Counseling

Academic Counseling & Holistic Support

At the Student Parent Center, we recognize that student parents balance rigorous academics with family commitments. We provide holistic academic counseling to empower student parents as both engaged scholars and devoted parents at UC Berkeley.

Whether you are navigating academic planning, preparing for unexpected life events, or seeking guidance on your degree progress, our goal is to help you stay on track toward graduation.

Meeting with an Academic Counselor

In-Person & Virtual Appointments

Anna Hilke is available for one-on-one counseling:

Comprehensive CE3 Counseling Support

All academic counselors across the Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence (CE3) offer academic counseling for student parents. You can connect with counseling through any of the following CE3 programs:

If you would like to explore other CE3 programs you may benefit from, please complete the CE3 Program Questionnaire.

Reduced Course Load Option & Fall 2026 Financial Aid Considerations (OB3)

The reduced course load option allows undergraduate student parents to enroll in fewer than 13 units each semester while maintaining full-time student status at UC Berkeley.

Because taking a reduced unit load can directly impact your financial aid package, cost of attendance, and loan eligibility, it is essential to understand how changes in your enrollment affect your overall funding. We strongly encourage you to review the Financial Aid & Scholarships Student Parents Page to learn more about funding resources, unit requirements, and budget adjustments designed specifically for student parents.

If you are considering how fewer than 13 units affect your family obligations and financial aid, we strongly encourage you to meet with a CE3 Counselor to discuss your individual case in detail before deciding. Graduate student parents are encouraged to meet with us as well, though petition processes for graduate students differ.

Fall 2026 Federal Financial Aid Changes (One Big Beautiful Bill Act / OB3)

For Fall 2026, student parents considering a reduced course load must take into account provisions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3). Under these federal regulations, federal student loans will be prorated based on actual enrolled units and may be adjusted.

Key Policy Guidance for UC Berkeley Students:

For most UC Berkeley students:

  • For most undergraduate students, full-time enrollment is 12 units per semester or 24 units across the fall and spring semesters.

  • Some graduate programs use a different full-time standard.

  • Students must generally enroll at least six units per semester to qualify for a federal student loan.

  • Parent PLUS Loans are not prorated under the Schedule of Reduction.

  • Waitlisted courses do not count as enrolled units.

  • The federal loan-proration requirement applies to students with reduced course loads, regardless of the reason for the reduction. The law does not currently provide an exception based on an accommodation, parenting responsibility, or other circumstance.

  • A DSP-approved reduced course load continues to support a student’s academic standing, accommodations, and progress in their program. However, federal student-loan eligibility is based on the student’s actual enrolled units, even when the institution recognizes the reduced course load as full-time for other purposes.

Review the FASO Loan Proration and Enrollment page for current guidance.

Fall 2026 Disbursement Timeline & Waitlists

  • Disbursement Rules: Loans for students enrolled less than full-time will be placed on hold until enrollment is finalized or instruction begins. On August 26, loans remaining on hold will be prorated based on actual enrolled units and disbursed at the reduced amount.

  • Annual Unit Balance: Students must remain enrolled in 24 units across fall and spring to receive their highest possible annual federal student-loan amount. Dropping units during fall can reduce your spring loan disbursement.

  • Waitlisted Units: Waitlisted courses do not count toward enrollment for federal loan purposes. If you are relying on a waitlisted course to reach full-time enrollment, federal loans will be held until you are officially enrolled in the course.

Additional Federal Loan & Borrowing Changes

  • Parent PLUS Loan Limits: New Parent PLUS borrowers are subject to an annual limit of $20,000 per dependent student and an aggregate limit of $65,000 per dependent student.

  • Graduate & Professional Borrowing: For students starting new graduate programs on or after July 1, 2026, Graduate PLUS Loans are no longer available. Annual Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits are capped at $20,500 for graduate programs ($50,000 for designated professional programs) with an overall lifetime federal loan cap of $257,500.

  • Legacy Status: Continuing students who borrowed under previous rules may qualify for legacy provisions; however, students should verify their status with FASO before making changes to their program or unit load.

You can learn more about these changes on the FASO Federal Updates Page.

We encourage all student parents to schedule a meeting with a CE3 Counselor to review their individual academic and financial plans.