<p>Advisors telling me different tales on what classes I actually need to ****. I’m a math major trying to finish science requirements, but apparently I need the intro engineering physics not the general one after being told by my math advisor that I could take gen physics. If I have to take engineering physics that means I’ll have to spend one more semester in this college. Then I find a form online that says I can take gen phys. Now i’m going to have to go tomorrow with this form, probably miss out on class in order for them to tell me with 100% certainty which class I have to take!</p>
<p>I have a couple of ideas… 1) print the online form and take it to an academic dean or someone ‘in charge’ and higher up than the advisors. That person should also learn from you how you are getting information that contradicts itself. That is bad PR for a college. 2) get ‘advice’ in writing. Name, date, ‘rank’… in one college I worked at, people would say, ‘If the student says I said it with no proof, too bad; if they have my signature, you have to honor it.’ That’s why I say get it in writing with name/date/signature. And finally: you have my sympathies. I once wrote an advising manual because a student would call with a single question (like yours: which math do I need for a specific sequence/requirement) and with six advisors, there were six different answers given out. It was ridiculous and a disservice. Thus, I hear you and believe you. Oh: and 3) if you can make an appointment with a faculty member or whomever is doing the ‘admission’ to the major program you want, that person could hopefully tell you (and get it in writing/name/signature) which specific sequence you need. Good luck!!! Oh: and one last idea: when you get information in writing, never hand in the original form to anybody; make copies because paperwork gets lost a lot, too, in my experience working in several different college/university programs.</p>
<p>Surprisingly, advisors can be more with-it on requirements than online information is. I didn’t know about my Computer Science program’s requirement of a second intro seminar (3 credit hours of being lectured to about jobs) until my advisor spoke up - it wasn’t listed at all online.</p>
<p>I’ve found that generic advisors suck and that the departmental ones are the ones who know what they’re doing and who actually give a damn. </p>
<p>Which kind of advisor are you referring to? If you haven’t already, go see the chief advisor for your major. THEY should know what you need since they have to sign off that you completed everything come graduation. </p>
<p>If that was the problem, how about trying the chair? Especially if they’re faculty that you may have already had? I talk to mine all the time about stuff that’s probably “beneath” her, but she has my answers and will find out if she doesn’t. Also, they may even just be able to copy your email over to the right person who for sure knows the answer. </p>
<p>Good luck with everything. I know that this can be frustrating!!</p>
<p>I agree with lawerencemom. In regards to any interactions you have with advisers, document, document, document. I’ve been lucky. While at times abrasive, my advisers have always been consistent. Since there is so much inconsistency within your school I would definitely keep tabs of all correspondence so that way if it turns out that they totally screw you you have something that you can bring before the higher ups. I recommend emails. Assuming they respond its a great and easy way to document exactly who said what when and where.</p>
<p>I’m with you. I like the guy as a teacher, but my last advisor told me I need a prereq for a certain class. I disagreed (as did the catalog and school registration system). </p>
<p>Then again, I plan it all out, and go to advising to show that what I already have planned on paper.</p>
<p>edit: I don’t mean to ask a dumb question… but maybe make sure you are on the right calendar year? I swear my department changes the catalog/required courses every year.</p>