Academic Advising: Questions and Answers

Your academic advisor is a member of the faculty or professional staff who will guide you in the selection of courses, in solving problems, and in understanding the nature of the curriculum and how it affects your personal and professional development. You will meet periodically with your advisor to discuss course selection, academic progress, and college adjustment issues, as well as the role of the curriculum in your overall educational thinking and planning. Your academic advisor is determined by your major or intended area of study. If you have not yet chosen a major, you will be advised by a TASP advisor. Once you declare a major, you will change to an advisor in your chosen area of study.

Find Your Advisor

How often you will depend on you and your advisor. Minimally, you should meet at the beginning, middle, and end of each semester. However, your advisor is available to assist you during the semester when you have questions or concerns.

Possible topics for discussion include:

• Course selection
• Graduation requirements
• Your major
• Academic policies or deadlines
• Basic time management and study skills
• Academic organizations
• Internships
• Summer employment
• Volunteer options, and other aspects of college life that may enhance your college performance

Review policies, procedures, or issues you plan to discuss with your advisor prior to your meetings. Make a list of questions, and use resources such as the university catalog, schedule of classes, or your degree plan.

The initial meeting with your advisor will focus on the courses in the degree plan for your chosen major. You and your advisor will complete an Advisor Approved Schedule, listing your first choices, as well as one or two "back-ups" for each class (in the event a class is already filled).

Consider the following factors when choosing your classes:

• Consider the times the classes meet. It may not be a good idea to schedule all of your classes together, so try to spread them out. The same is true for trying to have days of the week with "no classes," which often become days when nothing gets done.
• Balance the types of courses you are taking. A good blend of math, science, liberal arts, language, and other subject areas makes the first year easier to manage and more interesting.
• Check the catalog and your Degree Works profile to be sure you are taking courses that are fulfilling your major or requirements for graduation.
• Check course prerequisites. Some courses require completion of another course first.
• Note the number of hours for which you are registering. The recommended course load for beginning full-time students ranges from 12 to 16 credit hours the first semester.

Yes! MSU Texas offers many resources to help you be successful, and your advisor can help you identify what will serve you best. We offer a special course, College Connections, for entering students to help you become successful in college coursework.

The Office of Tutoring and Academic Support Programs (TASP), located on the first floor of Moffett Library, offers free, drop-in tutoring for all subjects. Disability Support Services (DSS) works with students who have a documented mental or learning disability that may affect classroom performance, Talk with your advisor about any of the above options.

Most definitely! If you are fairly certain of your major, your advisor can help you choose basic courses from your degree plan and also recommend professors from whom you might get additional information. Some introductory courses are note always acceptable in a specific major. Be sure to discuss with your advisor recommended career fields related to your chosen major. Feel free to stop by the MSU Texas Career Management Center for more information about your major and related career fields.

First, consider your expectations. Are they realistic? Don't expect to meet every week with your advisor for long periods of time, and don't expect them to do all of the work; that's your job. However, if your advisor never seems to be available to meet with you, it may be time to look for a new advisor. Contact the department office, or talk to the department chair for assistance.