Overview Student Responsiblities Why See an Advisor? Checklist for Successful Registration Different Types of Advisors Advising Tips Academic Advising Across the Campus Academic Exploration & Advising Services Words, Phrases and Abbreviations You Need to Know

Student Advising Tips

Academic advising is one of the most important services you will receive while you are at MU. You will be assigned to an academic advisor according to your major interest, even if your interest is "undecided" or "undeclared" for a while. Your academic advisor can assist you in planning your class schedule, discussing your educational and career goals and making sure you fulfill all academic requirements. Your academic advisor may be either a faculty advisor or a staff advisor.

The process of academic advising is a two-way interaction where you and your advisor work together to achieve a common goal. Try to schedule your appointments as early on as possible to give yourself time to work out any technicalities. Your advisor can help you learn the rules and requirements for graduation. Learn everything you can about the requirements of your degree program. It is helpful to keep an updated and organized file folder containing all of your advising and degree program information. Your advisor can help you explore problems, seek solutions and also refer you to other valuable sources of information and assistance across the campus and community. Your advisor can help you learn how to choose classes, how to prepare a feasible schedule and how to use the Telephone Registration System (PAWS) to register and to make changes in your schedule.

To prepare for your appointment with your advisor, it is helpful to pick up any materials you will need such as a current schedule of courses (from the Registration Office, 127 Jesse Hall), your registration permit form (from your Deans or Department Office) and an undergraduate catalog(from the Admissions Office, 228 Jesse). It is also helpful to prepare a tentative list of courses which you would like to take and jot down any questions that you want to ask.

Here are some key areas that you might want to discuss with your advisor:

• Your educational and career goals (e.g., what you want to do in five years).
• Requirements of your specific degree program--Different majors have different course and semester hour requirements.
• Requirements for graduation.
• Prerequisite courses for courses you want to take.
• Registration process and procedures.
• How to set realistic goals and develop a plan to achieve them.
• How to prepare a schedule that is both feasible and makes progress toward your degree program.
• How to schedule courses now to achieve ultimate goal of graduation.
• Other questions you have about the degree, major, courses, policies.
• ...and more!