Getting to know your Academic Advisor
It's time to get advised for the spring semester!
So, what exactly is academic advising like at UMBC?
Academic Advising at UMBC is a shared partnership between students and Academic Advisors. An Academic Advisor's role is to assist you in planning your academic career and move you closer to graduation. Your Academic Advisor is a vital member of your academic support team and someone we recommend you connect with regularly to take full advantage of their support.
You can talk to your Academic Advisor about several topics including:
- Your adjustment to college
- Major and career choices
- Course selection
- Long-term academic planning
- Academic difficulty
- Academic "extras" such as minors, internships, education abroad, etc.
Students with declared majors at UMBC are assigned departmental specific Academic Advisors for support with course selection and degree planning. There also are many students who prefer to explore all their options and/or may transition between programs as they select the best major to meet their academic, personal and career goals. Students who have not declared a major will work with Academic Advisors in the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising, who are committed to helping students explore degree options and evaluate general education, gateway, and major requirements.
How do you find out who your Academic Advisor is?
Check the "degree" section of your myUMBC profile to see your assigned Academic Advisor under the "Degree Info" heading. If you're still unsure, below is a link to the department contacts for all majors. The person listed as "advising coordinator" or "advising contact" can help you find out who your Academic Advisor is or assign you an Academic Advisor.
In preparation for an advising appointment, reviewing your degree card on your myUMBC Profile is helpful. Here you can:
- Develop and update your degree plan
- Check your degree progress
- See how coursework transferred over from your previous institution
- Access suggested four-year pathways for completing your degree program
Additionally, you can develop a list of questions/topics to discuss with your Academic Advisor in order to structure your meeting. To help with that conversation, ask yourself:
- How am I doing in my major?
- Do I need to make any changes or seek academic support next semester?
- How long will it take me to complete all my coursework?
- Does my academic plan contain all my GEPs, upper-level credits, and writing intensive?
- Should I plan to take a winter class?
- Are there other topics I'm interested in exploring by adding a minor or certificate program?
Students who are interested in Pre-Professional Allied Health Programs will also work with Academic Advisors in the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising. In addition to an Academic Advisor in your major department, you may also work with Advisors in other programs including: Pre-Med/Pre-Dental, Pre-Law, Athletics, Academic Success Center, Honors College, other UMBC Scholars Programs, etc.
The Spring 2023 schedule of classes will be available on Monday, October 24th and you should plan to meet with your Academic Advisor before your registration appointment date. You can review the course offerings and discuss them with your Academic Advisor when you meet. You can also check out information on several personalized degree planning tools offered at UMBC. Be ready to discuss any outstanding items or questions you might have from previous advising meetings.
Have any questions?
Contact the Office of Academic & Pre-Professional Advising at oapa@umbc.edu. If you have a quick question, you can also send a DM on Instagram @umbc_advising, schedule an advising appointment with us or visit our office in Sherman Hall, B-wing, rm 224.
Happy advising!
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Posted: October 7, 2022, 8:53 AM
