Ask your advisor the following nine questions and compare the answers you receive with the responses outlined below. They will likely be willing to talk about their experience and can share organizational tips or prerequisite courses they feel might help you succeed. This question... 2. I often ask potential students questions like, What kind of work do you like to do? What types of experiences will be most relevant to the admissions board? Last Updated: Aug 28, 2018. Ask your advisor for feedback at various stages of your project. If something strikes your interest, ask about it. Bring up any points of confusion, as not all school policies and intricacies are usually addressed in a brochure. Toward the end, you’ll want to ask for specific notes on your research or final paper. What is Flow State (and How Can It Help You in School or the Workplace)? "What do you look for in an applicant?" Click here to learn how UI&U can start you on your educational journey. But you have a secret weapon in your academic advisor. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com. The Best Questions to Ask Your Academic Advisor General Advice: Courses, Majors, and Maintaining a Good GPA. This could be related to future jobs, as mentioned, but it also includes your growth in the present moment. Your thesis, dissertation, or capstone project is the meat and potatoes of why you’re there. This week we begin a series addressing questions that admitted graduate school students often ask with answers about how the academic advising process works. What is the Grad School Application Process? 1. He or she may have leads you don’t know about, both within the school and outside it. Athens, GA, Florida Southern College How many graduate students are you currently advising? Any topics you want to know more about? Below are some tips and questions you should ask to make your relationship with your academic advisor as successful as possible. We've divided sample questions into categories. In addition, the advisor must also be able to make productive use of … Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | CA Privacy Policy. ... Top Graduate Engineering Schools. An academic advisor’s ultimate goal is to help you graduate, acting as a supporting agent throughout the entirety of your academic career. This week we begin a series addressing questions that admitted graduate school students often ask with answers about how the academic advising process works. Suggest these key questions to ask the academic advisor: 1. Are you taking new students? Check out our list of the 16 best questions to ask a college admissions counselor. Congratulations on a major accomplishment! questions. Are there active student groups that appeal to me? An academic schedule will plan the courses you need to take to graduate. What is the school's academic schedule? Graduate Student Support Is there a diverse group of students, faculty, and administrators? Students should strive to check in with their advisor at least once per… a. What tasks can you do over the summer that will allow you to make the most of that time off? What are my required classes? Do the program, the graduate school, and the university focus on mentoring for student success? Here are five questions grad students should ask their advisors: Before or at the beginning of each semester, schedule a meeting with your advisor to discuss which classes you’re interested in taking, which fulfill needed requirements, and which will add to your academic and intellectual growth. In addition, the advisor must also be able to make productive use of … Discuss with him or her what’s realistic to look forward to in the job market and what you can do to point yourself in the right direction. (Be sure to refer to specific characteristics) Where are recent alumni employed? [RELATED: What is the Grad School Application Process?]. Your academic advisor will be sure you understand all the costs involved in obtaining your degree. By James Hayton, August 17, 2015. They'll make sure you have all the information you need to be successful in your course work. The financial aid office will guide you with your FAFSA, which determines your federal grand and loan opportunities. Your counselor has information about admission tests, college preparation, and your education and career options. If funding is competitive at your school, ask your advisor for advice on what could make you a more attractive candidate for a scholarship or grant, for instance. There have been previous good questions that answer what to ask graduate students here and only somewhat relatedly here (about what to ask students of potential advisors). All rights reserved. How does funding work? I'm in mathematics, though I don't know if the answers to this will be field-dependent. by Hilary Gan Academic advisors are excellent but often underutilized resources for college students. Related: Pros and Cons of an Online College Education. Start your college search here on CollegeXpress. © 2007-2020 All Rights Reserved, 5 Questions Grad Students Should Ask Their Advisors. Find everything you need to help you file for financial aid here on Fastweb. Create a free account and The principal question you should be asking is whether your interests are a good fit with the Department or … What characteristics are specific to this program and distinguish it from competitors? Ask your advisor how you might be able to excel and develop in your field. CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit. Especially as a grad student, the future can seem very hazy. The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Wondering, what questions should I ask a college admissions counselor? For example, ask a potential adviser how many students she advises and the average time for degree completion. Even though you may be able to obtain program requirements online or in a course bulletin, craft some questions that delve deeper into academic nuances. In the middle of your project, you might ask for help breaking down larger tasks into smaller ones. Your academic advisor can provide information on book lists and other class materials needed prior to the start of each academic term, or they can tell you where to find this information. Your advisor relationship determines quite a bit of your graduate student experience. Before you ask any professor any question at all you should be thoroughly familiar with their work, and be able to talk to them about why you are interested in working with them based on your own interests. Skip to main content LAKERS TOGETHER: Find the latest on Grand Valley's operations during the statewide public health order. advisors How to Stay Focused When You’re Working from Home, COVID-19 Updates: List of Standardized Test Changes (Current as of March 20, 2020). How many graduate students have graduated under your advisement in the last five years? I'm having a phone conversation tomorrow after a few introductory emails, and trying to think of productive questions to ask to learn about the program and such. You don’t have to be technologically savvy to earn an online degree. What types of financial aid are offered? Compiling a list of questions to ask your nursing school adviser is important, but that’s not the only thing your adviser will want to discuss. Related: What to Do If You’re Worried About Finishing College on Time. But even so, it’s important to meet regularly to talk about how your investments are performing and make any changes that are needed. Varsity Tutors. These questions are listed in order of importance. Are there opportunities to publish your work, attend conferences, or meet colleagues and/or other experts in your field? You’ll get a better idea of where you’re headed and may be able to sidestep any potential complications in the future. Questions to break that silence when your potential advisor asks “So, do you have any questions for me?” 1. Depending on the institution, advisors may be a specialized full-time staff member, a professor within the student’s chosen major, or an instructor of informational freshman courses. Find your advisor below. Academic Planning for College Seniors. Union Institute & University is a nonprofit, regionally accredited university specializing in providing quality higher education degrees for adults nationwide. What scores must I receive on the... 2. Ben Smith is the Union Institute & University Digital Marketing Manager and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership student. Today is the day to earn your degree. How much professional development programming is there for graduate students? The following is a list of five questions you may want to ask: 1. When you apply for a PhD position, it’s likely that your main concern is whether or not they accept you, but you must also think about whether the supervisor is right for you. Here is a list of questions I have written up, feel free to add/remove questions from it!! Tags: ! Your academic advisor can connect you with many available resources, including a comprehensive online library, student writing center, and career services counselor. Login or sign up to be automatically entered into our next $10,000 scholarship giveaway, University of Vermont What to Do If You’re Worried About Finishing College on Time, Pros and Cons of an Online College Education, St. John's University - Staten Island Campus. 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