Don’t You Have an Appointment to Get To?

Assistant Director of Academic Advising Chelsey Crawford working in the Office of Advising

Much like with ordering textbooks, joining extracurriculars, figuring out living arrangements and nearly every other aspect of your college journey, most of the responsibility for making appointments ultimately falls on you. Don’t just wait for someone to come to you — remember, you’re one of almost 4,000 students enrolled at the university!

There are many types of appointments to consider in addition to basic academic advising. Initially, your academic advisor will be your First-Year Seminar (FYS) professor. After your first year, your advisor will depend on your major.

Advisors can be invaluable in helping you find courses that fulfill certain Areas of Knowledge (AOKs) or tags. This is especially true if you plan to pursue honors credits or study abroad somewhere along the way!

Were it not for my own advisor, I likely would have taken several unnecessary courses, not realizing that many of my AOKs and tags would already be satisfied by the courses my major requires.

“I like to think of a student’s four-year plan as an opportunity to choose your own adventure,” said Colleen Munro-Leighton, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “Everything you try is an opportunity to learn something important about yourself.”

In the meantime, if you fall behind in a class, don’t wait for the material to eventually start making sense — make an appointment for a 30-minute tutoring session via “My Tutoring” in the portal. Sessions can be held via Zoom or in person, typically in the Learning Center.

Andrew Fisher, an EU senior who tutors mathematics, recommends scheduling in-person tutoring appointments for “a heavily social and physical learning experience.” Fisher also suggests scheduling sessions within the first few weeks of the semester, before midterms and finals cause influxes of appointments.

“I hope to see as many students as possible in the Learning Center this semester,” Fisher said. “We’re always looking to make sure that EU students have what they need to succeed.”

And of course, you can always try speaking with a professor after class or taking advantage of their office hours.

You might also consider reaching out to Student Financial Services, which offers appointments for discussing tuition, FAFSA completion, veteran benefits and loans. Additionally, the Russell G. Weigand Career Center for Professional Excellence (WCCPE) provides appointments for internship or career guidance.

Patrick Yanahan, the executive in residence of EU’s E-celerator, recommends booking WCCPE appointments early on for a head start in receiving personalized help.

“By planning ahead, students can also perfect their interview and negotiation skills, and come to some job path conclusions long before the stress of application deadlines hits for those opportunities,” Yanahan said. “By getting in early to cover your job future, you have more time to build a strong plan and get the one-on-one help you need. This gives you a significant advantage when it’s time to apply for opportunities, because you’re already prepared and ahead of the competition.”

According to Martin Gahbauer, the executive director of the WCCPE, opportunities provided by the WCCPE include help with résumés, cover letters and interviews, as well as workshops and networking connections.

“As a first-generation student, a career course helped me find direction, stay motivated and land my first job,” said Gahbauer, who described this experience as a turning point. “Don’t wait. The benefits are immense and enduring.”