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Choosing an academic advisor


If you’ve leafed through a course catalog, you may be confused—What should you take first? Why? What happens if you don’t get the classes you want? What does 101 even mean? Colleges provide help with this by assigning you an academic advisor, usually a faculty member. This person will help you select and register for classes, select a major, change your major, adjust your schedule, communicate effectively with faculty and staff, and develop a reasonable graduation plan. With this much involvement in your life, an advisor should be a person you click with. If you don’t, you can switch to a different advisor.

College students switch academic advisors regularly based on their interests and majors, so don’t be concerned that you’ll offend your originally assigned advisor by switching. While your academic advisor will be your primary guide, be sure to also request advice from professors, administrators, mentors, peers, family, and friends.


Look for a person who will:
• Listen to you and offer suggestions.
• Ask you questions and seek your opinion.
• Get back to you with answers to your questions.
• Support and motivate you.
• Support you by giving honest feedback.
• Refer you to key resources.
• Advocate for you when needed.
• Meet with you regularly (at least once per term).

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