Pre-Major Advising
Overview | What Advisers Do | Best Practices | Advising across Vanderbilt
Overview
Pre-Major Advising Mission
College of Arts and Science Pre-Major Academic Advising empowers students to forge their own academic paths. Our friendly and accessible team of advisers guides students as they navigate the transition to college academics, the College Core, major and minor exploration, course selection, academic planning, university policies and procedures, and campus resources. We support students as they explore their interests and strengths, and we encourage them to define, evaluate, and achieve their educational and future goals.
What is a pre-major adviser?
All first-year students in the College of Arts and Science are assigned a pre-major adviser before they arrive on campus. The adviser works with the student in their first and second years, until the student declares a major and is assigned a major adviser. Students are not able to declare a major until their third semester.
Pre-major advisers will consult with first-year students in June before the student enters Vanderbilt, to begin to understand the student’s interests and goals and to assist with course selections for registration for the fall.
Students are encouraged to see their advisers at any time; they must, however, consult their pre-major adviser three times during their first year:
- During the summer before the fall semester of entering Vanderbilt;
- Prior to the opening of enrollment windows for the spring semester; and
- Prior to the opening of enrollment windows for the fall semester of their second year.
All students are required to see their advisers (either pre-major or major adviser) prior to registration for each semester in order to remove the Adviser Approval Hold which will prevent them from registering for courses.
What Advisers Do
Your adviser can help you develop and articulate your educational goals, craft an academic plan to guide your course selection, navigate College Core requirements, explore majors/minors and your academic interests, understand academic policies and procedures, answer questions about incoming credit (AP/IB and pre-matriculation credit) and course placements, discuss academic challenges, and connect you with campus resources. Not sure who to ask for help? Reach out to your pre-major adviser.
What pre-major advisers don’t do:
Your adviser cannot choose your classes or your major, register you for classes, set academic policies for the university, contact professors on your behalf, or request changes to your grades. Pre-major advisers are not financial aid advisers or advisers for Blair, Peabody, or School of Engineering students.
Best Practices
To prepare for a meeting with your adviser, please follow these best practices:
Before your meeting:
- Initiate conversations with your adviser when you have academic questions or concerns.
- Write out topics and questions you would like to discuss on the Calendly sign-up form so your adviser can prepare.
- Take time to independently research your topics and questions.
- For registration meetings: research available majors/minors through the relevant department websites and the Undergraduate Catalog, review the College Core requirements and your Degree Audit in YES, put classes of interest in your cart, and read through course descriptions and pre-requisites, paying special attention to any repeat credit policies.
During your meeting:
- Arrive on time.
- Bring a charged laptop or tablet and your list of topics and questions.
- Be prepared to discuss educational goals, interests, concerns, plans, and questions.
- Take notes.
After your meeting:
- Keep a record of information learned in academic advising appointments.
- Complete next steps or action items discussed.
- Send follow-up emails if questions come up.
- Read any follow-up emails from your adviser.
Advising across Vanderbilt
In addition to pre-major advising in the College of Arts and Science, these offices across campus offer other types of advising:
- Pre-Law Advising: for students interested in a law career
- Pre-Architecture Advising: for students interested in an architecture career
- Pre-Nursing Advising: for students interested in a nursing career
- Health Professions Advising: for students interested in a health career, including medicine, nursing, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, etc.
- Study Abroad Office: offers advising and coordination of international study abroad programs
- Career Center: offers advising regarding exploring possible careers, internships, and professional opportunities
- Immersion Vanderbilt: offers advising on planning your individual Immersion project