Preparing for Advising Meetings

Name Coach

If you haven’t already, consider using NameCoach to assist you in properly pronouncing your student’s or advisor’s name.

Plan a schedule for the upcoming semester

Students should be coming to the advising meeting prepared to discuss course selections for the next semester or two. This worksheet is a document students can complete in advance.

Talk about more than a schedule!

In addition, be sure to allow for time in the advising session to have more in-depth conversations. Below are some suggested open-ended questions. These are great questions to reflect upon in advance.

For any student

What is most on your mind today? (this month, this semester)
How are you getting involved and connecting on campus?
What interests you in your major and why?
What classes are you enjoying or learning the most from?
What are you struggling with or what might you dislike about your classes?

For first/second year students

Are you considering a minor, double-major, or study abroad opportunity? What interests you about this pursuit?
What internship, research, or service opportunities would you like to pursue?

For second/third year students

Can you tell me about any new skills you would like to acquire?
What are you planning for your summer?
What are you considering for your post-graduate work?
What are you doing to gain experience?

For seniors

Have you developed a professional network?
Have you prepared an up to date resume or CV?
What are you most excited about for the future?

Additional resources

If a student identifies a needed resource or concern during the meeting, the Student Success Center has a page identifying various Solutions Centers on campus where advisors can help direct them.

After the meeting

It is recommended advisors send a summary email to their advisee, outlining recommend courses and other next steps. Advisors are also encouraged to copy and paste the email into EAB to maintain a historical record of the advising appointment.