Reasons to See Your College Academic Adviser

marybabysteps — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:15:37 EDT

I am a huge advocate of meeting with your academic adviser regularly. As a former adviser, I've met with countless students who finally came to see me when their problems were so big that they felt there was nowhere else to turn. So many of these problems could have been avoided if they had visited an adviser in the first place. I know that at some colleges and universities, it may seem hard to touch base with an a adviser, but I promise you it's worth the effort to establish a relationship with someone from your college advising center or even a faculty adviser. Here are some reasons you'll want to see your academic adviser throughout the semester.

Help With Scheduling

An academic adviser can help you schedule your classes. We all know that. But a good adviser will talk to you about your lifestyle and obligations outside of school to help you determine the number of classes that are right for you. He or she can also help you to choose a balanced courseload so that you don't end up taking too many academically intense courses at once.

Monitor Prerequisites

Prerequisites are the classes you need to take before taking advance coursework. Your institution's course catalog should list prerequsites, but it can be overwhelming in the beginning to determine which classes require you to take something beforehand. Sitting down with an adviser will help to ease you into the process of selecting appropriate classes.

Provide Resources

Academic advisers have a wealth of information about campus and community resources. For instance, if you're struggling with your coursework, an adviser can help you to sign up for a tutor. If you're dealing with financial or emotional issues, it's likely your academic adviser will be able to point you in the direction of community organizations that can give you the support you need.

Give Career Guidance

I recommend visiting your school's career center if you are unsure of your major. But if your school doesn't have a career services center or if you have an established relationship with an adviser, it's likely you'll be able to get a good start on career counseling from your academic adviser. He or she can provide you with vocational and personality inventories that will give you insight into your interests. It's likely you can also find information on your careers of interest.

Determine Whether To Drop A Class

It's not always a good idea to drop a class. You may be failing miserably and overwhelmed, but did you know that dropping a class could affect your eligibilty for financial aid? Sometimes it's better to stick it out. Staying in the class allows you to learn as much as you can about the subject, so that if you have to repeat it, you'll be more prepared the next time around. Always talk to your instructor and an academic adviser before dropping a class.

Avoid Costly Mistakes

Spending just a few minutes with an academic adviser each semster can save your lots of money or time. Often times, students take classes they don't even need, either because they misread the catalog or because they made assumptions about the curriculum requirements. An adviser's job is to be familiar with the requirements of each major and to know your school's policies. Ultimately, what you decide to take is your responsibility, but an adviser can help you to make better decisions.

Teach Study Tips

Did you sign up to take a study skills course? I highly recommend these classes to help you get the right start on your college education, but if you didn't, an adviser can often provide good study tips to help make things a little easier for you. College can be tough for adults with kids, jobs, or other obligations. Talking to an adviser can help make things a bit more manageable.

Get the Inside Scoop

College advisers often know the dirt about different professors' teaching styles or workload. They can also explain in more detail than the course catalog provides just what a class is all about. Establishing a relationship with an adviser will also help you to find out about registration deadlines, increasing your chances of getting into the popular classes that fill up fast.

Check Your Progress

An adviser can help you to complete a degree audit once your further along in your studies. This is a checklist that determines how many classes you've completed toward your degree. Checking in periodically will make sure you don't miss anything toward graduation.

These are just a few of the many reasons to see your adviser. Most schools have some sort of academic center. You can always go there to meet with an adviser, even if you've been assigned to a faculty adviser. Faculty members are great. They know every detail there is to know about your major and can answer all of your career questions, but the academic advisers at your school are experts at school policy, financial aid regulations, general career guidance, and study skills. Find an adviser who you feel comfortable with, and your college experience is sure to be improved!

Never Too Late For College

Reasons to See Your College Academic Adviser