Getting the Right Guidance
Tameka McFarland
Issue date: 4/1/09 Section: Editorial & Opinion
Whether students succeed or not in college may depend on many things. High demands from work and family for instance, or confusion about what they want to do in the future, can both affect how well they do. But for Triton College student April Bass the beginning of her college experience felt uncomfortable and became difficult because of her advisor.
Bass said, "I was leaning toward nursing, but also believed I would be better at accounting." She went on to explain that the advisor seemed interested in her words, but only responded with, "Accountants make more money." After that meeting, Bass reluctantly accepted her classes. She concentrated on nursing even after that negative advising experience turned her from an indecisive student into an unhappy one. Advisors, who are supposed to help students pick their major, sometimes pick the students' future.
Many prospective undergraduate students may know what they want to focus on. But even though students remain filled with goals and enormous desires, they often have very little information when it comes to curriculum. Wright College student Marquita Jones said, "I want my advisor to help me find a better way to understand what I should be doing." There's nothing wrong with an idealistic student, but the route that student takes when working towards their degree could use some tweaking.
According to Abby Hall's ehow.com article, "How To Handle A Difficult Advisor," advisors are often a breath of fresh air for students, but only if students come properly prepared. "Although they seem uncooperative, they really just have too much to do. Your chances of getting the advising you want are more likely to happen if you plan ahead with them," she explains.
According to citytowninfo.com, Wright schools more than 10000 students every year, offering 422 associate degree programs. Wright advisor Robert Castellanos explained that in the 2007/2008 school year, 385 students withdrew from classes they were advised to withdraw from and as of press time, 291 students already withdrew from classes with advice from advisors this semester. If advisors are telling students to take the correct classes, why is this happening?
Fellow advisor Allun Ren offered suggestions on how he thinks Wright's advising program could improve on the students' end. "Students should be knowledgeable, have patience, and be available for help from advisors," Ren said. Ren has the right idea, still hiring more experienced, positive advisors might improve student retention more.
"I am determined to complete my college courses. Therefore I will not allow bad advising to ruin my college experiences," Bass remarked. All students should take the proper steps required to further their education. But advisors must also take the time to really listen and show they care about students' concentrations, not just the classes they pay for.
Bass said, "I was leaning toward nursing, but also believed I would be better at accounting." She went on to explain that the advisor seemed interested in her words, but only responded with, "Accountants make more money." After that meeting, Bass reluctantly accepted her classes. She concentrated on nursing even after that negative advising experience turned her from an indecisive student into an unhappy one. Advisors, who are supposed to help students pick their major, sometimes pick the students' future.
Many prospective undergraduate students may know what they want to focus on. But even though students remain filled with goals and enormous desires, they often have very little information when it comes to curriculum. Wright College student Marquita Jones said, "I want my advisor to help me find a better way to understand what I should be doing." There's nothing wrong with an idealistic student, but the route that student takes when working towards their degree could use some tweaking.
According to Abby Hall's ehow.com article, "How To Handle A Difficult Advisor," advisors are often a breath of fresh air for students, but only if students come properly prepared. "Although they seem uncooperative, they really just have too much to do. Your chances of getting the advising you want are more likely to happen if you plan ahead with them," she explains.
According to citytowninfo.com, Wright schools more than 10000 students every year, offering 422 associate degree programs. Wright advisor Robert Castellanos explained that in the 2007/2008 school year, 385 students withdrew from classes they were advised to withdraw from and as of press time, 291 students already withdrew from classes with advice from advisors this semester. If advisors are telling students to take the correct classes, why is this happening?
Fellow advisor Allun Ren offered suggestions on how he thinks Wright's advising program could improve on the students' end. "Students should be knowledgeable, have patience, and be available for help from advisors," Ren said. Ren has the right idea, still hiring more experienced, positive advisors might improve student retention more.
"I am determined to complete my college courses. Therefore I will not allow bad advising to ruin my college experiences," Bass remarked. All students should take the proper steps required to further their education. But advisors must also take the time to really listen and show they care about students' concentrations, not just the classes they pay for.
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