Advice
to My Advisees
INTRODUCTION: I have been advising students for 36 years so I have compiled a list of things which seemed to have worked for my students in the past. I give this advice freely to you, and you are free to accept or reject it.
I take my advising responsibilities very seriously, and will do my best to be as available to you as possible. I don’t like to waste anyone’s time, so I will make every effort to be on time for an appointment. I like to provide advice with options, not tell you what you should do. Most problems have two or more possible solutions, and the real challenge is to sort out the risks and benefits. You have to live with the consequences of any action, so you should make the decision. If I don’t have the answer, I should be able to refer you to someone who can help. I will keep records of the important aspects of any meetings that we have, and you are free to review those notes at any time. One of my major responsibilities is to make sure you are progressing towards graduation in the minimum amount of time, so I like to keep a graduation checklist which is updated every time we meet.
I want you all to be successful at UVM, and it is my feeling that you will achieve the highest degree of success if you follow some, if not all, of the following suggestions;
“Top Ten Commandments for College
Success”
(1) ADVISOR. Get to know your faculty advisor so that he recognizes you and knows you by your first name.
(2) FACULTY. Try to get to know at least one new faculty member each semester. Most faculty at UVM are very approachable, although the student usually needs to initiate the contact. This can be very helpful if you should need some assistance with the course, and also when it comes time for job recommendations.
(3) TIME. Plan your time. Schedule study time. Keep a calendar of all your assignment deadlines and exams. Give yourself a week or two “warning” so you don’t have to complete the project or study for the exam close to the deadline. I have a Palm and find it very useful for planning the use of my time. You can get free online calendars (with to-do lists) on yahoo.
(4) SLEEP. Get 8 hours of sleep each day. Some might require a bit less and others a bit more, but 8 hours is a good goal to start with.
(5) ENERGY. Eat on a regular schedule. Maintain a nutritious diet, keep snack foods to a minimum, and stay hydrated.
(6) WORK. Get a part-time job, even if it is only a few hours per week. I see more students with academic problems who don’t work than with those who do work.
(7) EXERCISE. Schedule some physical activity every couple of days, such as walking or jogging. This can be a great stress reliever and it never hurts to have fresh oxygen in your brain! Don’t take the campus shuttle bus unless you really need to; walk around campus.
(8) SOCIAL. Participate in a club activity or sport. Not only will you get to meet students from around campus but it will be a nice recreational diversion to participate in your favorite activity or learn a new one. Visit the Student Government Association (SGA) web site for a list of the clubs.
(9) REST. Take some time for mental relaxation, whether it is quiet time with “meditational” music or just plain silence. Don’t be afraid to be in a quiet space.
(10) STUDY PARTNER. Find a few friends to study with. Ideally, you would be able to help them in some subjects, and they will be able to help you in others.
So – as you see, there’s not much rocket science in the above advice – most of it is common sense. As a parent of 3 grown children and a grandparent to 4 grandchildren, I have experienced a lot of things in life, and it will be hard for you to surprise me or stump me with your problems. So whatever you decide to do this year, I wish you the best of success, and let me know when you think I can help you.
Have a great semester!
~LMI
July 12, 2005