Student Speaking with Advisor
Blog By: Whitney McGinnis, OrgSync Campus Liaison, Emporia State University
Most students do not realize the vital role academic advisors can play in their college career and future profession. Advisors not only help you enroll in classes, but they can write recommendation letters and be your resource and connection to future internships, programs, conferences, and much more.
At the start of my junior year, I became a Social Justice major and was assigned a new advisor. During our first meeting he was genuinely interested in my favorite subjects, as well as my future career and personal plans. We discussed classes I could take and internships I should apply to; I realized how valuable my relationship with my advisor is and that I did not take complete advantage of the relationship I could have had with previous advisor as most of peers mistakenly do.
To benefit from having a relationship with your advisor and take full advantage of this valuable resource, prior to an advising appointment, you should:
1. Determine the purpose of your advising appointment and express this to your advisor. Your advisor is in the best position to advise if (s)he knows what you want to discuss- i.e. class scheduling, research opportunities & graduate school preparation.
2. Create and bring a list of questions and concerns to your appointment. Leave space on the page to take notes.
3. Bring a folder with all of your ‘official’ school documents. Your folder should include:
-An up-to-date official transcript that includes coursework in progress and a current degree audit, if available
-Any worksheets or checklists you and your advisor have been working on.
-Materials related to any program, job, or internship you are considering applying for.
4. Have a plan of attack when setting your class schedule. Consider and think about your personal preferences and obligations when constructing a class schedule and extracurricular activities.
-Any outside obligations (work, practice schedules).
-What kind of learning environment is best for you? What time of day are you fully functional and at your best?
-Do you have a particular instructor or course format that works best for you?
-Consider where classroom buildings are in relation to your other classes. Do you have enough time to make it from one building to another?