So maybe you came to Hopkins with a flawless four-year plan that will see you through your undergraduate career with no need of advice at all. But for most of us, a little expert counseling on our academic decisions goes a long way, whether you're choosing a major or selecting distribution credits. And that's where the academic and career advisors come in.
There are three offices specializing in advising at Hopkins -- Academic Advising for arts and sciences students, Engineering Advising for students in the Whiting School and Pre-professional Advising for those who are declared pre-health or pre-law.
Students in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences do not declare majors until the end of freshman year. Freshmen are assigned temporary advisors until they declare their major, at which time they get a faculty advisor in the department of choice. Engineering students should already have an advisor in the major field they selected before the school year began.
Temporary advisors may not be the ones you turn to in later years at Hopkins, but their guidance is important when you're scoping out classes and exploring majors. It's required that you meet with your academic advisor before registering for classes in your first year.
Take advantage of these meetings to ask questions and raise concerns. Is your current direction not what you thought it would be? Do you find yourself drawn to other kinds of classes? Are you doubtful about how to plan your distribution credits effectively, or work out a double major? Most likely, your advisor will have the answer.
Beware of blindly following an advisor's suggestions. Sometimes it's perfectly okay to follow your own instincts -- to take, for instance, a challenging science course even though you're a humanities major, or a Writing Seminars class if you're an engineer.
If you're interested in studying abroad, Ruth Aranow is a primary source of information about the programs available. Although there's a limited range of programs that are directly affiliated with the University, your advisor can help you enter other programs in more far-flung locations and ensure that you get course credit for classes taken there.
Pre-professional advisors are a resource for those of you planning to go to medical school or law school after graduation. They help you craft course schedules and develop credentials that will win over admissions committees.
It's an advantage for anyone on the pre-professional route to stay on good terms with his or her advisor, particularly pre-med advisors who guide students through the arduous committee and evaluation process that leads up to applying to medical schools. Pre-professional advising also offers workshops on writing personal essays and invite professionals in law and health to give presentations on their particular fields.
