Feb 14, 2008
Another Fiasco and Highlights
Faith and I continue to try to think of the most valuable experiences to share with incoming freshmen and parents. There are so many unpublished things to learn!
Fiasco #3: Advisement Procedures.
If you have a specialized major, beware. Faith's intended major (Graphic Design) is classified in the Department of Arts and Sciences, but has requirements of which apparently some advisors in the Arts and Sciences are unaware. Consequently, she is often sent from Arts and Sciences to the Art Department, then back again, and so forth. Quite the lesson in frustration for unsuspecting freshmen. Parents of course have two levels of concern. One - we want our children to experience only so much frustration in one day's time, but truthfully, reason two is always a recurring theme with most parents. Reason Two - the overwhelming fear of paying the bill for unnecessary coursework-- A lesson I learned with Faith's older sister's fascination with psychology courses while completing a very structured engineering program at Tennessee Tech. Parent's Motto: One must graduate the same semester the lottery money and academic scholarships run out!
Constantly seeking information regarding the unwritten rules or for finding the secret society of class scheduling, Faith learned of an art major meeting while in one of her art classes from other students. When she asked someone in advisement if she should attend, she was told "go if you want". At the meeting she learned meeting attendance was the only way to gain admittance to her required art classes. We're not sure how she was supposed to have known this, but once again things worked out and we think she is taking the classes she needs. Lesson learned from Fiasco #3: Polite persistence MUST be a freshman's talent or quickly acquired skill. Freshmen planning to attend a university the size of UT must be ready to ask questions, read handbooks, notice signs, go to meetings (even if not required!), and be willing to self-advocate and carve a niche for themselves. Until freshmen learn the ropes, an active approach to creating your own academic success is important. Parents, when you get the phone call of despair and frustration, assure your student "there is no problem so great that it can not be solved" with inquiry and polite persistence!! Faith composed a list of common student pitfalls of which to be aware.
Faith's list of common Myths of Advisement which freshman and parents should be aware:
1. I can just walk in, anytime, and get advised.
Never wait for someone to tell you that you need to be advised (for subsequent semesters after the first one which is advised and completed at freshman orientation). The sooner you call and make your appointment the better. Faith was told through her sorority's academic chair to call as soon as she could to make her appointment, which she did in September and February and avoided a lot of hassle. You can't walk in at any time and expect to have your needs met, so call your department (arts and sciences, business, etc) and make a date to discuss your options for the following semester. The longer you put it off, the more you risk having to wait in long lines and endure a stressful situation when all the time slots are filled and everyone on campus realizes they have waited too long.
2. I can skip advisement all together.
To be able to register for classes the following semester, you must have a slip signed by your advisor allowing you to do so. So just go do it!
3. I don't have to worry about what I'm taking or my plans for next semester, the advisor will do all the work.
When meeting with your advisor BE WELL PREPARED. Before you go, sit down with your UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG (your new best friend) and determine the classes required for your major, courses you're interested in taking, and even map out a general idea of how your schedules could go for the next few semesters. I guarantee you will find you have a lot of questions once you get started, so remember those for your advisor. Also remember: The advisor doesn't make your schedule. YOU make YOUR schedule. So be informed about your academic future and act like you care that you're here to get a degree.
4. Someone told me I couldn't be advised when I wanted to be advised.
No one can tell you that you cannot have advisement when you need it. If anyone tries to tell you that you can't, look up any advisor in your department and call them. In the end, as with most things, you will get out of advisement what you put into it. End of Faith's List.
Since Faith sent me this list she attended a group advisement session for next semester. She was the only student to show up. Needless to say she received lots of individual attention and got all her questions answered!! Only thing is-- there are some unsuspecting freshmen and parents out there that may not realize an unexpected and maybe even expensive fiasco is in their near future.
Before I close, I must leave a highlight:
I am very proud of my freshman, her accomplishments, and how quickly she is learning to step up with polite persistence (if you just read her list, I bet you can see it too!). I always feel a great amount of pride and satisfaction when asked what Faith is doing. I love telling folks she is a graphic art major at UT. When asked if she is homesick, I say, "Sometimes, but she loves UT. She loves her roommate, she enjoys her classes, and is experiencing college away from home. She really can't imagine herself anywhere else. I think . . . "that's as good as it gets."
Fiasco #3: Advisement Procedures.
If you have a specialized major, beware. Faith's intended major (Graphic Design) is classified in the Department of Arts and Sciences, but has requirements of which apparently some advisors in the Arts and Sciences are unaware. Consequently, she is often sent from Arts and Sciences to the Art Department, then back again, and so forth. Quite the lesson in frustration for unsuspecting freshmen. Parents of course have two levels of concern. One - we want our children to experience only so much frustration in one day's time, but truthfully, reason two is always a recurring theme with most parents. Reason Two - the overwhelming fear of paying the bill for unnecessary coursework-- A lesson I learned with Faith's older sister's fascination with psychology courses while completing a very structured engineering program at Tennessee Tech. Parent's Motto: One must graduate the same semester the lottery money and academic scholarships run out!
Constantly seeking information regarding the unwritten rules or for finding the secret society of class scheduling, Faith learned of an art major meeting while in one of her art classes from other students. When she asked someone in advisement if she should attend, she was told "go if you want". At the meeting she learned meeting attendance was the only way to gain admittance to her required art classes. We're not sure how she was supposed to have known this, but once again things worked out and we think she is taking the classes she needs. Lesson learned from Fiasco #3: Polite persistence MUST be a freshman's talent or quickly acquired skill. Freshmen planning to attend a university the size of UT must be ready to ask questions, read handbooks, notice signs, go to meetings (even if not required!), and be willing to self-advocate and carve a niche for themselves. Until freshmen learn the ropes, an active approach to creating your own academic success is important. Parents, when you get the phone call of despair and frustration, assure your student "there is no problem so great that it can not be solved" with inquiry and polite persistence!! Faith composed a list of common student pitfalls of which to be aware.
Faith's list of common Myths of Advisement which freshman and parents should be aware:
1. I can just walk in, anytime, and get advised.
Never wait for someone to tell you that you need to be advised (for subsequent semesters after the first one which is advised and completed at freshman orientation). The sooner you call and make your appointment the better. Faith was told through her sorority's academic chair to call as soon as she could to make her appointment, which she did in September and February and avoided a lot of hassle. You can't walk in at any time and expect to have your needs met, so call your department (arts and sciences, business, etc) and make a date to discuss your options for the following semester. The longer you put it off, the more you risk having to wait in long lines and endure a stressful situation when all the time slots are filled and everyone on campus realizes they have waited too long.
2. I can skip advisement all together.
To be able to register for classes the following semester, you must have a slip signed by your advisor allowing you to do so. So just go do it!
3. I don't have to worry about what I'm taking or my plans for next semester, the advisor will do all the work.
When meeting with your advisor BE WELL PREPARED. Before you go, sit down with your UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG (your new best friend) and determine the classes required for your major, courses you're interested in taking, and even map out a general idea of how your schedules could go for the next few semesters. I guarantee you will find you have a lot of questions once you get started, so remember those for your advisor. Also remember: The advisor doesn't make your schedule. YOU make YOUR schedule. So be informed about your academic future and act like you care that you're here to get a degree.
4. Someone told me I couldn't be advised when I wanted to be advised.
No one can tell you that you cannot have advisement when you need it. If anyone tries to tell you that you can't, look up any advisor in your department and call them. In the end, as with most things, you will get out of advisement what you put into it. End of Faith's List.
Since Faith sent me this list she attended a group advisement session for next semester. She was the only student to show up. Needless to say she received lots of individual attention and got all her questions answered!! Only thing is-- there are some unsuspecting freshmen and parents out there that may not realize an unexpected and maybe even expensive fiasco is in their near future.
Before I close, I must leave a highlight:
I am very proud of my freshman, her accomplishments, and how quickly she is learning to step up with polite persistence (if you just read her list, I bet you can see it too!). I always feel a great amount of pride and satisfaction when asked what Faith is doing. I love telling folks she is a graphic art major at UT. When asked if she is homesick, I say, "Sometimes, but she loves UT. She loves her roommate, she enjoys her classes, and is experiencing college away from home. She really can't imagine herself anywhere else. I think . . . "that's as good as it gets."
• • •
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