Southern Methodist University students have split opinions about meeting with their academic advisers prior to enrolling in classes.
Some advisers give helpful advice to their students, who appeciate the advising feedback; however, there are also students who would rather sign up for classes on their own.
According to the school’s website, SMU students are required to meet with their assigned adviser prior to enrolling in classes for an academic term.
“The point of advising is to help a student find where they fit at SMU, and then show them the best possible classes they can take,” Pamela Chiu, an academic adviser, said, “so that they can really enjoy learning, and have the best four years they can on the academic side.”
Chiu enjoys when students discover an area of study that they had no idea would interest them.
“If the purpose is to better your life on the academic side of the university, then I think it is a good thing for students to come in,” Chiu said.
However, Chiu has never liked the word “mandatory.”
She wants students to come in for guidance because they believe it will be useful to them, not just because it’s a requirement they have to fulfill.
“I think advising appointments are very effective because I do not really know what I am doing as far as what classes to take,” sophomore chemistry major, Daniel Fernandez said.
“[Academic advisers] usually know the curriculum very well and steer me in the right direction,” Fernandez said.
He agrees with the school’s policy of requiring students to see their academic advisors prior to enrolling in classes.
Audra Ogden, a senior art history and advertising major, said that “advising appointments are very helpful because it allows you to make sure you are on top of how many credits you need to graduate.”
“Usually the advisors have pretty good advice on which professors are the best to take and what classes are worth taking,” Ogden said.
Ogden said she has received some very helpful guidance from her advisors, but knows some students who disagree.
“I have never received great advice, or learned something that I would not have found out if I would not have gone to my advising appointment,” Shane Halpern, a senior advertising major, said. “I have gone so many semesters without going to an advising appointment, and I am right on schedule to graduate.”
Ashley Sinclair, a junior business marketing major, said, “I had 34 hours left to take, and my adviser didn’t really tell me that. I just figured that out on my own, and she verified it.”
Sinclair believes that advising appointments should be required, but only for those who have absolutely no clue as to what they are doing.
Mandatory academic advising appointments are here for now, so SMU students may need to get used to them.
