receive career counseling services by calling 530-541-4660, ext. 231 for an appointment. Various resources are available to help students choose majors and careers which align with their interests, values, abilities and personality types. Please visit theCareer Center online for more information.