Considering a New Advisor

Advising is important here at Assumption College. We think of advising as a form of teaching, and so, advising is done by full-time faculty members.

All first year students are assigned an initial academic advisor when they enter the college. That match is made based on what students told us of their academic interests and expectations. After that, the choice is theirs— either to keep that advisor, or to seek another.

Many students keep their assigned advisors for all four years of their undergraduate career. Others change advisors, often when they declare a major field of study in the second semester of their sophomore year.

There are important advantages to having an advisor in one’s major. That advisor is fully informed about the course offerings and degree requirements in the field. He or she can also help with internships and job placement, or write convincing letters of reference to graduate schools or employers later on.

Other students choose an advisor from a department outside of their major based on personal preference—who they like, or who they feel most comfortable talking to, etc. This is a good option for students who feel they have a good understanding of their major and of all graduation requirements.

Finally, a student might opt for a faculty member in their minor field of study, or just in a subject area they enjoy and have taken a few classes in, but are not planning to major or minor. The personal comfort and rapport are pluses in this scenario, but the faculty member can’t be expected to know everything about a very different field and profession.

Ask yourself:

Is there a faculty member in my intended major with whom I feel comfortable?
Who have I enjoyed and communicated well with as a professor?
Who knows me and seems interested in how I’m doing in my classes?
Whose advice and point of view do I respect?

Use these questions as a general guide, and remember, you can always change advisors—it’s just a matter of filling out a form.

Here’s how:

Consider a new advisor. The Advisor Directory on this site may be useful. It is searchable by name and department.
Get a copy of the "Change of Advisor Form." It can be accessed online at this Academic Advising Website or on the registrar’s website. Or, pick up a hard copy at the Registrar's Office in the basement of Alumni Hall.
Get your new advisor’s signature on the form. (There's no need for your former advisor’s signature.)
Turn the form in to the registrar.

When approaching a faculty member to serve as your academic advisor, it is best to observe the politest protocols. Call or e-mail ahead for an appointment, and be on time for the meeting. Be ready to explain your academic interests, goals, and plans, and to ask lots of questions about opportunities the advisor may be able to open up for you. Faculty like to advise students who are actively engaged in their educations, not simply sitting back and waiting for the advisor to tell them what to take next.

It’s probably good to choose more than one person you’d like as an advisor. Don’t be disappointed if the first professor you ask turns you down. Some professors have a lot of advisees and may not feel able to take on another, or they may be going on sabbatical, or teaching a heavy load, or have an impending deadline to finish a manuscript. Professors have the right to sign happily, or to decline politely. Should you be turned down, don’t worry. Go for the next person on your list.

Best of luck in finding the right match between your interests, goals, and commitments, and an advisor who can help you realize them!

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