Jennifer Peña/Staff Writer
As my time as a Panther nears its end, I met with my advisor to plan out my future semesters. I did not expect to find out that several of my remaining graduation requirements will be available over the summer. A simple planning meeting ended up revealing that I may be able to graduate much sooner than expected.
For some Panthers, academic advising might not be on any to-do lists until it’s almost time to register for the next semester’s classes. Still, there are benefits to regular academic advising that Panthers may miss out on if they only schedule appointments once every five months.
Panthers should schedule advising appointments several times a semester to keep track of our academic progress, find out about new opportunities and ensure that our plans reflect up-to-date information. Changes in course availability can lead to changes in our academic plans, like in my case.
During my advising appointment, I was also told who I could contact (and in what departments) for more specific follow-up information. I left the advising office that day with flyers and contact information for future programs and opportunities.
While I was there, I noticed a vibrant poster on the lobby wall advertising a Summer A study abroad program related to my major, that I hadn’t known about before. Opportunities like that one can get lost in the constant stream of messages to our student email accounts, but our on-campus advising centers have information about them available for us if we make time to go.
Seeing information about programs in person, whether through flyers or posters, gives us more exposure to their messages. A 2006 study found that when people have longer exposure to an ad, the ad has “a greater opportunity to elaborate,” making the message more likely to be remembered.
Similarly, a 2015 Forbes article explains that print ads are “better connected to memory” than those delivered digitally. When it comes to programs with application deadlines, you may be more likely to remember them if you go to your advising center for information in print.
Beyond print ads, there are other kinds of important papers you can get during an advising appointment, like a copy of the tracksheet for your major, which you can discuss with your advisor. For students who prefer to write things down, this is a useful document to have to track your academic progress in an organized way.
After talking to your advisor about your course history, you can better figure out what classes to take next and when, based on updated information. Then, you can take that information with you as you get ready for the next round of course registration and work toward that diploma.
The next time you find yourself worried about what to do next on the road to graduation, consider scheduling an appointment with your academic advisor. The opportunities you may discover when you do just might make you put your Panther paws up.
Featured photo retrieved from FIU Flickr.
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