Academic Advising & Planning
Academic planning helps you set your goals and choose the right path to reach them. You play an active role in building and updating your plan throughout your time at Montgomery College.
Counselors and program advisors are here to support you. They help you choose courses, plan your next steps, and stay on track. Counselors are counseling faculty who work with students across programs, and program advisors are faculty within your major.
As an MC student, you have access to both general counseling and advising, as well as program advising focused on your major.
Who should I meet with?
Montgomery College offers many types of advising and support. For academic planning, the roles below are the main people who can help. Where you start depends on where you are in your program.
If your questions are best handled by another office, the counselor or program advisor will help connect you to the right resource and provide contact information.
Not sure where to start? Contact Raptor Central for help getting connected to the right support.
Counseling and Advising
Counselors help you get started and explore your options. They support your academic, career, and personal goals, help you choose courses based on your interests and placement, and connect you to campus resources.
New students, or those who are still exploring majors or options, should begin by meeting with a counselor. Before your meeting, review the tools and resources below to prepare for advising and build your plan.
Program Advising
Program advising focuses on your chosen major. Program advisors are faculty in your field who help you plan courses within your program, understand requirements, and prepare for your next steps, such as transfer or employment.
You typically meet with a program advisor after selecting a major/program of study or when you are ready to focus on courses in your major.
Plan, Track, and Complete Your Program
Plan your courses, explore your options, and prepare for your next step—whether that’s graduation, transfer, or a career.
0–15 credits: Get started and explore
- Complete surveys in Starfish when prompted to help guide your planning and advising conversations.
- Review what courses you need using the College Catalog.
- Use Course Placement Guides to understand where to begin (best before meeting with a counselor).
- Get started with the First Year Experience program to connect with new student orientation, courses, and resources designed to support your first year.
- Check the Academic Calendar to stay aware of important dates like registration, deadlines, and the start of classes.
- Meet with a counselor to begin your academic plan.
- Use the Academic Plan How‑To Guide to build your plan step by step and record your plan in the Starfish Degree Planner.
- Explore your major and career interests using Fields of Study and Career Coach.
15–30 credits: Confirm and align your plan
- Confirm your program of study (major) using the Degree Evaluation in MyMC (Degree Works).
- Use Printable Program Plans to review a recommended list of courses for your program.
- Use General Education Courses by Academic Year to choose courses that meet your general education requirements,
- Use the Degree Planner in Starfish to update your semester-by-semester academic plan, and share it with your counselor or program advisor for review.
- Begin exploring the steps to transfer guide.
- Meet with a with counselor or program advisor to review and refine your plan and begin aligning your courses with your career and transfer goals
Use the quick checklist below to understand what it looks like to be on track during this stage.
- I have met with a counselor or program advisor to begin planning
- I have started an academic plan in Degree Planner that reflects my goals
- I am beginning to follow my program’s recommended course sequence when choosing classes
- I respond to advising outreach (such as emails, Starfish messages, reminders, or referrals) and complete next steps
If you’re not sure where to start or haven’t completed some of these steps yet, meet with a counselor or respond to advising outreach (such as emails or Starfish messages in your MC email inbox).
- Use the Academic Calendar to plan ahead for registration, deadlines, and key milestones like graduation or transfer.
- Check your progress in your program using Degree Evaluation in MyMC (Degree Works).
- Meet with your program advisor to review and refine your plan and confirm it aligns with your career and transfer goals.
- Use College Central Network (CCN) to find opportunities, and meet with Student Employment Specialists for help with resumes, job search, and interview preparation.
- Explore opportunities related to your interests.
Use the quick checklist below to understand what it looks like to be on track during this stage.
- I have met with a program advisor during this stage to review my progress
- I have an academic plan in Degree Planner that is current and updated as needed
- I am following my program’s recommended course sequence each term
- I respond to advising outreach (such as emails, Starfish messages, reminders, or referrals) and complete follow-up actions
If you see anything here you haven’t done yet, contact your program advisor or follow up on recent advising outreach (such as emails or Starfish messages in your MC email inbox).
- Check the Academic Calendar to make sure you meet key deadlines for finishing your program, including graduation and transfer steps.
- Review your remaining courses using Degree Evaluation in MyMC (Degree Works).
- Meet with your program advisor to confirm your remaining requirements and next steps for graduation or transfer.
- Apply for graduation and complete your program.
- Confirm your next steps and complete applications or required steps for transfer, employment, or other goals.
- Update your resume, apply for jobs or internships using College Central Network (CCN).
- Meet with Student Employment Specialists and prepare for interviews using Big Interview.
Use the quick checklist below to understand what it looks like to be on track during this stage.
- I have met with a program advisor to review my path to completion
- I have a current academic plan that supports graduation or transfer
- I am completing my remaining program requirements on schedule
- I respond to advising outreach related to graduation, transfer, or next steps
If you’re unsure about your progress or next steps, connect with your program advisor or follow up on recent outreach in your MC email inbox to make sure you’re on track for graduation or transfer.
