Universities with good advising systems

[Anonymous]

I have two kids at VT and the advising has been phenomenal. Both changed majors twice and their advisors were on top of it with suggestions and advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was at UCLA and majoring in psychology there was an entire office of full-time psychology academic advisors. They helped with making sure you graduated, checked transfer credits before you took summer school, and generally knew their stuff, especially as it differed depending on when you came in.

I had the same experience in psychology at UCLA back in the day -- the advising staff were professional, available, and very helpful. Sadly, it is not the same today. My DC graduated in June, and I'd say advising (across L&S) was the single biggest disappointment. In psychology, simple questions are routed via an online system to undergraduate "advisors." One can seek out an appointment (or do drop-in) with a staff advisor for more substantive issues. Other departments vary in the availability of staff advisors (and the quality thereof). This is one of the biggest advantages of joining the honors program there -- you get a staff advisor assigned for your 4 years, and then can augment with departmental advisors for major-specific issues. Honestly, because I was very familiar with the system (ongoing affiliation), I basically served as my child's primary advisor, and at one point joked that I should start a concierge-advisor business. It feels very sink or swim there now. (That said, the clinical psychology program has been #1 in the country for decades, and the opportunities for research-minded undergraduates are endless, so for many it's well worth the lack of hand-holding!)

[Anonymous]

What kind of advising are you looking for? Classes or career?

[Anonymous]

Advisors at universities are low-pay, high turnover positions. Child #1 attends an OOS flagship, and had 3 different ones by the end of freshman year. Saw the honors college advisors going forward, worked out great. Child #2 is at a private University, and has had a similar experience with advisor turnover. They went to the Dean of the school to talk about options, worked out great too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Advisors at universities are low-pay, high turnover positions. Child #1 attends an OOS flagship, and had 3 different ones by the end of freshman year. Saw the honors college advisors going forward, worked out great. Child #2 is at a private University, and has had a similar experience with advisor turnover. They went to the Dean of the school to talk about options, worked out great too

Aren't advisors supposed to be professors in their area of study? when I went to school (a million years ago, yes) freshmen were assigned to someone and then selected their own by the end of sophomore year - a professor in their major. I was a pretty on-top-of-it student but I think having someone make sure you're headed in the right direction is super helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Advisors at universities are low-pay, high turnover positions. Child #1 attends an OOS flagship, and had 3 different ones by the end of freshman year. Saw the honors college advisors going forward, worked out great. Child #2 is at a private University, and has had a similar experience with advisor turnover. They went to the Dean of the school to talk about options, worked out great too

Aren't advisors supposed to be professors in their area of study? when I went to school (a million years ago, yes) freshmen were assigned to someone and then selected their own by the end of sophomore year - a professor in their major. I was a pretty on-top-of-it student but I think having someone make sure you're headed in the right direction is super helpful.

At my small LAC all advising was done by professors, in your major if you had one. So it was hit or miss.

[Anonymous]

DS seems to have fine advising at VT, with same advisor all 4 years. But, I think it's really hit-and-miss depending on who you get assigned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Advisors at universities are low-pay, high turnover positions. Child #1 attends an OOS flagship, and had 3 different ones by the end of freshman year. Saw the honors college advisors going forward, worked out great. Child #2 is at a private University, and has had a similar experience with advisor turnover. They went to the Dean of the school to talk about options, worked out great too

Aren't advisors supposed to be professors in their area of study? when I went to school (a million years ago, yes) freshmen were assigned to someone and then selected their own by the end of sophomore year - a professor in their major. I was a pretty on-top-of-it student but I think having someone make sure you're headed in the right direction is super helpful.

This was one of the big surprises I had when my kid started at Berkeley. Like you, I had had a professor as my initial advisor. I ended up majoring in that department, so he stayed on as my major advisor as well. So when my kid started at Berkeley, I figured "hey, one of the top schools in the country; this'll be great", but her advisor wasn't a professor at all, and the advice was middling at best. She later changed to a different department, but the advisor there was, similarly, not that great. Her current advisor has a masters in organizational leadership, which is fine, but I was disappointed that there wasn't a tenured faculty member giving advice, like I had had in undergrad.

[Anonymous]

At VT, the advisors are professors in their area of study. Our kids received excellent advice, throughout their four years.