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Career Advice for Job Seekers

Academic Planning – Now??

William Frierson AvatarWilliam Frierson
May 25, 2012


It’s easy to get so busy with day-to-day demands that you forget to take a step back and consider the big picture. This time of year, for instance, your current academic course load might be so demanding that it’s hard to take a break to think about your overall academic goals and your graduation plan. Figuring out what you want to do in your future—whether that’s the near future of next year’s course selection or the further-out future of a post-college career—can be challenging because there are so many options. Figuring out how to prioritize and manage the steps on the path to your future can be even more challenging: What are the options? What are the requirements? What requirements have changed? How do other factors—study abroad semesters, independent study classes, internship opportunities, etc.—affect the overall plan?

While there is not yet an app to help you navigate every detail of academic planning, there is an academic advising department that has lots of resources to help you figure out what you want and how to get it. (Or how to deal with issues that may crop up along the way.) Your school’s academic advising website is a great starting point when you have a question, problem, or simply a desire to daydream about your future. Most academic advising centers also offer drop-in hours so that students can pop in and ask questions of available advisors. Some advising centers host regular information sessions on such topics as Choosing Your Major. Others put on events, like UC Berkeley’s March “Major Madness” faire, where students can learn about different majors and hang out with faculty and students who represent various departments.

If you need an extended meeting with your advisor so you can figure out what classes you need to take or which course of study might best suit your interests and personality, definitely make an appointment. Some schools have full-time academic advisors and others match students to faculty members who serve as advisors in addition to teaching classes. Either way, your advisor likely works with many other students and/or has other responsibilities, so it may be difficult to get an appointment immediately. These meetings can be invaluable, however, especially in the first two years when you have so much to learn about yourself, your interests, and what your college has to offer you.

Your advisor has the knowledge you need to pursue your path. He or she knows the requirements (and knows when they change!), understands the system of adding and dropping classes, and can see the big picture of how one decision (studying in Italy for one semester, for example) will impact other choices. You’ll want to get to know your advisor and let him or her get to know you, so that as a team you can map out your future.

Being a good advisee:

Respect your academic advisor’s schedule and time. Your advisor has many other responsibilities and students vying for his or her time and attention. Don’t take it personally if you have to remind your advisor who you are the first couple of meetings.

Schedule meetings well in advance to make sure she or he is available and to make sure you’ve given yourself enough time to prepare.

Come prepared. Bring a list of questions you would like to ask as well as your calendar/planner. Ask your advisor what else you should bring.

Arrive early. If you miss your appointment it may take you weeks to get another one. If you are late for your appointment, you may not have enough time to discuss all of your questions, concerns, and ideas.

Ask questions and take notes. Keep track of your notes so you can refer back to them when you need to.

Give your advisor your full attention. Make sure your phone is off and that you’re mentally prepared to get as much out of the meeting as possible. Those thirty minutes, or however long the meeting is, could have a big impact on your next year and beyond.

By: Kirrin Coleman

Contributor: Life After Graduation, LLC

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

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