Help in Our Course

Introduction

Did you know that students who use tutoring are more likely to succeed in their courses?  

According to "CA Senate Considers Expanding Community College Students' Access to Tutoring," "students have a 70 percent success rate in coursework without tutoring. With up to 9 hours of tutoring, the success rate climbs to 78 percent, and with more than 20 hours, it climbs even further to a whopping 82 percent."  Wow!  We typically think of tutoring to be for students who are struggling with their academics.  While that may be true, these success numbers also reflect students who seek these services before they are having troubles.  

Our campus has many tutoring options as well as other resources to help support you in your academic success.  Please, review them below.

Writing & Humanities Tutoring Center (WHTC)

•  We offer writing support to all SMC students in any subject and at any stage in the writing process. Our experienced tutors are here to help students strengthen their writing and critical thinking skills through one-on-one collaborative and interactive appointments.

• While we work to foster success in the short term writing and learning goals students bring to us, we believe in the WHTC's ability to promote long term academic success and create lifelong learners.

• Here are just some of our services:

  • Schedule a Tutoring Appointment

  • Visit a Workshop

  • Helpful Resources for Writers

  • Student Tutors and Assistants Wanted!

ESL Tutoring

• The ESL Department offers free help for SMC students with grammar and homework questions, developing topic sentences and thesis statements, paragraph/essay organization, cohesion, essay revision, conversation, and pronunciation. Individual tutoring is available free of charge to all non-native speakers of English currently enrolled at Santa Monica College.

Business Tutoring Center

• We offer free tutoring to all enrolled SMC students providing academic support in accounting, business, and economics courses. Tutoring is available both online and in person.

Math Lab

• Our tutoring lab, staffed with professional and student tutors, provides free services to students enrolled in math classes at SMC. Tutoring is not available to students in UCLA extension classes or math classes taught at other schools. The Math Lab also hosts the embedded tutors for Math.

Modern Language Tutoring

• This is where friendly tutors provide FREE assistance for Santa Monica College students enrolled in Modern Languages and Cultures courses.

Music Tutoring

• The Tutoring Center provides FREE tutoring for Santa Monica College students enrolled in select Music classes.

Science Tutoring

• The Science Tutoring and Learning Resource Center provides FREE tutoring for Santa Monica College students enrolled in Science classes.

STEM Tutoring

• Do you have a question about your homework? Are you having difficulty understanding a concept? STEM Tutors and Peer Mentors are available to help any time we are open. 

CSIS Tutoring Center

• We offer free tutoring to all enrolled SMC students providing academic support in computer science and computer information systems classes. Tutoring is available both online and in person. 

Brainfuse

• Are you trying to get tutoring help, but our campus tutoring centers are closed?  Our campus has partnered with Brainfuse for after-hours, online tutoring.

Are you not sure how to get to any of the above resources?  Use the campus map.

Other Campus Resources

Library

• Access texts and technology and receive assistance with research assignments. 

Library's Reference Librarians

• In our Library are Reference Librarians to help you with research assignments from helping you find sources to creating citations and formatting your paper.  I have never met a Research Librarian at any campus who did not want to go above and beyond to help.

Bookstore

• Visit the Bookstore to get texts and supplies.

Center for Students with Disabilities

• The mission of the Center for Students with Disability (CSD; also known as DSPS) ensures that students with disabilities have equal access to all programs and activities on campus.  Our goal is to encourage and promote independence in students, so they may achieve their full potential.  

Are you not sure how to get to any of the above resources?  Use the campus map.

Helpful Websites

English for Everyone

• Help with English reading and writing skills 

Purdue OWL

• Help with MLA paper formatting, citations, and language

Learner's Dictionary

• Easy-to-understand online dictionary

Thesaurus.com

• Do you find yourself using the same, key word frequently in your paper?  Use this thesaurus to assist you with finding similar words that can help elevate your writing.

Vocabulary.com

• Vocabulary practice, including "word of the day" and personalized flashcards

Study Blue

• Website and app to create outlines and flashcards

Student Success Resources

• The following resources were designed to support students in areas including time management, test preparation, stress reduction, online coursework, and more.

Study Skills Videos

Each study skill video listed in this resource comes with an accompanying worksheet and handout.  Topics include:

• • Habits of Successful College Students

  • Organizing Your Study Time

  • Improving Your Listening Skills

  • Taking Better Lecture Notes

  • Test-Taking Skills

  • Memory Tricks

  • Great Ways to Study

Life Skills Not Taught in School

• An education should involve learning life skills that a person will carry with them after college in order to navigate relationships and careers and be a well-rounded, successful person. This article has compiled 20 important skills not typically and overtly taught in school, which are valuable in life. 

Career Skills to Work On

• Sometimes, there can be a gap between what students are learning in schools and the skills they need to be successful in life.  This article focuses on key skills that are essential to students’ future career success.

Skills to Develop in High School for College Prep

• It’s never too early to start thinking about preparing for college. This Top 10 list has been developed by the author through many years of attending conferences, listening to college admission professionals, and touring a variety of colleges and universities around the U.S.