Because advising is a critical part of success at Virginia Tech, every student is assigned an academic advisor. The relationship between you and your advisor is one of shared responsibility. Though you are ultimately responsible for the choices you make in college, in order to make informed decisions you need the mentoring and advice of academic advisors and others in the University community. Your advisor is your primary resource regarding academic issues, opportunities, and programs.
Regular meetings with your advisor are important. You should maintain contact with your advisor throughout your academic career at Virginia Tech. These contacts should take place a minimum of one time each semester. Meeting with your advisor can occur through face-to-face meetings, phone or email contacts and/or by attending group advising sessions. Visit your departmental or college website to learn more about your major’s advising process.
The information below provides suggestions and information that will help you prepare for meetings with your advisor.
- Review the definition, philosophy, and statements of responsibility for advising on this web site. Pay special attention to the statements of student and advisor responsibility. Review the catalog (on the website or your personal copy) to learn about requirements and university policies and procedures.
- Review the catalog (on the website or your personal copy) to ensure you understand the terms that may be used during your advising session.
Review the advising glossary on the Virginia Tech Advising Website for additional terms related to advising
- A successful meeting with your advisor requires that you prepare ahead of time by considering:
- your expectations and needs in your interactions with your advisor;
- your interests and academic and career goals;
- the university Core Curriculum and the check sheets for your major(s), minor(s), and/or concentration(s);
- questions and/or concerns about your role and your advisor's role; and
- ways the advising session can help you be successful at Virginia Tech.
- Give some thought to what courses you would like to take and why you would like to take them. For an example, you will need two courses from Area 2 of the university core and there are many to choose from. Review the various course descriptions and try to identify the course(s) that fit best with your career interest and your personal interests. NOTE: You will not always be able to get the exact course that you want but giving thought ahead of time will be of great benefit to you.
- If you are undecided, spend some time thinking about high school courses and/or courses taken while enrolled at Virginia Tech that you have enjoyed, courses you have done well in, and courses that were not a good match to your interests and skills. Consider all of these things when reviewing the curriculum and making decisions about developing your course load for each semester.
The suggestions outlined in this section provide the beginning steps for preparing for and interacting with your advisor. There are many more strategies that can be implemented to ensure a successful advising experience at Virginia Tech. For more information, refer to the Virginia Tech Advising Website and the websites for your department or college.
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