I'm a first-semester freshman, and I just had my first meeting with my academic advisor. I went in with questions about my major, course selection, and maybe career stuff. The meeting lasted 10 minutes, she checked that I wasn't failing anything, told me which classes to take next semester based on a list she had, and sent me on my way. I left feeling more confused than when I arrived.
Is this what what is academic advising supposed to be? I thought advisors were mentors who helped you figure out your path. Instead, I got what felt like a human checklist. I've read that academic advising can actually be transformative when it's done well—helping students connect their academic choices to career goals and personal growth . But that's not what I experienced. My friend at a different university says her advisor is amazing—helps her find research opportunities, talks about grad school options, even asked about her life outside classes. Why is mine so different? Is this just how it is at big universities? Am I supposed to get something specific from advising, or is it literally just someone to sign off on my course registration?
I also don't even know what questions I should be asking. What do you wish you'd asked your advisor as a freshman? What should I expect from future meetings? I don't want to waste my time or theirs, but I also don't want to miss out on help that's available.
Is this what what is academic advising supposed to be? I thought advisors were mentors who helped you figure out your path. Instead, I got what felt like a human checklist. I've read that academic advising can actually be transformative when it's done well—helping students connect their academic choices to career goals and personal growth . But that's not what I experienced. My friend at a different university says her advisor is amazing—helps her find research opportunities, talks about grad school options, even asked about her life outside classes. Why is mine so different? Is this just how it is at big universities? Am I supposed to get something specific from advising, or is it literally just someone to sign off on my course registration?
I also don't even know what questions I should be asking. What do you wish you'd asked your advisor as a freshman? What should I expect from future meetings? I don't want to waste my time or theirs, but I also don't want to miss out on help that's available.