<p>What about the advisory scene? Many of the LACs (and smaller universities) assign undergraduate advisors and the program establishes regular contact. In some cases, the advisors also teach the student’s freshman seminar. Ideally they can recommend academic pathways, internships, mentors or perhaps extra work in the writing center based on first-hand knowledge, and stay on top of things. Is that really the way it works? If so, it would seem a plus for some students.
And how does it work at larger universities? I hear mixed reports. At a recent visit to “State U” I learned (from an Admissions person) that the academic advisors don’t know the students or the departments either - students must seek them out and they advise mainly on which classes to take next based on a computer program.
I know many people believe that college students are adults and should take initiative to find advisors, build strengths and develop relationships with professors. But I think my own experience many years ago - honors college at a Big 10 school - would have been enhanced by required, ongoing interaction with a skilled advisor, something that just didn’t occur to me at the time.</p>