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Pre-Major Advising

A student sits talking with an advisor at a table

Pre-Major Advising Mission

College of Arts and Science Pre-Major 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.

Working with Your 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 you in your first and second years, until you declare a major and are 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 you enter Vanderbilt, to begin to understand your interests and goals and to assist with course selections for registration for the fall.

  • How Your Pre-Major Adviser Can Help You

    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 that meet 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.

    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.

  • When to Meet with Your Pre-Major Adviser

    You are encouraged to see your adviser at any time; you must, however, consult your pre-major adviser three times during your first year:

    • During the summer before the fall semester of entering Vanderbilt
    • Prior to the opening of enrollment windows for the spring semester
    • Prior to the opening of enrollment windows for the fall semester of your second year
  • Lifting the Adviser Approval Hold Before Registration

    All students are required to meet with their adviser (either pre-major or major adviser) before registration for each semester to remove the Adviser Approval Hold, which will prevent you from registering for courses.

    You can determine the kinds of holds on your record by checking the Holds section in YES. You can also find out how to have the hold(s) lifted and whom to contact with questions. The Adviser Approval Hold is the only hold that your pre-major adviser can release.

Office of Pre-Major Advising

130 Buttrick Hall
ASadvising@vanderbilt.edu
(615) 343-5495

Drop-In Advising

For the majority of questions, you will want to schedule a meeting with your adviser. However, if you have a quick question, you can use drop-in advising with a rotating on-call adviser. If you have many questions, you may be referred to schedule a meeting with your adviser. All registration meetings should be scheduled with your assigned adviser. Drop-in advising is not to be used for removing advising holds.

Note that drop-in advising is not available during registration advising seasons: approximately mid-October to mid-November and mid-March to mid-April.

Schedule an Appointment

You are always welcome to schedule an appointment to meet with your assigned adviser (use the specific link above for your adviser). If you are unsure about who your adviser is, you can check on your landing page in YES. There are in-person and virtual appointments available all year long. Not sure what to talk to your adviser about? Feel free to schedule a get-to-know-you meeting.

How to Reschedule or Cancel Your Appointment

Meetings can be cancelled or rescheduled through the link in your appointment confirmation email. Please be respectful of your adviser’s and fellow students’ time by arriving on time for your appointments. If you need to reschedule or cancel, please do so at least one day in advance so that the appointment time can be made available to other students, especially during busy registration periods.

Not feeling well? Please do not come to the office in person. You can cancel or reschedule using the link in your appointment confirmation email or email your adviser to request a switch to a virtual meeting.

Best Practices for Meeting with Your Adviser

  • 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:

Advising Across Vanderbilt

In addition to pre-major advising in the College of Arts and Science, offices across campus offer other types of advising.

  • 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

Pre-Professional Advising

If you choose to study a pre-professional track, you'll have access to additional advising resources based on your anticipated field of study. Pre-professional advisers serve as specialized resources to help you explore and understand various career options within the relevant field. They will also help you ensure that your undergraduate course of study prepares you for entrance exams and satisfies the necessary prerequisites for graduate school. If you are planning a career in any of these areas, contact the relevant office as soon as possible.

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