<p>My kids have had mixed advising experiences at Chicago, but your kids should know that they can request a change in adviser if they feel they are not getting what they need. My eldest had an all but useless first adviser, but her replacement was terrific. She was right on top of making sure that he’d met all Core, PE and concentration requirements. He was assigned to her after returning from abroad 3rd year, so I don’t think she was much help in the “directing his class choices” part of the task, but she did make sure that he finished his PE requirement (sometimes easy to forget if not done 1st year) and that he got the waiver he needed for a required class for his major. My D (currently finishing her first year) says that her adviser is a terrific person, but not all that helpful with anything but making sure that the Core is being met in a “timely” fashion. FWIW, she will have finished Sosc, Hum, Math, Bio Core (needs topics class), Art and all but one quarter of language by the end of her first year. She is one of those kids who would like to finish the Core sooner rather than later and move on to more directed interests. She only took one elective (or maybe major requirement if she goes with Sociology) this year, but is already excited about a more varied course load next year.</p>