Preparing to Meet with Your Advisor

Meeting regularly with a faculty advisor is an important component of your educational experience at Assumption College. (If you have yet to consider a new advisor advisor, please read our guide for Considering a New Advisor.)

What kinds of things should you discuss with your advisor?
An advisor can help with the following matters:

Choosing courses to fulfill the General Education requirements
Choosing courses appropriate to your intended major or minor
Enrolling in Consortium courses
Changes to class schedules during add/drop period
Withdrawing from a course
Mapping out a plan for the overall academic program that might include other academic opportunities such as study abroad, an internship, or an independent study
Discussing post-graduation study or career plans

When should you see your advisor?
Most students see their advisors at least once mid-semester to discuss course selection for the upcoming term, and that discussion can be a springboard for addressing longer-term goals, other academic opportunities and after-graduation plans.

Any last-minute changes to class schedules need to be approved by the advisor during add/drop period, the first week of each semester.

Withdrawing from a course also requires the signature of the student’s advisor; the deadline for withdrawing is listed in the Academic Calendar in the back of the Undergraduate Catalog. You can also access the Academic Calendar on the Assumption website.

How can you make an appointment to see your advisor?
During the course-selection period, most advisors have sign-up sheets posted on the door of their office. Pick a day and time that work with your schedule, sign up, and then return at that day and time.

If you need to discuss another issue, either call or e-mail to make an appointment, or you can try stopping by during office hours, though you might have to compete with other students who are taking a class with the professor.

How can your prepare for your appointment?
If you are meeting to discuss course selection, then you should make a point of doing some pre-meeting preparation. Make sure to:

Print out a copy of your transcript (by accessing your student account on Campus Web) so that you can remind yourself of what courses you have taken. Bring it with you to the meeting.
Bring the Gen Ed Requirements worksheet: before you meet with your advisor. Mark off the requirements you have fulfilled, and indicate which requirements you still have yet to fulfill.
Look at the course requirements for your intended major in the Undergraduate Catalog. Again, mark off those you have fulfilled, and indicate which requirements you still need to do.
Once you have a sense of where you stand in terms of General Education requirements and major requirements, take a look at the course offerings online for the upcoming term—get a sense of what is being offered. Make a list of classes you think you would like to take. Bring the list with you.
Make a list of questions and talking points and bring the list with you. Be sure to use this meeting as an opportunity to share your academic and professional goals, and ask your advisor for help and guidance in how to go about achieving those goals.

Are there any rules of etiquette to observe during meetings with advisors?
Keep in mind that most faculty members advise up to 20 students, so it’s important to be considerate of their time and come prepared. Here are the Do’s and Don’ts:

Do:

Schedule an appointment or sign up for one
Arrive on time for your appointment
Come prepared for your appointment (see above)
Turn off your cell phone and give your advisor your undivided and full attention
Observe all the usual rules of polite behavior and courtesy that you would give to someone whom you respect and admire

Don't:

Drop by expecting an advisor to meet with you if it’s not during office hours or a scheduled appointment
Expect an advisor to sign an add/drop or withdrawal form in the hallway before or after class
Do the opposite of anything listed in the Do column above

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