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Consulting your Advisor

As an initial step in planning your degree program, talk with your faculty advisor. (For how to obtain an advisor, see Joining the Dept.). However, you should do some basic preparation before your initial meeting. Both your time and your advisor’s time are best spent responding to your specific questions rather than repeating the basic information that is already present in the Psychology Dept. Handbook or the University Catalog. A new catalog is published every other year. In general, you may meet either the academic requirements current at the time you first enroll or those approved later. Be sure to meet all of whichever set of requirements you choose.

1. Study information about the university and major requirements. Prepare questions for your advisor based on your needs and what you think you want to do. As you talk with your advisor, check off items as they are covered and take notes about courses, further work needed and sources of information.
   
2. Begin a master plan of your course of study. This master plan should extend through your entire college career. It should be flexible, because a course may not be offered during a particular semester, or two courses may meet at the same time, and so forth. Although your initial meeting with your advisor should center on your degree requirements, it might be a good time to begin formulating your master plan. What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?
   
3. Consult your advisor when you draft your class schedule. Your advisor can help you to evaluate your reasons for choosing certain classes rather than others. When you meet with your advisor, have some idea of the classes you want to take for the coming semester. A copy of the Registration Worksheet is available online. Consider alternatives and ask which would be best in terms of your master plan. By doing your scheduling this way, you can take full advantage of your advisor’s insight and opinions as you develop your own ideas and direction. Remember, plan ahead! Remember to bring a copy of your Degree Progress Report when meeting with your advisor for scheduling.
   
4. Ask around to find out which advisors are knowledgeable about career planning in your area of interest. As you explore various careers for which you may be suited, you may want to visit Career Services (Main Building, Room 134) for additional advice or career testing. You can then work together with both your faculty advisor and Career Services advisor to plan an effective course of study.
   
5. Talk to a faculty member or advisor in the particular field of psychology in which you might be interested. He or she can advise you concerning suitable courses, minors, or graduate programs. This person might also have information on how to find a job or gain entrance into a graduate program. Ask your own faculty advisor to recommend any special advisors or faculty who might be willing to meet with you.
   
6. Remember, finally, that your faculty advisor will be a source of advice during your entire college career. There may be times when you need advice or direction that is not academic in nature, for which you need an impartial response. Most advisors are quite willing to help students find ways to deal with problems that are outside those areas they usually handle. If not, your advisor can refer you to help or guidance. In short, throughout your college career, look to your faculty advisor as a source of help in both academic and nonacademic matters.