Role of an Academic Advisor

Academic advising for undergraduate students at Ohio State is provided by the colleges and departments that offer the programs—the degrees, the majors, the minors—that students are pursuing. Where a student will go, therefore, to seek academic advice will vary by student and by academic program; the Columbus campus does not have a central academic advising office.

Your academic advisor will have strong familiarity with your major field. He or she will know the college’s faculty and administrators, will understand the details and nuances of your degree requirements, and can give you guidance on the particularities of the courses you’ll be taking.

What can your academic advisor do for you?

An academic advisor is a person who you can consult with questions about your academics. They assist you with selecting courses, scheduling, degree requirements, degree planning, finding campus resources, graduation, academic policies and procedures, transfer credit review, academic status, internships, post-graduation options, and more!

Who is your Academic Advisor and where is he/she located?

Your assigned advisor’s name will be listed on your Student Center Page (log in to Buckeye Link to access your Student Center page). Check your department’s website to find out where your advisor’s office is located. (Note that your advisor may not be assigned until after you arrive on campus.)

How often should you see your Academic Advisor?

Generally, at least once a year. Whenever you are uncertain about the curriculum requirements of your degree, you should meet with your advisor to discuss courses/requirements remaining before graduation. It is recommended that all students meet with their advisor at least once a year to make sure they are on track to graduate within the expected timeframe.

During the first year, you will take your College Survey course. Your instructor will be an academic advisor in your college, so you will have weekly contact with an advisor (not necessarily your own assigned advisor) if you enrolled in an in-person section of the course. You may also have assignments in the class to meet with an advisor at other times.

If you have transfer credit, you should meet with your advisor early on in your first term to review your transfer credits and find out what you might need to have further evaluated or where transfer credits can apply to degree requirements.

If you are experiencing academic difficulty or need to drop classes, you should meet with your advisor immediately, to discuss your options.

How should you contact your Academic Advisor?

Many advisors can be contacted for quick questions via email. To find out your advisor’s email address, log in to Buckeye Link. On your Student Center page, your advisor’s name will be listed on the right side of the screen. Click “details” below your advisor’s name. Then you can click on your advisor’s name to send them an email or right click to copy the email address.

Some advisors have times available where you can meet with them without making an advising appointment. Check your department’s webpage to find out if and when your advisor has drop-in advising hours. Please note that outside of published drop-in advising hours, many advisors require students to make an advising appointment. Some advisors may be available for a phone appointment if you are not in Columbus or are sick (don’t come to an advising appointment if you are sick!). Check with your advisor to see if this is an option for you.

Complicated or lengthy questions should be addressed in an advising appointment rather than via e-mail. See your department’s webpage for information about how to schedule an appointment (some advisors allow you to schedule appointments online, others by phone, and some by email, so make sure you look to find the best way to do this!).

Below you can watch a short video designed to help students prepare for advising appointments. It was created by the College of Engineering, but would be helpful for any student.