We all have those moments when we just want to scream with frustration and anger. While in college, those moments tend to be about term papers, finals, or annoying roommates. For me, these shrieks of disturbance usually reside around the time of choosing classes. My screams, of frustration and anger tend to come from meeting with my adviser.
Advisers in college are there to help, supposedly. I’ve changed my major now three times with three advisers. Out of three trials of UNH advisers, I have never had one remotely helpful, or even half encouraging to help me figure out if I can graduate on time, or what classes I need to take. While I can’t expect them to completely write out my future in terms of my classes, I do expect them to help illuminate what they suggest I do to potentiate my future. Something that you know, I care, just a little about.
Considering I don’t quite know what my future will be, nor does anyone, it is even more frustrating when I go to meet with my adviser, and they simply expect me to tell them what I am doing and why, and will sign off on it. Whether their reasons of impassiveness are from lack of interest, or too much care into their research, it doesn’t matter to me as they are still not adequately fulfilling their jobs in my perspective. I am not quite sure what the definition of an adviser is, however, I tend to leave my meetings feeling less advised, and I am positive that’s not their purpose.
I am not summarizing all advisers into this category, I am merely reflecting on my experience thus far. Again, I can’t expect them to tell me what to take, but also, I would appreciate and value an insight into what they deem as purposeful for an undergraduate.
So what can we do? Being in college, there are so many questions we need to have answered: what possibilities are around in regards to research, internships, or proper classes? If we don’t have someone who can beneficially tell us what to do, how can we get answers?
Seeing as I have now changed my major three times in two different colleges, as well as taken 16 credits at another university, I’ve become pretty much pro at finding the answers myself, and my intentions of this are to help others who are out there, feeling like they just aren’t getting the most out of their advising sessions.
1. If you are an underclassman, I would always question the classes that the advisers sign off for. As someone new to the school, you don’t know the number system (400, 500, 600 level classes), and you also don’t know what classifies as gen-eds or not. If I had known that these things made a difference, I would not have wasted my time, or killed my GPA in Sculpture 650 the fall of my freshman year. Make sure you really understand WHY you are in a class, and question it if it seems out of place, or once in class, you feel out of place.
2. If you are an upperclassman and have issues with your adviser, or are reading this and think “Hmm.. I hate my adviser!” then it is not too late to switch advisers. Most majors allow you to choose someone after your sophomore year so take advantage of this and go with a professor of whom you have met, and know that they will serve as a useful resource, don’t just go with who you are placed with! It is a very simple process to change advisers and you can pick up a form in the main office of your major. Advisers will not take offence to it and you will be much happier in the long run.
3. If you have any questions regarding paperwork, such as where to get transfer credit approval forms, change of major forms, class petition forms, there are two places that I have found to be most helpful. One is the main office of your college. While I am only experienced in COLSA and COLA, both have been extremely helpful in guiding me in the right place. The second place to look is the registrar in Stoke Hall, located on the first floor. The attendees there are super helpful and eager to work through whatever questions you have, in particular for walking you through the necessary steps for transfer credit approval forms. These are used for if you want to take classes at another school (I used it to take classes at home), and thus far all of my 16 credits were approved.
4. Questions regarding opportunities, such as internships, research (SURF, or URC), jobs after college, or study abroad, can usually be answered with an appointment in Hood House. They have worked with many students and can pinpoint what programs would be most suitable for your needs. If your adviser isn’t knowledgeable in these areas, it isn’t necessarily their fault, as the purpose of the Hood house is to answer such questions.
5. The last place to look outside of your adviser’s office for help regarding “advising questions” is the UNH website. In terms of classes, on blackboard under “Undergraduate Course Catalog” option, they offer a specific listing of what gen-ed’s are being offered for that specific semester. In terms of internships, depending on your major, some of them have intricate listings on the websites (such as psychology) for resources. Another great resource is Webcat Careers, which is simple to set up and allows you to contact/ access alumni in your field.
While many meetings with your advisers may not go according to plan do not give up and do not let that detriment your success in a field that you want to strive in. If you are unsatisfied with something that you hear, question it. While they do have the last word in if you graduate or not, it doesn’t hurt to look in outside resources, because just as you and I are, they too are human and may not know the full extent of what you are questioning of.
My last piece of hopefully helpful advice is this; when you are going in to talk with your adviser, just be downright honest about your intentions. If you are unclear to them than you aren’t allowing them to help you, so it’s in your best interest to express what you want out of that particular meeting. Don’t expect them to make any decisions for you and don’t expect them to know what is best for you in terms of what will help you get to where you want in your future. As scary as it is, that’s sort of what the purpose of college is, to figure out what is next for yourself as an individual.