Advising Week

Guess what happens next week? Advising week. Goodness I feel like I've been waiting for this since the beginning of October, but that's only because I like to be way way overprepared. As an Honors student we get priority registration, meaning that the normal advising week is when we actually register.

I can't tell you how confused I was the first time I went in for advising, although I had everything I needed I wasn't ready to talk to my advisor. He was great, and everyone I've talked to has a great adivsor. They know their stuff and know what you're going through and the best classes to take. However for them to help you to their fullest extent there are several things we need to bring in as students.

1) Degree Evaluation - for UW students its under the student resources tab Wyoweb. This shows you what you need to complete your major, your minor, and what you've already completed. I check this regularly especially when trying to figure out GPA and class standing.

2) List of classes you want to take and a tentative schedule - Seriously this may be the most important part. The new class list is up, as of last Thursday, so you can see what classes are available and what times. Having a few schedules that you'd be okay with having next semester is a good idea. Also not all classes are offered every semester.

3) Anything extra to help you plan - As a Political Science Major I know that the only place I go to look for advising information is in the Political Science Advising Page. Almost all majors have a little something different to help those going in for advising. Try and knock out some USP's (Gen ED) because if you haven't covered all of them by senior year you don't get to graduate.

If you have all this you will fly through your advising session and walk out with your PERC number ready to sign up for classes when your slot opens.



Extra tips I've found useful:

• Register as soon as you can, seriously getting up at that 7 am sign up may mean getting into the class you need for the semester. Last year we had a class fill up in under 5 minutes. Not all classes are like this, but remember there are only a limited amount of spots and you have to make it work with what you get.
• When making your schedule remember that it's not just the classes you can take, its putting in time to study and time to relax and eat! If you're a morning person take early classes, if you doze in the after noon think of that. If you want to look for a job schedule around those hours. This will be your life next semester, will you be happy with it?
• Have a back-up plan, and a back-up-back-up plan. If your first class doesn't work out you want a list of others right next to you that you can work with as well.
• Breathe, its not that scary and it won't kill you. I may seem terryfing but its the first step to figuring out life, somewhat, on your own.
• Take a lighter class, one that you can slack off in a little, or will look forward to everyweek. If you take all heavy classes, that is when students tend to burnout and drop classes. It can be a fun one! I'm taking Zumba for my PE credit this semester and last semester I had beginning acting. Its a great release and way to help motivate you. 

- Wyobelle

P.S. I've done this a few times and have it pretty much figured you, if you need help or just want to talk let me know!! Wyobelle1@gmail.com