Academic Advising

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Academic advising at Franklin & Marshall is focused on promoting learning and successful transitions of students. Through the advising relationship, the adviser attempts to inspire in students an awareness of skills and competencies associated with academic success, the ability for meaningful self-reflection, and the use of sound decision-making skills. Academic advising facilitates this learning by engaging students in an advising dialogue that promotes the expression and justification of individual goals and objectives and where the adviser guides the learner through the decision-making process.

Year-by-Year Advising

First-Year Students

As a first-year student, you are at a crossroads moment of your life. This might be the first time you're living away from home, and processing this first step towards adulthood might be complex. In addition, you'll be adjusting to F&M, learning about the College's resources and networks and determining how to build the right education for you.

To support you in assimilating to F&M, we have created milestones that will set you up for success. We value that each student has a diverse set of goals and experiences, so we expect that faculty advisers will adapt this guide to milestones and questions that meet your individual needs.

Fall Semester

Attend orientation
Meet with your academic adviser
Introduce yourself to your College House Don and Dean
Attend a bagel breakfast at your College House
Look at your DegreeWorks page on Inside F&M and make sure it’s up-to-date (send in any AP scores of 4 or 5 or IB scores to The Registrar’s Office)
Maintain good conduct standing with the College
Register for Spring Courses (attend a “Registration Station” event)
Meet your College House OSPGD adviser
Achieve at least a 2.0+ GPA in your first semester
Complete 4 credits toward graduation
Submit your best essay from CNX 1 to the Writing Center for the Whitesell Prize

Curriculum Recommendations

CNX 1
Begin language
Explore areas of possible interest
For STEM students: CHM 111 or PHY 111 or BIO 101; MAT 109
For potential BOS majors: ECO 100; BOS 200; possibly MAT 109 (choose one or two)

Conversations to have with your adviser

Adjusting to college life
Adjusting to a new place/life/routine takes energy. It might feel as if you’re taking an extra course on adjusting to college. Be aware of your own emotions and how they might be affecting your academic focus.
Building and improving academic skills
College demands a new set of academic skills, especially around critical thinking, writing and time management. Your adviser will enjoy hearing your reflections on these new skills and will be able to help you find support if you need it.
Learning the resources available to you on campus
There are too many resources on campus to learn during one orientation. Your adviser will help you find them and make the best use of them.
Managing time between courses, extracurriculars and wellness
Time management is essential for success at college, especially when it comes to getting the rest and down time that you will need to process everything that you’re learning.
Learning more about how to reach out and connect with faculty
All of your professors have office hours, which you can find on their syllabi. Make it a goal to visit each one of them at least once a semester, even if only to introduce yourself and talk a little bit. They will enjoy getting to know you!

Spring Semester

Check in with your academic adviser, Don, and Dean
Apply for financial aid for next year (if applicable)
Maintain good conduct standing with the College
Register for fall courses
Meet your College House OSPGD adviser to start thinking about summer opportunities
Think about applying for a leadership position at the College such as: First-Year Advising Mentor (FAM); writing tutor; Q&SC tutor; Peer Academic Coach (PAC); peer wellness educator; House Adviser (HA); College House government; club leadership
Educate yourself on research opportunities for next year
Achieve at least a 2.0+ GPA
Complete 8 credits toward graduation

Curriculum Recommendations

Language
For pre-health majors: BIO 110
For possible BOS majors: BOS 200, ECO 100, MAT 109 (choose one or two)
Balance distribution requirements with exploration

Conversations to Have With Your Academic Adviser

What challenges did you face this year? What went particularly well? What can you learn from the challenges as well as from the triumphs?
Which classes sparked your interest the most? Can you see pursuing another course in the same subject next year?
What kinds of leadership positions at the College can you imagine yourself in?
What kinds of programs/clubs/leadership opportunities would you want to create for yourself at the College if you could?

Second-Year Students

For many second-year students, the focus is on exploring several academic and life decisions. Additionally, you'll make long-term decisions about major(s)/minor(s) declarations, study abroad and your desired levels of integration, leadership and involvement in the larger F&M community. You will also be considering how to find a summer internship/job and whether to live off-campus your junior year. You might also be considering new leadership opportunities. We value that each student has a diverse set of goals and experiences, so we fully expect that faculty advisers will adapt this guide to meet your individual needs.

Fall Semester

Meet with an academic adviser
Check in with College House Don and Dean
Narrow down major/minor decision
Explore study abroad options
Explore career development opportunities through meeting with an OSPGD adviser
Maintain good conduct standing with the College
Register for spring courses
Think about applying for a leadership position at the College such as: First-Year Advising Mentor (FAM); writing tutor; Q&SC tutor; Peer Academic Coach (PAC); peer wellness educator; House Adviser (HA); College House government; club leadership
Educate yourself on research opportunities for next year
Achieve at least a 2.0+ GPA
Complete 12 credits toward graduation

Curriculum Recommendations

Balance distribution requirements with electives
Take a second course in a potential subject of interest (i.e., if you took “Intro to Creative Writing” and loved it, take another ENG class)

Conversations to Have With Your Academic Adviser

Do you want to study abroad? How might studying abroad connect with/enhance your current studies? Which skills might it help you to build? Is there a language you wish to learn?
What are you thinking you want to major in? Why is this subject most compelling to you? Where do you think that studying it might lead you?
Is there more than one subject that draws your attention for a potential major? If so, how might these subjects work together as a course of study going forward?
If you do not know what you would like to major in, think of the courses you have taken: what did you like most? Which skills did you most enjoy practicing?
What would you like to do during the summer? What kinds of jobs/internships most attract you?

Spring Semester

Meet with an academic adviser
Check in with College House Don and Dean
Attend “Not a Major Decision” event and declare major/minor
Explore study abroad options
Explore career development opportunities and summer jobs/internships through meeting with an OSPGD adviser
Apply for financial aid (if applicable)
Maintain good conduct standing with the College
Register for fall courses
Think about applying for a leadership position at the College such as: First-Year Advising Mentor (FAM); writing tutor; Q&SC tutor; Peer Academic Coach (PAC); peer wellness educator; House Adviser (HA); College House government; club leadership
Educate yourself on research opportunities for next year
Consider precepting for a professor
Achieve at least a 2.0+ GPA
Complete 16 credits toward graduation

Conversations to Have With Your Academic Adviser

As you finish your second year of college, what advice would you give to entering first-years?
What are you most excited to do during your next two years?
Do you want to study abroad? How might studying abroad connect with/enhance your studies? Which skills might it help you to build? Is there a language you wish to learn?
Is there a field of study you want to do special research in? A professor with whom you’d particularly like to work? Reach out!
Would you like to precept for a professor in their CNX 1 class?
What kinds of programs/clubs/leadership opportunities would you want to create for yourself at the College if you could?

Third-Year Students

For many students, the third year provides increased opportunities for leadership and experiential learning. In addition, you'll be trying to balance the academic rigor of upper-level major courses. You'll experience important changes in the third year, which provide many opportunities for academic and personal growth. Your faculty adviser will find that third-year students are preparing for, or returning from, study abroad experiences, faculty-student research, academic internships and co-curricular leadership experiences.

Fall Semester

Most common semester to study abroad
Meet with major adviser
Cultivate relationships with professors in major department
Think about summer job/internship/research possibilities; make an appointment with your OSPGD adviser
Explore leadership positions on campus
Register for spring courses
Maintain at least a 2.0+ cumulative GPA in all fall classes
Maintain financial aid package
Finish 20 credit hours

Spring Semester

Might be studying abroad
Meet with major adviser
Progress in your major; look ahead to taking 400-level seminars or pursuing independent honors project
Plan for summer job/internship/research opportunities; make an appointment with OSPGD adviser
Take up leadership positions on campus
Register for fall classes
Maintain at least a 2.0+ cumulative GPA in spring classes
Maintain financial aid package and fill out FAFSA if applicable
Finish 24 credit hours

Conversations to Have With Your Academic Adviser

Which classes do you still have left to complete in your major? How will you balance the difficult capstone seminar with other opportunities (thinking about balance)?
Within the discipline of your major, what types of questions or problems do you most enjoy thinking/learning about? Why do you think these appeal to you?
Is an internship for credit something that you might want to consider?
What kinds of approaches and questions are you likely to explore in your capstone project? What is your plan to begin this work?
If you went abroad, what was the experience like for you? What did you learn that you can bring back and integrate into your studies at F&M?

Fourth-Year Students

As a fourth-year student, you'll be balancing the challenges of senior capstones while increasing your focus on preparing for a meaningful life and productive career after graduation. Your faculty adviser will find that the fourth-year advising sessions are focused on providing closure to the your individual graduation goals while supporting the your goals for after graduation.

Fall Semester

Meet with major adviser
Progress in your major; take 400-level seminars or pursue independent honors project
Plan for life after college; make an appointment with your OSPGD adviser
Take up leadership positions on campus
Submit graduation petition
Register for spring classes
Maintain at least a 2.0+ cumulative GPA in fall classes
Finish 28 credit hours

Spring Semester

Meet with major adviser; review your college courses
Finish classes in your major; take 400-level seminars or pursue independent honors project
Plan for life after college; make an appointment with your OSPGD adviser
Take up leadership positions on campus
Submit graduation petition
Maintain at least a 2.0+ cumulative GPA in spring classes
Finish 32 credit hours
Celebrate your accomplishments through Commencement and becoming an alum

Conversations to Have With Your Academic Adviser

How has your understanding and identity as a scholar in your major discipline shaped who you are?
As you think about life after college, what is important to you, and how will these things inform future decisions?
List several career options that you would consider. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? What do you need to figure out to select from among them?
What experiences contributed most to your growth at F&M? (They might be both good and more challenging experiences.)

Other Advising

Professions Advising

Advisers in the Office of Student and Post-Graduate Development are available to meet with students and alumni who are interested in pursing a career in healthcare, attending law school or pursuing a legal-related career.

Explore Advising Options

Special Circumstances

Specialized advising is available for students with disabilities, students studying off campus and students pursuing post-graduate fellowship opportunities.