Making the most: What your advisor will do
- Not judge you
- Explain and interpret university policies
- Help you understand how to get into the major you want
- Listen to you and refer you to helpful offices and campus resources
- Send you updates on events happening in your college or department
- Teach your University Survey course, introducing you to life at Ohio State
- Respond to your questions quickly (usually, 1-2 business days, M-F, 8am-5pm)
- Advise you on course options and help you develop a plan to graduate on time
- Advise you about courses required for your major and the correct order in which to take them
- Make notes after your appointment to remind you of what you discussed and what you each agreed to do
- Pro tip: You can review these when you log into OnCourse
- Discuss your academic performance, possible reasons for that performance, and help develop a plan of action
- Help you explore your interests, abilities, and goals to help you choose relevant course work or recommend other useful experiences
- Pro tip: Talk to your advisor about your career goals and plans after graduation for helpful tips about ways to start preparing now
- Get to know the real you!
Making the most: What you need to do
- Know your responsibilities as a student.
- Prepare a list of questions before your advising meeting. Need help with this?
- Pro tip: Create digital and paper folders just for your advising materials. Advisors will often give you information about your degree plan or other documents; it is important to keep these notes
- Inform your advisor immediately when you have a serious problem (medical, personal, financial) that affects your ability to attend classes and/or do well in them
- Accept responsibility for decisions you made. An advisor will give you options, along with pros and cons, but the decision (and its consequences) are yours
- Schedule regular advising appointments to monitor your progress toward graduation; check-in at least once a year via appointment (more often via email)
- Pro tip: Ask questions and repeat the answer to make sure you understand. Take notes when appropriate
- Know how to use the online system to schedule your classes. An advisor will help if you have problems. Check out the online assistance guide
- Ask to be added to an advising listserv, if your college has one, to receive important updates
- Pro tip: Create a special folder in your email where you receive these and other emails from your advisor; check it daily
- Log into OnCourse and check your advising summaries to review important referrals, advice, and to-do items
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Talk with your advisor about your concerns if you disagree with them
- Be aware of academic deadlines and follow them
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Get to know your advisor