Alright, so here is the first lesson to learn about college: You are a grown up and you can only depend on yourself. And no, that doesn’t include your academic advisor. I’ve learned a few things through my experiences with advising. Also, be sure to read why the New York Times says that College Is a Journey, Not a Destination.
Academic advisors, or guidance counselors, are extremely helpful in assisting you in your college career. Please don’t think this is a ‘Academic advisors are awful’ post. My academic advisor has given me so much help over the past few years. But despite their expertise and years of employment, advisors are flawed and make mistakes. Here is something I’ve learned from experience…
Academic advisors aren’t perfect.
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of advisors and counselors who truly excel at their job! They are hard workers, passionate about making sure college students succeed. But there are some who are better than others. It’s good to trust in your advisors, but it is suggested for college students to be open to the possibility that your advisor is not-so-great and does not know the following…
How difficult classes really are
Because of my love for art, my academic advisor suggested I take an art class as an elective…to make it easier on my schedule. However, my advisor did not realize that she made me sign up for a class designed to prepare prospective students applying for the competitive graphic design program! The amount of workload was intense! I hated the amount of work I had to do every week, hated the professor (she was awful), and hated the cost to the endless art supplies I had to buy. It actually ended up being my most challenging and time-consuming class. My mistake was trusting my academic advisor completely.
Okay, so even though I had a not-so-great experience with graphic design, it is a vital aspect for business and advertising! You can learn more about the Importance of Graphic Design in our blog.
Lesson learned: Don’t solely rely on what the advisor has to say about a class. The professor is the one who REALLY decides how difficult the course will be. Do research on the class and the professor. RateMyProfessor.com is somewhat helpful to see how the professor is, with input from real students.
Your best interests
When I first met with my advisor, she saw that my major was Mass Communications and assumed I was studying for the Journalism segment. She just went on and on about different course requirements, what clubs to join, blah blah blah… I had to put my foot down and tell her that I want to study Public Relations, not Journalism.
Then, my academic advisor still tried to convince me that Journalism was a better concentration for my major. And that was because the campus didn’t offer the PR program.
Lesson learned: In order to pursue the field of study you want… You’re the one you knows your true passions and talents! Sometimes, only YOU will have your best interests in mind.
The in’s and out’s of registration
I had to transfer campuses for my major (my university has multiple campuses). When I turned to advising on the steps to take for transferring, my advisor’s instructions were clear: register for the classes first, then change home campuses and declare major. Then when I tried to register for classes at the different campus, I was denied!
I confronted my advisor. Her response: “Oops, sorry!” It turns out the actual process was the total opposite of what my academic advisor told me! I didn’t know there was so much to do before registering for classes (re-declaring my major, taking a diagnostic test, submitting a home campus change, etc.). The entire process took about a month. By the time I was finally permitted to register for classes, one of the required courses I needed was full. Fantastic, right?
Lesson learned: When it comes to university advising, you’re sometimes just a number. THat is due to the large amount of students assigned to an advisor. Registration is a special case for each student.
Have we seen a theme here? You can really only depend on yourself. You should always go to your advisor for assistance! But keep in mind that they’re not always 100% reliable. You need to do your own research. Work hard when it comes to your academic journey!
Chances are your academic advisor is going to be much better than my old one. Most likely, you will get an exceptional advisor. But it is good to be aware of the possibilities of potential obstacles when it comes to your academic career.
Happy studying!