Academic Advising Tips for the Spring Semester and Beyond

It’s official: the spring semester has arrived like a neatly-wrapped gift for Monmouth students and staff. With any new semester comes new classes and a fresh opportunity for success. Here are some tips to be your best academic self this semester and beyond.

1. Utilize Add/Drop Week. The first week of a new semester always starts with Add/Drop week, which allows students to freely add and drop classes without getting a withdrawal on their transcripts. While this Add/Drop period ended on Jan. 24, this is something to take advantage of in future semesters. Students are also encouraged to continue to work diligently with their advisors to create the perfect schedule.
2. Communicate with your Academic Advisor. Working with an advisor is crucial to succeeding and determining what classes to take according to your major. Aim for at least two meetings with your advisor; one in the beginning of the semester and one at the end. This ensures that you are on track with your academic career.
3. Ask Questions. When working to build a doable schedule with an advisor, asking questions is key. Students must fill graduation and major requirements, and knowing the prerequisites for courses and asking for clarification makes the process easier. Advisors can also provide career advice or guide undeclared students toward choosing the right major.
   Catherine Duckett, Ph.D., Undergraduate Academic Advising Administrator for the School of Science, said, “The first question I ask students is: ‘Are you in college to learn how to prepare for a more fulfilling life or are you here to prepare for a specific career?’ All students should be asking themselves this question.
   “If the answer is the latter exclusively,” Duckett continued, “Tips include researching what successful practitioners follow. If the student is trying to prepare themselves to be a lifelong learner and for a fulfilling life, my answer is they should be seeking out courses and experiences that challenge them and where they learn new and varied skills.”
4. Never be afraid to share your opinion about a certain class meeting time or one that you do not like. Many students have preferences for class times; some are not morning people, therefore avoiding the earliest class time is likely desirable. Some students also aim for a day off during the week to catch up on coursework. Make sure your advisor is aware of your academic likes/dislikes, and they will have no problem accommodating as long as classes are offered during your preferred times.
5. Do your Research. Going into an advising meeting can create anxiety for students; however, going in with a plan of what your major expects from you can help you sculpt your schedule with ease.
   Bridgette Blumetti, a sophomore nursing student, said, “Having prior knowledge on courses within my curriculum guide has proven to be advantageous. As nursing students, we are required to complete several science courses which can prove challenging. I attempt to pair higher difficulty courses with simpler ones.”
   “By creating a schedule revolving around these harder courses, it provides the opportunity to study more efficiently and disperse my time for class work,” Blumetti explained. “I have also found it crucial to my success that I establish a weekly work plan.”
6. Work on balancing your schedule. It’s important to maintain a balance between your GenEd requirements and your major/minor requirements. Think about yourself in the future; you might not want to take your hardest classes spring semester of your senior year.
   Stanley Blair, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English and Academic Advisor, said, “When I advise students on scheduling courses, I suggest they consider two kinds of balance. One kind of balance is chronological, during the student’s entire time at Monmouth. This chronological balance often tends to favor General Education courses near the beginning of the student’s time at Monmouth, and to favor major courses and related professional preparation near the end. The shift from the one to the other is
   often gradual.”
   Blair added, “The second kind of balance is within each semester. Most students have multiple components to their degree program— at least one major, oftentimes one minor, General Education, and sometimes free electives. Since all of these are important, and since their interrelationship is also important, all of them can and perhaps should be represented in the schedule each semester. In some majors, the workload in upper-level major courses is substantial, and quality of performance in them is important. In such cases, two upper-level major courses per semester may be sufficient, though three such courses may also be possible or necessary.”
7. Know Your Limits. If a class is not a good fit, or you’re finding it difficult to balance your workload, you can withdraw. Monday, March 20 is the last possible day to withdraw from a semester-long course in which you will receive a “W” on your transcript. Advisors are always there to help you navigate this change.