To save yourself time...
...we strongly suggest that you take a moment to review the following links as they answer some of our most common questions.
Click here to see our Video Library Page
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Answers:
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How can a DVC counselor help me? A DVC Counselor can help you by providing you with academic, career, and personal counseling. We can help you navigate the complicated process of determining your goals and careers and what you must do to realize those goals. |
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How can I make an appointment to see a counselor? You can make an appointment to see a counselor by coming to the Counseling Center in person, by calling 925-969-2140, or online by clicking here. Please turn in all official transcripts from other colleges/universities to Admissions and Records prior to scheduling your appointment. If you have transcripts from other colleges/universities, make sure you request at the time you schedule your appointment with the front desk receptionist that your transcripts be evaluated for CSUGE, IGETC, and/or an associate degree. Be advised that you might have to wait two weeks or longer to have an appointment. If you need to cancel your appointment, do so as early as possible. |
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Please click here to review the DVC webpage dedicated to this topic. |
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How do I become a student at DVC? Please click here to review the "Apply to DVC" webpage. |
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As an international student, how do I enroll at DVC? Detailed information about applying to DVC and next steps after you apply can be found on the International Student Admissions and Services Office (ISAS) website by clicking here. For the International Student FAQ page, please click here (pdf). |
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I'm interested in transferring to a private or out-of-state college or university. How do I know which courses to take? Determining which courses to take in order to transfer to a private or out-of-state college or university can be a complicated process. DVC has a few articulation agreements with private and out-of-state college and universities. To access these agreements, schedule an appointment with a DVC counselor. For those institutions for which DVC doesn't have articulation agreements with, you may still meet with a DVC counselor to discuss your options but you will ultimately be responsible for contacting the institution you are interested in to discuss which courses may be appropriate to complete at DVC. You may also want to visit the Transfer Center which is located in the lobby of the Counseling Center. The Transfer Center has a number of resources for people interested in attending a private or out-of-state college or university. |
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How do I calculate my GPA, my transferable GPA? You can calculate your GPA by clicking here to access the UC Berkeley GPA calculator. To calculate your transferrable GPA you can use the GPA calculator but be sure to only include UC or CSU transferable courses. You can find a list of UC transferable courses by clicking here. You can find a list of CSU transferable courses by clicking here. |
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What do I do if the courses I want to take are full? If the courses you want to take are full, |
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What is the maximum number of units I can take Pass/No Pass? The University of California (UC) system will accept a maximum of 14 UC-transferable units with a “Pass” or “Credit” grade. The California State University (CSU) system limitations vary by campus; check with the campus of your choice. Private and out-of-state institutions will have varying rules. Refer to the websites of the institutions you are interested in attending for details. For more details on Pass/No Pass, click here to view the Pass/No Pass FAQ page. |
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If I believe I already meet the prerequisite for a course, what do I do? For prerequisites for courses taken outside the Contra Costa Community College District (CCC, DVC, or LMC), you must submit a Prerequisite Form, available online by clicking here (pdf) along with documentation proving that you have completed the prerequisite (e.g. copy of transcript, exam score report, etc.) to the Admissions and Records Office. The instructions for submitting the Prerequisite Form are on the front of the form. |
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What should I do if I get a "D" or "F" in a course? If you receive a "D" or "F" in a course, you may want to consider doing Academic Renewal. There are two types of Academic Renewal, with course repetition and without course repetition. With course repetition, you can retake the class; your second grade will be used in your GPA, not the first D or F. Both the CSU and UC systems honor this policy, so they will not count the first grade, either, and it will most likely not affect your admissions to the university. If you do not want to repeat the class, you may apply for Renewal Without Course Repetition. To do this you must first complete at least 20 units with grades of "C" or higher without a "D" or "F". Then you can remove up to 24 units of "D" and "F" grades from your GPA. You may only request this type of renewal once. The form for Academic Renewal without Course Repetition can be found by clicking here (pdf file called Petition for Academic Renewal). The process for Academic Renewal without Course Repetition can only be completed once. The policies and practices of private and out-of-state universities vary in regard to Academic Renewal, so contact those universities directly to determine their philosophy about academic renewal grades. Before deciding, it is recommended that you meet with a counselor to discuss your options. |
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How does a "W" affect my admissions to a college or university? That depends on the college or university. The CSUs and the UCs do not look negatively on W grades, although if you have many W’s on your transcript, you should explain why. The policies and practices of private and out-of-state universities vary, so contact those universities directly to determine their philosophy about W grades. Ws do not affect your GPA. Finally, if you withdraw from more than 50% of the courses you have attempted (after attempting at least 12 units), you will be placed on progress probation. Being placed on probation can affect admissions. Also, if you have many Ws, you may want to explain why on your admissions application. |
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How often can I take the Math or English Assessment Tests? For math testing for courses up to Math 120, you can only retest once per year. For math testing from Math 121 and up as well as English, you can take each test twice per semester, with a one-week waiting period between the first and second attempts of each. For the most up-to-date information including testing times, cut scores, and other important information, click here to view the Assessment Center website. |
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How can I dispute a grade that I received? The DVC Catalog clearly outlines the proper procedures for dispute resolution with instructors and other faculty or staff members of DVC. For full information on the grade appeal process, see "student appeals for grade changes" under the "academic/instructional policies and procedures" of the catalog. Refer to the catalog for more details by clicking here (pdf). Consult a counselor for further explanation, if necessary. |
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Where do I find important dates and deadlines? You can find important dates and deadlines by clicking here. Click on “Admissions/Registration Calendar” for refund, drop, and other such deadlines. Other useful calendars can also be found at this link. |
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How can I find admissions statistics about the University of California system? Click here to find statistics on the University of California system. |
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If I get an A.A./A.S. (associate in arts/science degree), can I automatically transfer to a 4-year college? Not in most cases. An Associate in Arts/Science degree from DVC means that you have completed a two year college degree program. In general more and/or different coursework is required to transfer than is required for an A.A./A.S. In the process of completing your requirements to transfer, you may obtain an A.A./A.S. degree if you select classes carefully. Some private or out-of-state schools may view an A.A./A.S. differently than public California universities. In addition, you do not need an A.A./A.S. to transfer to a four year institution in most cases. Please schedule an appointment with a counselor for more information. |
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How many units must I be enrolled in to be considered "full-time"? A student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 units in fall or spring term or 4 units in a six-week summer session to be considered a full-time student. Fifteen units is the usual load for students who wish to complete the AA degree in two years (four semesters). Be aware that some programs (i.e., financial aid) view full time status over the summer differently then the general college policy. |
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How can I apply for financial aid? You can apply for federal financial aid by clicking here. You obtain information on California state financial aid by clicking here. Also, you should visit the DVC Financial Aid website for more information. Be aware that there are specific deadlines for financial aid that may apply. |
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How can I apply for scholarships? You can apply for DVC scholarships by clicking here. You may also want to review the website fastweb.com. This is a free scholarship search website. Be aware that there are specific deadlines for scholarships that may apply. |
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I still have a question, is online counseling available? Yes, online counseling (E-Counseling) is available. E-Counseling is appropriate for questions that require a brief response. These may include:
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