There’s no denying it: college is hard. Balancing classes with work, socializing and taking care of your mental and physical health — not to mention sleep! — can pose a huge challenge for students.
Often, students also stress about their educational goals:
- What classes should I be taking?
- When should I take them?
- Am I on the right path to graduate in four years?
Cultivating a relationship with an academic advisor will ease stress related to what you should be doing and leave time for you to focus on doing it – working, studying and launching a career for yourself.
But, where to start when building this relationship, and how to make the most of it? We spoke to Julian White, Fox’s senior director of Undergraduate Advising, and he shared these four tips to get the most value out of academic advising.
Tip #1: Reach out early
It is never too soon to reach out to your academic advisor for help.
According to White, there are two peak periods for advising:
- The first two weeks of the semester.
- During Priority Registration (for the upcoming fall or spring semester).
Advisors are still available during these times, but there’s only so much help to go around.
So, rather than waiting until it’s time to register for classes or waiting until the start of the semester, White suggests coming to the advising office earlier.
“Come to see us when we really have the time to help you develop a full academic plan,” White says. “If you come in outside of peak periods, we can put more effort into dissecting what you need!”
By making time for advising outside of peak periods, students can work with advisors to develop an in-depth academic plan. An academic plan can help students maximize their use of Temple’s resources by taking the proper classes at the right times to reach their academic and professional goals.
Tip #2: Use advising as a jumping-off point
When asked if there are any questions students should ask someone else, rather than an advisor, White says, “Nope!”
“We are the place students go for every question, and we don’t want that to change. If nothing else, we’ll help you find help somewhere else!”
- Use advising as a starting point for any class, scheduling or career-related questions.
- Advisors are trained to understand how to navigate Temple regardless of a student’s academic goals.
- If a student is struggling in a class, advising can help them understand why and offer possible solutions like tutoring or a major switch.
White also pointed to the Center for Student Professional Development (CSPD) as a great resource. CSPD is focused on students’ career goals, but much like advising, can help students understand which courses or areas of study to follow in pursuit of those goals.
“We never want students to feel like they can’t come to advising for something. We will always help or give the best recommendation for who can!”
Tip #3: Come prepared and ready to learn
Before entering an advising meeting, it’s best to be familiar with the bulletin requirements for your major. Every piece of information you need to know is in the bulletin — but, as White notes, the bulletin can be cumbersome. That’s what advising is for!
Additionally, White suggests becoming familiar with the Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS). DARS can help students understand:
- what classes they have taken,
- what they need to take,
- how many classes they have remaining,
- and other details specific to each student’s academic path.
DARS can be confusing to navigate, so an advisor will gladly walk you through it if you’re unsure. However, if you have experience with DARS, it’s crucial to review it before an advising meeting.
White also suggests bringing a list of specific questions to your meeting. While advising can still help with broad questions like what classes you should take, White says targeting your questions will help your advisor address your particular needs.
Tip #4: You don’t actually need an appointment – but please make one if you can!
Drop in advising
While it’s highly recommended to make an appointment, advising also takes drop-ins! White suggests arriving early in the day to secure your spot. While there might be a longer queue during peak periods, White says if you arrive early to the advising office, rest assured your issue will get resolved.
Advising appointments
- Making an appointment is still the best way to ensure you are seen by an advisor.
- If you do not see any open appointments in the advising portal, White says to check back at 5 p.m. on any Wednesday, as that’s when the schedule for the next week opens up. So, if you’re logged in at 5 p.m. on a Wednesday, you should have your pick of any appointment you’d like!