STEP 3 -- PAY FOR COLLEGE
One Option - Financial Aid
Apply for Financial Aid. Financial assistance is available in the form of grants, scholarships and loans. www.fafsa.ed.gov
Note: To receive Financial Aid, you will need to complete a FAFSA application every academic year. While waiting for your financial aid, set up a payment plan via NELNET eCasier program and your classes will be held. (A $20 set-up fee is required for the NELNET plan and payments will be deducted from your checking account on a monthly basis.)
Other Options (if you do not wish to use financial aid or if you do not qualify for financial aid):
- Payment Plan
- Cash, check, debit and credit card
The test is a collection of three placement exams designed to identify skill levels in English, reading, and mathematics. The placement tests are required prior to registering for classes. Scores are used to decide which courses to take. Students placed in the proper level courses have a much better chance of success. Testing is free.
NEW TO COLLEGE ---STOP AND READ BEFORE MOVING TO NEXT STEP!
Are you new to college, taking 12 credits or more, and seeking an Associate s degree or transfer to a four-year university? Then your next step is to sign up for an iStartSmart session---this session will cover Steps 5-7. Get more information by clicking the link below.
iStartSmart - For all new students.
Click here for more information
Advisors at South Mountain Community College are available on a walk-in basis. It is best to come in well before you plan to enroll. Many classes and programs fill up long before the semester begins and, often, there are additional steps that need to be completed after the first meeting with an advisor. The following are several steps a student can take in order to get the most from a meeting with an advisor:
- Have official transcript(s) sent to South Mountain from all colleges and schools previously attended. Some programs also require high school/GED transcripts for admission.
- Obtain or download a copy of the current college catalog and read it through. The catalog gives the official information about all of the academic programs, registration policies, and procedures.
- Read the current class schedule. It has all of the important dates, class times, phone numbers, and office hours.
- Think of questions to ask before your visit.
Work with an advisor to choose the classes best suited to your educational goals and schedule. An Advisor's signature is required to enroll in a class with the prefix of ENG, CRE, MAT, or RDG.
NOTE: Many students start as "undecided." Your Advisor can help you choose courses that will apply to most degrees and give you an introduction to your areas of interest.
STEP 6 -- REGISTRATION
Register for classes through Advisement or Records and Registration or online at my.maricopa.edu.
If you are registering for classes through Registration & Records you can register in person at one of our locations: SMCC main, SMCC Guadalupe Center, SMCC Ahwatukee Foothills Center, or SMCC at Laveen; or fax (by sending your completed registration form to 602-243-8199) or operator assisted (by calling 602-243-8123).
Pay your fees through one of the following methods: check, cash, debit card, credit card, or payment plan.
Once tuition and fees have been paid, please return to the Registration & Records Office to obtain your Student ID card and parking decal at no additional cost for first-time students.
*In order to obtain a Student ID card, students must have a major photo ID (such as a driver's license or MVD photo ID card) and a paid tuition/fees receipt. The first ID is free. ID replacement cost is $5.00. Students must return to the Registration & Records Office in order to obtain a validation sticker each semester that they are enrolled at SMCC.
Purchase your books at the South Mountain Community College bookstore or online at eFollett.com. It is advisable to buy only the main textbook per course before classes begin. The instructor may tell you that some materials are optional.
STEP 9 -- ORIENTATION-GET TO KNOW THE COLLEGE!
Don’t forget to attend our “Passport to the Mountain” welcome session held at the beginning of each semester in the Student Union.
STEP 10 -- Be successful
Remember to log in to My.maricopa.edu for updated enrollment information.