How is the Letters and Sciences advising?

LTSCAdvisor
Tue, 15 Feb 2011 08:19:55 +0000

In my experience, UMCP11’s advice is kind of horrible…and not horrible. LTSC advisors are terrific. What we do and what we don’t do? We don’t make decisions for students; we don’t sign up for their classes, and we don’t choose their majors. What we do? We act as a resource to assist students in putting together the items they need to make informed decisions about their major choices. It means that students actually have more work cut out for them than a student who is decided in his or her major. The Career Center, the Counseling Center, professors, advisors in departments, friends, parents, etc.–these are all folks that students need to speak with and listen to advice. That doesn’t even mention actually taking some different courses to experience what’s out there. Once that’s been done, they can talk to an advisor to help them out in making their own, informed decision about what major they wish to choose.

Some students get frustrated because either (1) they are asked to do the worked described above and don’t feel like putting forth that effor or (2) want the University to leave them alone completely and then get frustrated when they run into obstacles.

Your advisor will be as good or bad as you expect them to be. Demonstrate that your interested and willing to make an effort on your side of the equation, and they will certainly rise to the occasion. Just don’t think they are a talk head who will just give you answers to decisions you need to make. It’ll be much more worthwhile.