You’re on campus now. You’re having a great time, learning the rhythm of the school, and finding your place. But have you visited a college advisor yet?
You’ve probably heard the term, and someone might have explained it to you. However, there’s a lot more to college advising than it may seem. Here, I review everything you might want to know, from what a college advisor is to why you should visit them.
What is a college advisor?
A college advisor, to put it simply, is someone who is employed by the university to give you advice on a certain area. As I’ll mention below, there are several types of advisors, each of whom have their own specialty. Their overall goal, no matter what field, is to connect you with resources, ensure that you meet your personal and academic goals, and help you in your college journey.
How can a college advisor help you?
A college advisor can help you navigate their field. Some ways they can assist you include:
- Answering questions about classes
- Reviewing your degree audit to make sure you’re on track for graduation
- Ensuring you’re aware of all class and registration options available
- Making college as straightforward as possible for you
- Giving advice on areas like career, honors, or study abroad
- Focus on academic and professional goals
- Work together to set you up for graduation and post-graduation
Each school’s advising system is different, but these are some of the general ways they can assist you. Here’s a nice article about who college advisors are.
What are the different types of advisors?
There are several types of college advisors. Each university has a different advising system. However, the list below is fairly common, and you will likely be able to find these at your university.
Academic Advisor
An academic advisor is someone who you can meet with to discuss your academic goals and ensure you are on the right track for graduation. They go over your degree audit and check that you have met the right amount of credits. They can also discuss different class options with you, tell you what to look for coming up, and how to make up credits.
If there are other graduation requirements (i.e., study abroad, capstone, testing, etc.), they will also let you know about this.
Major Advisor
Some universities also offer a major advisor. This is a college advisor that guides you on things specifically related to your major. They will be the best person to talk to when you have a question related to your specialty (i.e., which classes to take, going over a four year major plan, what students have done in the past). Many major advisors also post job, research, and internship opportunities within your field. They are a great source of knowledge for anything related to your specialty. At SDSU, my ISCOR major advisor was the first person I would go to with a question because he was so kind, helpful, and knowledgeable.
Minor Advisor
Some universities, including SDSU, have a minor advisor. This is who you go to for things related to your minor(s). Usually, this focuses on what classes you can take, what would be the best match, and how to meet the requirements. I’d recommend meeting with this person whenever you schedule a class related to your minor!
Study Abroad Advisor
A study abroad advisor helps you with everything related to study abroad. If you want to learn what a program entails, how to start your application, what documents you need, or the steps to take to resolve an issue, you’ll likely be directed to your school’s study abroad advisor. This person might also help you learn about programs and scholarships such as Fulbright and Critical Language Study (CLS). I write about my experience studying abroad with SDSU here. The study abroad advisors were so helpful! However, I do recommend starting the process early, as studying abroad often takes significant planning.
Career Advisor
If you’re ready to think about careers or internships–whether you’re a freshman or a graduating senior–this is the person to go to. Your college’s career center will have all kinds of resources for you, from career assessments to resume workshops to one-on-one advising. They are also the ones that help coordinate career fairs and mentorship programs. Start early! Don’t wait until the final semester of senior year.
Honors Advisor
If you’re in an Honors College, you’ll usually have access to an honors advisor. This person can help you with anything related to honors, and they also can give general advice. If you join an Honors College, you’re likely a high achiever, and you probably have some additionally graduation requirements to meet. Honors advisors are trained for this, and they are an excellent resource to talk to about classes, Honors, and post-college plans. In my experience at the SDSU Weber Honors College, the honors advisor was incredibly useful and offered valuable insight when it came to planning.
Student Advisor
Many universities also utilize student or peer advisors. These are students who have been trained by the university or department to help you. They are more approachable, and they can also offer you their perspective as a student, not a professor. They’re more likely to know which classes and professors are great, tips to balance your schedule, and what you should do to succeed in that particular program.
When should you see an advisor?
There are two answers here. The obvious answer: it depends on what you need and when.
Here are my suggestions, based largely in part on my own experience, the advice given to me, and the patterns that I saw in successful students:
- Academic Advisor: if your school doesn’t have a major advisor, I recommend meeting with the academic advisor before scheduling your classes each semester. If you go to your major advisor more often, be sure to meet with the academic advisor at least 1-2 times to double check that everything is good with your graduation.
- Major Advisor: whenever you schedule your classes or have a question. This is the person who you will probably go to most often.
- Minor Advisor: best practice is to visit them before scheduling your classes each semester and when you have a question. Aim for a minimum of at least once a year, that way you can make sure everything is on track.
- Study Abroad Advisor: whenever you have a question related to study abroad. If you know you’re planning to study abroad, I’d schedule a meeting with them well ahead of time. Be sure to come prepared with ideas of what you want to do and follow their instructions. Once you initiate the study abroad process, visit them whenever you are told.
- Career Advisor: the earlier, the better. I recommend meeting with them at least once during your freshman or sophomore year to introduce yourself and start familiarizing yourself with the opportunities and resources provided. I would recommend at least 1-2 times a year during your junior and senior years, especially when you need help with a resume, networking, or interviewing.
- Honors Advisor: whenever you are choosing classes or have a question related to Honors. Best practice would be once a semester. Some Honors Colleges require you to visit your honors advisor.
- Student Advisor: whenever you feel the need or want peer advice, or if your program requires it.
Why should you see an advisor?
If the information above hasn’t convinced you to see an advisor, consider this African proverb that my Honors College used: “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.” The most successful people are those who know how to leverage their networks. They understand the resources available to them and take advantage of them, and they know when to reach out for help. A college advisor is trained to share their wealth of knowledge, and they want to make your life easier.
By seeing an advisor, you’re learning more and getting an outside perspective. You’re also being proactive. Think about your health. What’s better–making sure that you’re staying healthy in advance or only dealing with an issue once it’s arisen? Your degree is the same way. You want to make sure that there aren’t any surprises at the end of your college journey. Additionally, you want to put yourself ahead of all the people who don’t utilize these amazing resources! It only takes thirty minutes of your time, but it will yield great benefits in the long run.
A Final Word
Like many other aspects of college, advising is what you make of it. As you saw above, there are several types of advisors, and it can be overwhelming. However, it is so important to learn about the resources available to you so that you can pave your path to success. Take that first step and schedule a meeting with a college advisor now!
Photo Credit: Photo by Pang Yuhao on Unsplash
