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I don’t know how else to emphasize this, but these are the most important questions to ask your college advisor.
One of the first people you will meet or speak to before stepping on campus is your college advisor. College advisors are some of the most important people on campus. They literally can make or break your college life. It’s vital to find one that you connect with or knows what they’re doing. That’s why it is also important to know what questions to ask your college advisor so you can make the most out of your college experience and education.
In this blog post, I will explain everything you need to know about college advisors and how to avoid getting a bad one!
Table of Contents
What do college advisors do?
College advisors simply advise. They advise you on anything related to college, such as your major, class schedule, and sometimes career advice. However, most colleges have a career center where they are counselors who specialize in careers and jobs.
College advisors are the people you meet to ask about any common questions you have related to college. I would advise you to go to a college advisor when you are confused about your major and talk it out with them or about anything related to classes.
I personally didn’t react with my advisor that much up until I had to go to campus. I probably spent more time with advisors, trying to find my major than any other faculty member.
College advisors play a major role in helping you with your class schedule. They also help with schedule holds or follow up with you if you ever get on academic probation. COllege advisors also approve your schedule, any class withdrawals, and inform you about any graduation requirements. You also will HAVE to get an advisor to approve your major change because it can shift your schedule.
However, most colleges have separate counselors for certain things. For example, when I was a freshman, I was assigned a certain counselor before I was officially in my major. I went to a co
What to talk about with your college advisor?
The typical things you should talk about with your college advisor involve academics, majors, and college life. If you are struggling with a course or need to get into a full class are some of the prime examples of what to talk about with your college advisor. Advisors are supposed to give you all the advice you need to schedule classes and succeed.
Questions To Ask Your College Advisor
Major/Minor Related:
1. What can I do with this major?
2. How difficult is it to get into this major/university college?
3. How does it take to finish this degree?
4. What challenges do students face this semester?
5. How can I change my major?
6. What are other related majors?
7. What is one thing that this major is known for?
8. Do I need a minor to complete this degree?
9. Is an internship needed to complete this degree?
Class Scheduling:
10. What are my toughest classes in this major?
11. What are the easiest classes required for this major?
12. Is their priority scheduling?
13. Are my plans realistic?
14. What if I can not get into ____ class this semester?
15. When is this class next available?
16. Is this class only available in the fall, spring, or summer?
17. What summer classes are typically offered?
18. Are there any online courses in this major?
19. What are some classes I can take that overlap with other majors?
20. What do I have to do to get a double major or minor?
Freshman Year:
This section is assuming that you are either a high school senior who has a college advisor or a college freshman who is new to all of this.
21. WHat are some resources for freshmen to transition to college-level work?
22. Where do I go to register for classes?
23. What classes should I take in my freshman year of college?
24. What can I do to avoid getting a hold on my schedule?
25. How can I get in contact with the financial department?
26. How can I speak with a professor that teaches in my aspiring major?
27. I have credit for [insert subject]…how much credit does this university gives it?
28. Can you walk me through the class module (e.g. Blackboard, Moodle, etc.)?
29. Can you make my schedule light this semester?
30. What tips for you have for succeeding in college?
Random Tips With Scheduling:
One of my biggest regrets in college is not knowing how to schedule my classes the summer before I started my freshman year. I was confused and didn’t know a single person in the major I was in. I also lived in a dorm that required two classes that had nothing to do with my major. I also had no clue what to talk about with my college advisor.
1. Ask questions! Ask questions!
2. Find your class degree path and write down a whole plan with your counselor.
3. Find people who have taken the classes before.
4. Use an online schedule builder each semester!
5. Have a specific folder for all of your important college papers (e.g. papers from counseling sessions, parking passes, etc.)
But…what if I stuck with a bad college advisor or can’t schedule an appointment?
Ok, I admit that I did have a subpar advisor. Literally, I was an English major that wasn’t in the two English classes offered in the dorm…ANYWAY.
Your university should have a few different advisors for you to meet with. Make sure you ask around for who is the best one. If you can’t get with an advisor at all, speak with a faculty member such as one of your professors. Explain your problem and someone should help you.
Always get more than one perspective or opinion.
Learn how to make your degree schedule ACCURATELY.
Seriously, I was helping a girl figure out her schedule because one counselor told her that it wasn’t possible for her to graduate at x time. But I told her to go to another advisor AND reworked her schedule because as a freshman I spent time learning how to schedule classes and learn about each class in my major.
Being successful in college relies mainly on you and taking advice from various faculty members.
This blog post gave your 30 good questions to ask your college advisor.
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