Thomas Lipitz
tlipitz@uwyo.edu
This week marked the start of advising week for the spring semester at UW.
As per usual, honors students have the first opportunity at assembling and registering their schedule for the spring.
“I believe it is super nice and convenient to be able to choose what classes I need first and especially when comes to the times,” Jon Chandler, honors student and English major, said.
The disadvantages of choosing classes early include committing oneself to early research, Chandler said.
“The disadvantage of this though is that I need to do research and figure out what classes I would like and then try to schedule a time that works with my current class schedule to go meet with my advisor,” Chandler said. “I do like the idea of honor students being able to choose first though, it is really nice and convenient.”
After the honor’s students register, the remainder of students register by their class standing. This can leave some students at risk of either having to register for the early classes, being waitlisted or in some cases, not being able to get in to their necessary courses at all, Richard Miller, associate director to Center of Advising and Career Services, said.
But advisors have a fix to this problem by having students visit with them a week before they register, Miller said.
“Sometimes students feel like they have to come in during advising week and that’s not always the case,” Miller said, “because your registration date is three weeks from now you come in and make a schedule and half of those classes are closed or the schedule doesn’t work anymore, that’s why we advise students to come in a week before their registration date.”
David Anton, math lab head and math advisor, said he enjoys helping students find a passion for their future.
“I get to hear about their hopes and dreams, I mean the whole point of this is to get them done with college, to get them employed or doing something they love so hearing from them is great,” Anton said.
Although sometimes it can be straight forward, Anton said arranging schedules for each individual student can be tricky.
“A lot of the folks I advise schedule for upper level math classes so scheduling isn’t a problem, but outside the department, yeah it gets crazy sometimes,” Anton said. “Trying to arrange student’s schedules – I recommend to all my new advisees is to make a four-year plan, look at past semesters to see when your class is going to be offered. This leaves more wiggle room for the two classes they need that semester are at the same time.”
Advising week is in full swing and students can begin registering three weeks out from now.
