FAQ's

Yes!  Not only does your choice of major affect access to financial aid, it can also determine whether you get important correspondence!  You are assigned an advisor based on your area of study!  If you are assigned to an inappropriate advisor, how will you get information relevant to your time at ACC and future?

At this time, the only way to officially change your major at ACC is by meeting with your assigned advisor or other Academic Guidance Team member.

Start with your career aspirations and priorities.  Consider...

• your interests (what do you like to do?)

• your skills (what are you good at?)

• your values (what is important to you?)

• your potential income (are there financial opportunities available that match your expected quality of life?)

• the rigor of coursework and length of education (how long do you want to be in school and how hard do you want it to be?)

Your assigned advisor and I work together to support you.  Your assigned advisor prioritizes your needs at ACC (changing your major, selecting courses, registration, etc).  I prioritize your needs for finishing at ACC and pursuing your next goal.  

Further, my background is in chemistry and biochemistry.  I have personal experience in STEM.

When you make an appointment with me, you will have the chance to describe what you want to discuss in our meeting.  After making the appointment, you should receive an e-mail via Calendly with details for connecting via Zoom.  (If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail within an hour, don't forget to check your spam/trash folder.) 

Note, if you would rather meet in person, arrangements can be made to meet at HLC.  Please e-mail me (samantha.soebbing@austincc.edu) to see if I can accommodate a face-to-face session.

Assuming that we meet via Zoom, it is completely up to you whether you use video, audio, and/or chat.

I'll ask you to confirm your identity.

From there, YOU lead the discussion!  I'm here to help YOU!  During our discussion, I may ask you questions about how many credits you are taking, whether you are the first in your family to go to college, other time commitments, your educational goals, and your career goals.  I will also often share my computer screen to show you information at various websites.

After our meeting (usually within 48 hours), I will send a summary via e-mail so that (1) we both have the information and website links and (2) you can make an additions or corrections to my understanding.

You are welcome to make repeated appointments as necessary!

Maybe?  I'm more likely to try to connect you to other potential mentors instead.  (I want you to have the best information possible!)

There are actually other Faculty Mentors and Faculty Advisors like me at ACC.  The Faculty Mentor for engineering, physics, geology, and environmental science is Meredith Denton-Hedrick.  There are other faculty mentors/advisors dedicated to the liberal arts,  social/behavioral sciences, and business.  

Some departments have staff in place to advise their own students.

Bottom line...if you have questions about navigating ACC and moving on to your next big thing, you are always welcome to contact me!  If I don't have the answers, then I'll help you make connections to get the help you need!

Maybe?  

You likely already know that many professions like medicine, pharmacy, law, etc. require professional school.

For many of the sciences, if you want to do independent, grant-funded research, you will likely need a Ph.D. 

If you want to teach at the college-level or do consulting work, you'll likely need at least a Master's degree.

Consult the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for information regarding entry-level degree requirements for your desired profession.

No!  While biology is a traditional route to med school, it is not the only path.  Keep in mind that medical schools are looking for (among other things) specific prerequisite courses and high MCAT scores.  Those prerequisites are typically completed as part of a biology degree (and even a chemistry degree).  However, students pursuing degrees in other disciplines can choose to take pre-med prerequisite courses outside of their degree plan.  Keep in mind that courses outside of your degree plan may not be covered by financial aid, veterans’ benefits, etc. though.

ACC canNOT offer a biochemistry course at this time.  The course you are looking for is a jr-level (3000-level) course that is part of a Bachelor's degree...that ACC does not offer.  Therefore, you need to find this course at a 4-year institution.

If you are looking for a local option, you could apply to take the class at UT or Texas State as a non-degree-seeking student.  There are also other private 4-year schools in the area that you could explore.  Check with your destination program to see if you need a lab with the biochemistry course (a 4-credit version).  If you do NOT need the lab component, then you could explore taking biochemistry with an online university like SNHU or WGU.