Advisement

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Academic Advising Lower Division Advising Upper Division Advising Preparing for an Effective Advising Appointment Registration

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Academic advising is one of the most important aspects of your college experience. Your advisor can be an important resource for you beyond merely helping with the selection of your courses each term. However, it is up to you, the student, to get the most out of your relationship with your advisor.

We strongly encourage you to contact your advisor during the semester to discuss career options, graduate school plans, as well as other items important to your undergraduate experience. Because most advisors are very busy, you will need to call to set up an appointment. You will want to do this outside of the formal advisement period held during fall and spring semesters.

The formal advisement period consists of about two weeks during which you will need to schedule an appointment to plan your course work for the next semester. You will receive a letter from the department informing you of the dates for advisement and the steps which you need to follow. There are two different advising processes for Lower and Upper Division majors and they are as follow.

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LOWER DIVISION ADVISING

As a new psychology major, you will be placed in the Lower Division. There are three prerequisites which must be completed during the first thirty hours as a declared psychology major. These are:

• Psyc 101 (Introduction to Psychology),
• Psyc 226 (Research Methods), and
• achievement of at least a 2.25 cumulative USC grade point average.

Once these three prerequisites are completed, you will be moved into the Upper Division. While in Lower Division, you will be assigned to the Undergraduate Student Services Office (specifically the Undergraduate Coordinator) for advising. You will participate in Group Advising as well. This is the procedure:

1. Receive advisement reminder in the mail.
2. Sign up (208 Barnwell) for one of the sessions convenient to your schedule.
3. Review your handbook, take a look at the available courses on the web or the master schedule, take time to plan courses and write down questions.
4. Attend session for which you signed up, bringing handbook and master schedule.

GROUP ADVISING SESSION: During the group advising, you will participate in a large group session and a small group session. The large group session will cover information which all majors need to know and provides an opportunity to ask questions. You will then divide into a small group led by a faculty advisor. The faculty advisor already has your records and will discuss your course needs with you at that time. You are encouraged to ask questions at this time.

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UPPER DIVISION

After successful completion of the prerequisites within the first thirty hours, you will be moved into Upper Division and reassigned to an individual faculty advisor. Prior to the advisement period, you will receive a postcard reminding you to sign up for an appointment session. You will need to go to the office of your advisor and sign up for an appointment on the calendar posted outside the advisor's office. Your advisor will have your records and the necessary forms. The key to a successful advisement appointment is being prepared. It is very important to SIGN UP EARLY AND KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENT. Rescheduling is up to the advisor and usually only occurs in the case of verifiable emergencies. The Undergraduate Office does not advise during this period.

After your advisement appointment, you will return your folder to the Undergraduate Office in 208 Barnwell, complete an advisor evaluation, and turn in the pink copy of your signed advisement form.

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PREPARING FOR AN EFFECTIVE ADVISING APPOINTMENT

It is important to carefully prepare for your appointment with your advisor. He or she cannot adequately help you if you do not properly prepare. It is not the advisor?s responsibility to make your decisions for you, or to schedule your time blocks for courses.

1. Get a Master Schedule (Petigru or Barnwell), or look on-line for a list of available courses, a list of courses in which you are currently enrolled, and your student handbook.
2. Make sure that the student record sheet in your psychology handbook is up to date and lists all courses including those in which you are currently enrolled.
3. After reviewing your student record sheet, make a note of the general education, major and cognate/minor requirements which you still need to complete.
4. Spend some time thinking about your career goals. If you have questions, write them down to discuss with your advisor. If you are not sure about your choice of psychology as your major, we encourage you to go to the Career Center located on the sixth floor of the Close (BA) Bldg. and make an appointment with a career counselor.
5. Make a list of other questions for your advisor.

Remember, the final responsibility of a successful college experience rests with YOU, the student. YOU are responsible for knowing college and major requirements, academic regulations, advisement dates, making and keeping your advising appointment, and registering for your classes. Your advisor, the Undergraduate Office, and the Dean's Office are resources available to help you, so please utilize them in the most productive way possible.

If you want to change your advisor, go to the Student Services Office to complete a request form.

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REGISTRATION

You will register for classes by using the web (vip.sc.edu). You will need to have you PIN (Personal Identification Number). To be cleared to register, you must turned in the pink copy of your signed advisement form to the Student Services Office, 208 Barnwell.

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