The First Advising Session (mid pre-term week)
Before you meet with advisees during the week, you may wish to review each folder (see the “Advising Folder” webpage for hints)
Some specific tactics/questions you might use during this meeting:
- Use your notes from reading their folder to help frame the discussion
- Focus on hopes and dreams (what happens next?)
- Try to determine their capabilities (how hard did they work for those HS grades?)
- Review placements with students (and deal with discrepancies)
- For low GPAs and or low ACTs (under 20) use “potentially under-prepared” hints
- Get a feel for appropriate credit load to avoid the crash and burn
- 13 credits =3 classes and pre-term
- "Normal load" is 13-18 (17 still allows a 4 credit drop option)
- Credits over 18 (unless exempt) cost $$$
- Better to have a strong first term, than a too-challenging one
- Focus on providing choices and consequences
- Select classes as a mutual example of problem solving rather than “assigning”
- Hint at the need to learn time management (maybe mention webpages)
Develop a course schedule of their ideas/decisions, with your experience:
- Ask about scholarship classes (music, theater, etc)
- Prompt for freshman honors seminar
- Put placement classes in the queue (or on a winter class list)
- Utilize all days of the week
- Avoid all classes back to back (much harder than in high school)
- For “undecideds” find a class in several potential directions which is also a DR
- Check pre-requisites (especially math)
- Be careful of quill classes if the student is not a strong writer
- If sciences, consider BIO 121 (for BIO, BCM, EHS, and anything pre-health)
If there are questions you believe they can answer with legwork:
- Make a follow up appt if you have slots remaining
- Pre-professional/education students should know about on-line resources
- They can examine texts in the bookstore (chapter 3 on) to determine level
Tactics that may not work as well as expected:
- Using the “giving them courses” philosophy which gives them a "blame target"
- Setting up a class “to drop” generally plays out as decreased motivation and a drop
- A four-year plan in the first term can cause them to flip out (this task is better started at the November advising meeting)
By the end of advising process:
- They should have a complete schedule, with backups for each option
- Watch for sudden loss of confidence/over-confidence (due to parents or peers)
- Help students reflect on their past performance to ally fears brought on by others
Make sure students understand the actual registration process, the day and time when all changes must be finalized, the advisor approval process, and the submission action by the student. Emphasize their responsibility for submitting the class form. You can diffuse a lot of angst if you briefly explain what happens if they don’t get every class they selected (the drop-add process). This should make even more sense if you have talked in terms of back-up plans through the entire process. Plan to be available each afternoon of pre-term for student consultation, especially during the class adjustment period.
A word about distributive requirements (DRs)
Students should not rush to fulfill distributive requirements first. Treating DRs like a check-off list or taking them in isolation undercuts the liberal arts philosophy (that these requirements strengthen preparation). If DRs are completed first (rather than concentrating on major and support classes), it may not be possible to finish the major, multiple major classes must be taken together, and overall satisfaction and persistence are diminished. And students have missed the best chance to tie DR choices into future career goals…making their education truly individual!
Please suggest that students read the “What is a Field of Study” webpage to see just how DRs fit into the bigger picture. For undecided students, suggest they find a DR in a potential major that interests them, and remember that even first year students can take electives that count for nothing but credit!
Don't worry! You'll be a pro very soon. If you have a chance, you could also delay your first advising session, in order to watch a colleague in action!
