5 Things I've Learned Working as an Academic Advisor

Working at a local state college as a full-time employee for nearly eleven years has provided me with many great opportunities and learning experiences. I would like to share five of the main things that I've learned from working in the departments of admissions, student affairs, and academic advising. If you are considering working at a college in student services, then this writing piece could help you as you interact with college students.

1. I am here to learn alongside the students that I serve

When I interact with students, I want them to feel that I am approachable. I want them to share their opinions, thoughts on academic processes, and their experiences with the curriculum. I have just as much to learn from them as they have to learn from me. I've learned that it's completely healthy to be transparent about what I know for certain about academic pathways, in addition to letting them know what I don't know. Many of the students that I serve are likely going to complete two years of college for an associate's degree and then they will transfer out to another college or university to seek a bachelor's degree. I show them how, and where, to look for common state prerequisites for their bachelor's degree, and all the while, I'm learning alongside them. One of the top reasons why I enjoy my job so much is because there is always something to learn!

2. From day one, encourage students to always be thinking ahead

Some students (typically nursing students in my experience) naturally plan ahead. They just have a natural tendency to map things out in their own mental timeline. However, there are a large number of students who have a difficult time planning too far ahead and understanding how things build into their long-term goals. This is where I can come in and help them make a two year plan, or longer, if they are part-time students. When students walk in, one of my common questions is - What are you planning on doing after your associate's degree? They look at me like a deer in the headlights sometimes and then I explain the importance of how specific math courses, for example, build into their long-term degree or career needs.

3. Stay positive and always point out student's strengths

I have coworkers who struggle with this one. When student's come into my office, and I see they flunked three out of their four classes, but passed one class. I strive to celebrate the course they passed (respectively and sincerely), but I'm never going to focus on the failing grades as the predominant thing. I don't deny the failing grades, but I go over how they can retake them and help to repair their dipping GPA. We have an honest conversation about if they took too many classes or what occurred during the semester that prevented their success. College students, of any age, need to be encouraged and told that they can succeed. There are always positive things to point out to students and they need to be reminded that they are fully capable individuals, if they put in the hard work and plan strategically.

4. Remind them to dream big

I think it is crucial for the success of students to dream big and envision where they would like to see themselves working career-wise. For some students, they have had a dream to be a doctor or an engineer for many years so for them it is easy for them. Many students have not taken the time, or had a space provided to them by their family members to dream at all. Some of them have only ever had negativity cast on their emerging dreams. As an academic advisor, I've learned that there are key times for me to give a few minutes for students to dream about their futures. I ask them what they feel passionate about. Or, I ask them what problems in the world they would like to help work toward solving. These types of questions are the ones that drive college students to pursue their dreams, in turn leading to their resilience and overall success in life!

5. Help them accept that it's alright if things don't always fully make sense

On face value this point could make you scratch your head, but hear me out here. When I tell many students that they need to take college algebra as a nursing degree prerequisite, they don't understand what this class has to do with being a nurse. I smile and tell them that there is supposedly one algebraic equation that nurses need to be able to complete. I nod my head in agreement with the student about it seeming a bit extreme to make students do an entire fifteen-week course just for being able to do one equation. Then I explain to the student that many things in academia are less practical and more just hoops they have to jump through in order to get to their long-term goals. When I validate the fact that the requirement seems a bit much, but then circle back to the process or requirement, as still being needed, then students tend to go away from my office with a sense of understanding. Some things really don't make sense and they're incredibly illogical, but yet they are still requirements and isn't this just how life generally is anyway in many aspects?

Thank you for reading and hopefully you found this insightful or helpful in some way. Whether you are considering working at a college, or you currently work at a college in a student facing position, I am hopeful that you took away at least one tidbit that you can reflect on after reading this.