Whether a student is new to college or they’ve been around the block a few times, the desire to do well during the semester is still there. If there was a list of dos and don’ts laid out for them they would follow them in a heartbeat.

Thanks to the CLASS advisement team and a few Georgia Southern students, they can have just that. Not only a list of semester long dos and don’ts, but also words of wisdom from fellow students about whether or not to listen to an advisor.

Student Quotes

“My advisor tells me to do whatever makes me happy.” Ashley Bryan, Junior political science major said.

“My advisor told me taking trigonometry and chemistry would be no problem because the maths were similar. That was a lie.” –Taylor Cook, sophomore pre-nursing major said.

“One time my advisor for my first major told me I should continue with my major for another semester but I knew it wasn’t for me. She was a nice lady and was just trying to help but in the end I’m glad I switched.” – Sarah Scarborough, junior criminal justice major said

“My advisor gave me bad advice. Instead of pointing me in the direction of an actual professor doing research she told me to ask every teacher in the entire department. And then she decided not to be my advisor anymore.” – Ladonna Russell, senior biology major said

“I think the best advice from my advisor that I’ve gotten so far is to do what makes me happy. This is my life, and I’m the one who has to live it, so I should stop making decisions for those people that are trying to live through me.” – Cheyenne Burns, junior business marketing major said.

Tips from the CLASS Advisement Team

DO:

· Find a balance between school work, work, and fun

· Check and read your GEORGIA SOUTHERN email

· Get to know your degree requirements and take ownership of your education

· Make specific plans to meet your goals. “Do better” and “study more” are meaningless. What does that look like for you?

· Stay healthy: sleep, eat nutritious food, get outside, and exercise

Don’t:

· Go home every weekend. Look for ways to be involved in campus or community events, even on the weekends

· Plan to do all your homework and studying in the late evening. This is when you’re most likely to be distracted by other campus events, friends, TV, video games, etc

· Hesitate to ask for help

· Assume that just because you didn’t have to study in high school or your previous institution to make good grades that you can do the same at Georgia Southern

· Wait until the last minute to be advised and register for class