Utilizing Academic Advisors

Midterms are looming, Spring Break is right around the corner, and registration is coming soon. It’s that time of the semester where everyone starts to get comfortably settled into this semester’s routine and then suddenly it is time to start looking ahead for the next semester.  It can be overwhelming for students, but it doesn’t have to be. That’s why academic advisors are here—to help your student explore, discover, and plan what works best for them in their major and in their graduation goals.

What is an academic advisor’s role?
Academic advisors support students from orientation to graduation. They help your student explore different majors, assist your student in understanding their degree requirements, and support them in creating class schedules that work best with their graduation plan. They also work to connect your student with beneficial resources on campus to best support their needs. Whether it’s connecting your student with a faculty mentor, encouraging them to meet with the Career Center or simply recommending an engaging class, academic advisors are great resources for your student, regardless if they are a freshman or a senior.

Academic advisors sound great, but my student isn’t sure who their advisor is…
Your student can log into their myFSU account at http://my.fsu.edu and about halfway down the page, they should see the "My Academics" section. There, your student will find information on their academic advisor.  For more information, your student can visit the Advising First wesbite, http://undergrad1.its.fsu.edu/advising_first/advisors-display.php and find their advisor by their major/college. Many advisors have walk-in advising hours, as well as a way to schedule an appointment online.

What can I do when my student talks to me about advising?
Remind your student that their academic advisor is available year round. A lot of students may think to talk with their advisor when it is time to register for classes, but they can also assist when your student feels overwhelmed in their classes or are confused about what they need in order to graduate.

Can you provide some tips family members can share to help their students prepare for registration?

  1. Check your enrollment window. It should be sometime between March 9-April 24. A schedule of Fall 2020 enrollment windows can be found at http://registrar.fsu.edu/registration_guide/fall/enrollment_appointments/. However, your student can look up their enrollment window via their myFSU account in the Student Center tab (http://my.fsu.edu).
  2. Check for any type of holds on your myFSU account that may delay registration. Examples are past due student accounts, immunization/health insurance holds, or an academic hold. This will be in the “My Tasks” box to the right of their schedule in their myFSU account (http://my.fsu.edu).
  3. Connect with your advisor before your enrollment date. It is always better for your student to understand what courses they need or want before sitting down to enroll in classes.
  4. Check out this tutorial for a guide on how to register for classes: http://sc.my.fsu.edu/students/how.