By Zhuzhen (Nina) Xie
As the new school year approaches, many of you, whether you are starting fresh or returning, may have questions about preparing for the year, planning your studies, building your social life, and more. At the University of Manchester, one invaluable point of contact is your Academic Advisor: a member of the academic staff associated with your subject of study. Throughout your time here, your Academic Advisor will be your first port of call for any questions related to your academic progress, personal wellbeing, or prospects planning.
Note down your thoughts
Before the meetings, prepare your questions beforehand and organize your thoughts, this will help you communicate everything that’s on your mind and allow your Academic Advisor to better understand your situation. Start by listing what’s troubling you, for example, course options, academic requirements, or worries about starting a new year. Writing down your concerns also clarifies the kind of assistance you wish to receive, which will help you enhance the quality of your conversation. Moreover, your questions do not necessarily need to be academic-related or in a strictly formal setting, you can bring up anything that is lingering in your mind. Depending on your topic and objective, meetings with your advisor can be a quick chat or a more formal discussion, whichever format works best for both of you. Your Academic Advisors are happy to listen and provide feedback. Whether you’re feeling homesick, overwhelmed by coursework, or struggling socially, they are here to help using their experience and resources, so please feel free to reach out when needed.
Be Honest and Open
During your discussion, be open to suggestions and give honest feedback. As your primary point of contact, your Academic Advisors are trusted listeners and a source of information and guidance. Building a genuine connection with your Academic Advisor is an opportunity for you to express your true feelings, stress, and worries to a professional who understands your academic journey, not only about formal meetings on academic progress. Your Academic Advisors can make valuable suggestions that give you different perspectives or inspirations regarding your situation because they may have experiences with other students who had similar issues. When you feel comfortable sharing your personal experiences or ideas, this gives your advisors useful context to help answer your questions and find potential solutions that can benefit you. To foster mutual understanding and support that make the conversation more engaging and effective, it is important to join the meetings with an open and honest mindset.
Follow up and Build the Relationship
Throughout the school year, schedule regular meetings with your advisor to update each other on new developments or discuss any emerging issues. During Welcome Week or the first week of teaching, meet your Academic Advisor and discuss your envisions or concerns for the new school year. In the following weeks, you can effectively improve communication with your Academic Advisor through regular meetings, as it might be difficult to be completely honest or comfortable discussing personal matters at the start. Having a strong advisor relationship can provide a steady support to you alongside your journey, especially when you face various challenges at different stages of your study, from course selection, exam preparation, to job-hunting.
Finally, reach out to our SALC Student Hub or the Wellbing Team for support if you need any further information and guidance on your communications with your advisor. Please see the SALC Students Community Page to read more about Academic Advisors and see examples of the various questions you can bring up to make the most of your meetings. Start now by attending your first scheduled meetings and get ready to embrace a meaningful and exciting school year!