Academic Adviser Appointments

At most colleges, an initial advising appointment is required for new students. You will be responsible for making subsequent appointments by calling your colleges advising center. It is an excellent idea to get in the habit of making advising appointments each semester. Typically, these appointments are best scheduled as you prepare for the upcoming semesters registration period. Meeting with your adviser is especially important the semester prior to your expected graduation.

Most appointments with your academic adviser will last about thirty minutes. Advisers see lots of students so it is important to be prepared so all of your concerns are addressed.

The focus of your appointments will revolve around your academic strategy as a whole—choosing next semester’s courses, discussing your major and elective areas, and talking about campus resources. You and your adviser also will go over your degree audit which is basically a completed class checklist as you progress towards a particular degree. You and your adviser will review and discuss your progress toward satisfying core course requirements and major course requirements for your program.

Other topics of discussion should include issues that affect your graduation plan, confirming your upcoming registration date, and discussing avoidable circumstances that may delay any part of your educational experience.

Prior to seeing your adviser, it is a good idea to jot down a few questions. This is especially important because advisers sometimes make mistakes. If you prepare and are pro-active in researching the particulars as you progress in your education it is less likely that an adviser's mistake will go unnoticed and can be corrected prior to affecting your educational plans. Of course, these questions will differ from student to student. But, if you research the topics that you intend to discuss with your adviser it is likely you will have a number of questions and concerns that are directly related.

Advising appointments also provide an excellent opportunity to discuss anything that worries you. Learning to handle issues with the help of an adviser will make navigating the college system easier as you earn your degree.