Working with an Academic Adviser

• Prepare for the meeting by looking at the course catalog, thinking about available majors, and familiarizing yourself with campus resources. If you haven’t decided on a major, investigate opportunities for taking an aptitude test or self-assessment to help you narrow down your options; ask your adviser about these tests during your meeting. (You will read more about self-assessments and self-exploration in Chapter 15.) The early days of college are critical; once classes start, you might not have time for in-depth research.
• Prepare materials to bring to the meeting. Even if you submitted one with your application, take along a copy of your academic transcript. The transcript, which contains your complete high school record, is an important tool. It shows your academic adviser where you’ve been, what your academic strengths are, and where your interests lie.
• Make a list of majors that appeal to you. Academic advisers love it when students come prepared. It shows that you’re passionate and serious about your future.
• Map out your time frame and goals. Do you plan to enroll full-time or part-time? If you’re at a four-year college or university, when do you plan to graduate and with what degree? Are you planning to go to graduate school to finish your studies? If you are at a two-year college, do you want an associate’s degree or a certificate? Do you plan to transfer to a four-year institution?
• Know the right questions to ask. Once you’ve chosen a major, you’ll need to understand how to move forward in your academic program to meet the necessary requirements. Fortunately, the process is straightforward. You will have prerequisites, which are the core courses that you need to take before you can enroll in upper-level classes in your major. Your major may also have corequisites, courses that you have to take in conjunction with other courses during the same term, such as a chemistry lab alongside your chemistry class. With this knowledge under your belt, here is what you need to find out:
  1. How many credits must I take each term to graduate on time? (Note: If you are on financial aid, doing a work-study program, or are a college athlete, you may have to take a minimum number of credits per term to maintain your benefits.)
  2. What are the prerequisites for my major? Corequisites?
  3. If I’ve taken any advanced placement credits or exams, can I use them to fulfill some of my major’s requirements?
  4. What career opportunities will I have once I graduate? What will the salary potential look like?
• Know what to take away from your meeting. By the end of the meeting, you should have a printout of your current course schedule and plans for classes that you might take in the next term and beyond. At many institutions, you and your adviser will set up a five- to seven-term plan online.
• Know these rules of thumb about selecting your classes:
  1. Most full-time students take four to six courses a term. Most classes don’t meet every day. With that in mind, decide which classes you want to take, find out which days and times they meet, and make sure they don’t overlap.
  2. To get the classes you want, make sure to register as early as possible, either in person or online.
  3. Resist the temptation to cram all your classes into one or two days. It’s better to aim for a manageable workload, so spread your classes over the week.
  4. Go for a mix of hard and easy classes. Especially at the beginning, you might not realize how challenging college classes can be or how much outside work they entail. If you load up on organic chemistry, Russian 101, and advanced thermodynamics, your grades and general well-being could suffer.
• Know what to do if your academic adviser isn’t very helpful. If you think that you and your adviser are not a good match, talk to your college success course instructor about what you need to do to be assigned to a different adviser. Alternately, drop by the campus counseling center for assistance. But whatever you do, be resilient. Don’t throw in the towel. Academic planning is so critical to your success in college that it’s worth persevering until you find an adviser with whom you feel comfortable.
• Set up subsequent meetings with your academic adviser. Touch base with your adviser at least once a term, if not more. It’s important to stay connected and make sure that you’re on a positive track. Programs change requirements occasionally, so it’s smart to touch base to make any necessary adjustments. Here are some questions to ask your adviser as you check in:
  1. Have there been any changes to my program of study?
  2. If I want to officially withdraw from a class, will I be penalized at a later time?
  3. Am I still taking classes in the right order?
  4. What courses do I need to take to satisfy the major requirements at the institution where I plan to transfer?
  5. For those students who are considering graduate school: Am I meeting the criteria for graduate school, and will my grades qualify me for the program I’m interested in?