success

What to do With a Bad Academic Advisor

Posted on by Olivia Meier

Academic Advisor

Finally, you’ve chosen the perfect college. After all of the college tours and all of the pro/con lists – you found the right fit for you. What a relief, right? Now you get to school and you meet with your academic advisor for the first time – and you are just not on the same page. There’s nothing worse than having a not-so-great academic advisor, considering that their soul job is to guide you through your college career. If you’re having trouble with your advisor, here are a few tips to help you through these challenges.

Request a New Advisor

While this may be uncomfortable for incoming freshmen, or even for college students on different levels – it is possible. You can easily and politely ask your current advisor who their supervisor is and then schedule a meeting with them. Simply explain to their supervisor how your existing advisor is not meeting your needs and ask if they will assign you to someone else in the department. If they can’t change your advisor right away, at least you’ve made them aware of your feelings. They may even talk to your advisor about your needs. Regardless, it never hurts to try!

Approach a Professor

More often than not, one of your professors either sits on the board or on the committee for your major/minor. This makes them a great asset when it comes to the success of your college career. Since they are involved in your area of study, they will know exactly what courses you need to take and what requirements you need to meet. Even professors outside your major will know what general education courses you need to complete. So, if you’re not happy with how you’re being advised, grab a professor you feel comfortable approaching and start asking questions. Any advisement is worth it.

Ask Your Peers

A great benefit of college is the sense of community it brings to everyone – especially for students within the same major. You all have the same thing in common – the stress of college. Someone else in your major is an excellent person to turn to if you’re having trouble with your advisor. They know exactly what you’re going through and can help you with making the correct class schedule. You can even meet with their advisor if you need. Making friends in your major is very beneficial! Check out this article from U.S. News about getting involved in your college!

College can be stressful, but there’s nothing more stressful than landing a bad academic advisor. With these few tips – you can still receive excellent advising.

Summer Classes Made Easy

Posted on by Olivia Meier

Summer Classes

Like many college students, I’m currently enrolled in a summer class. Adding a summer course is a good way to earn a few extra credits if you are falling behind. If you didn’t do well in a course during the regular semester, consider taking it over the summer. The reduced course-load is perfect for succeeding in any challenging class. However, taking summer classes isn’t always fun. Here are a few tips on how to manage summer classes and still have a great summer.

Online Courses

A variety of classes are available online, especially during the summer semester. Online courses are not for everyone, but they are a great alternative to being stuck inside a classroom during the summer. Online courses offer flexibility. It’s easy to go on vacation because all you need is a few hours and some Wi-Fi to complete the necessary coursework. With many online classes not taking attendance, you can work ahead and then miss a day without having to worry. No more, “Sorry, I have class.” Go out and enjoy the summer! However, don’t let all that freedom corrupt your work ethic. Make sure you submit assignments by the deadlines and participate in online discussion boards with other classmates.

Favorite Teachers

Let’s be honest, everyone has a favorite professor. At the least, they have a professor they’re more fond of compared to others. For an easy way to deal with summer classes, check if that certain professor is teaching any sections you need. As long as it fits within your schedule, take it! By selecting a professor you’re familiar with, you’ll already have an idea of what you’re walking into on the first day. Even better, you’re potentially already on their good side. It is less stressful to have a summer course with a professor you know and like. You may even have a few laughs along the way!

Shorter Term Classes

Many schools offer various course lengths during the summer. Some courses last the entire summer (from June to August), while others are only a few months.  The most intense courses can be as short as five weeks. Instead of being in class all summer, a good alternative is to take one of the shorter, more intense classes. It will be more work, but it only last a few weeks. Then once it’s over, you can have the rest of the summer to do what you please. What’s the greatest part? They’re all worth the same amount of credits, which means it’s a full class even though it’s shortened.

Deciding to take a summer course is never easy. You don’t want it to ruin your summer, but you also want to get ahead on your course load. Before you decide, consider these tips to make taking summer classes a little easier!