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Biology Advising FAQ

 

How should I prepare for a meeting with my adviser?

Effective advising is an important component of your academic career. Ideally, the responsibilities of advising are shared between advisor and student, resulting in a well thought out plan of study that will allow you to achieve your academic and career goals. The following suggestions are offered to help you participate in the advising process:
  • Prepare in advance of seeing your advisor. Formulate specific questions you want addressed (e.g., Where do I go for assistance in finding an internship?).
  • Become familiar with the undergraduate catalogue. This resource provides valuable information about courses, academic programs, and rules and regulations. Keep your copy handy and refer to it often.
  • At appropriate times during the semester, arrange to meet with your advisor. If you have not been assigned an advisor, see Carol Blow, Room 161, Torrey Life Sciences, to get the process rolling.
  • Keep advising appointments, and be on time. Like students, faculty members have busy schedules, and will greatly appreciate your promptness. If, for some reason, you have to break an appointment, notify your advisor beforehand, so that you can be rescheduled.
  • So that the time with your advisor can be used effectively, bring along a copy of your transcript (unofficial will do). Also bring any other documents (e.g., a brochure describing a program of interest) relevant to your advising session. Attention to these little details will allow you and your advisor to use the time most effectively- that is, in one on one advising.
  • Be proactive. This is your education. On your own, investigate the many opportunities available at the university. Share your academic and career/life goals with your advisor so that he/she can suggest ways for advancing those goals. Rather than dictate, the role of your advisor is to work with you so that you can make the decisions that will ultimately result in an academic program which best suits your needs.

This page last updated 1 August 2008.