What is the purpose of a student adviser?

Question

So, I've been to college for years and I've never gone. Today, I have an appointment with one. Originally, I thought the job of a student adviser was to figure out schedules, give advice on classes, and help with the student's career track. So, I was going to discuss that with her but now I'm worried that I got an appointment with the wrong person! Help! What is the purpose of a student adviser and what type of questions are usually asked to them?

Thanks!

Thanks for your sarcasm. It was completely unnecessary. Of course I know the student adviser is there to advise the student. I wanted to know what does the adviser typically advise on. Wow! The immaturity of this section!

Answer 1

Typically, the academic advisor will know the degree requirements and options at the college well enough to help you decide which classes to take. He/she should also know which courses are usually offered in which terms so that you can get in that required course that's only taught in the spring of even years.

As strange as it may sound, there are a lot of college students who simply can't understand the catalog requirements for their degree. Unfortunately, some advisors seem to have a problem with this issue as well but usually, they know what their department is going to require out of you.

They also know the rules for such things as credit by examination (such as testing out of a lower course to take a higher course), course waiver, petition for substitution, etc... that most students don't need but when you do - you need someone who has done it.

Your major advisor should have an advanced degree in the same field that you're getting a degree in. In this way, you can get advice from someone who has "been there, done that" and can share some information that your peers simply don't know yet. They can warn you about things like "in 488 you're going to have to write a really long paper on something related to XYZ, get started now saving sources for that one..." or "if you take ABC before you take XYZ, XYZ is much easier..."

A really good advisor also has the integrity to tell you when you're in the wrong place. Very many college students fail to thrive in college for no reason other than they're in the wrong major. A good one will notice things like "you know John, looking at your history papers, it really looks like you'd be happier in poli sci than as a history major...." and especially in the arts "Jane, if you're not going to put forth the effort to excel, you're not going to make it through your senior juries..."

They can make for excellent advocates if you have a problem. Your advisor can intervene for you with his/her peers much better than you can manage on your own sometimes.

For all the good that a good advisor can do, a bad advisor can do some real damage too. Never trust that an advisor can change catalog requirements for example. If the catalog says that you have to take Western Civ and not American History but the advisor says "history is history" then you may be setting up not to graduate (I saw this one happen last year, a change like that requires a petition for substitution); you are responsible for meeting the graduation requirements and the registrar's office won't care what your advisor told you.

Answer 2

The primary purpose of an academic advisor is to make copies of all of your homework and sell it to their friends so they can steal jobs that you qualify for. O wait that just applies to online college.

Answer 3

to advice the student

Answer 4

Gee I dunno I guess it might just be


TO ADVISE STUDENTS !


only a guess though the job description is a little bit vague !