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academic Advising

Book an Advising Appointment

Depending on your major and class level, you may be working with a professional advisor at the Student Success Center, a professional advisor within an academic department, and/or with a faculty advisor. To view your Advisor login to the Student Information System and select Student Services then select Student Records the select Student Profile.  You can hover over the Advisor Name to view contact information. If your assigned advisor works within the SSC, click here to schedule an appointment. If you aren’t certain who to contact, please call or email the SSC for assistance.

To view a full list of all undergraduate professional advisors by major, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Academic Advising

Click on the below links to go directly to that FAQ

Why do I need to meet with an academic advisor?

Faculty and professional advisors will help you to

  • Explore academic and career options
  • Declare a major
  • Develop your academic plan in Degree Works
  • Make a connection to your university
  • Learn about options to create the financial plan that best reflects your situation
  • Explore career plans and engagement opportunities
  • Consider solutions to any personal issues you need to address
  • Find a variety of resources you can use on and off campus
  • Establish a support network to achieve success
  • Stay on track to graduation
  • Make the best of your campus experience

What if I’m undecided on a major?

If you have not decided what major you are interested in, you are not alone. This is a very important decision that you need to consider carefully. You need to explore your options and take your time to make a well-informed decision. The students who have not declared a major, those who are undecided between a few major options, or those who would like to explore changing their major are usually advised at the Student Success Center.  Here are the general steps to help you decide.  Reflect on your passion and strengths:

  • Complete a self-assessment to explore different options:  O*Net Interest Profiler 
  • Review your interests, skills and potential occupations with the following resources: O*NET OnLine, CareerOneStop and Occupational Outlook.
  • Meet with your SSC advisor, who can help you develop decision-making skills, build self-awareness, and identify possible barriers to making a decision.
  • Attend program information sessions held by UM-Flint academic departments.

Explore academic options:

  • During New Student Orientation you choose a meta-major (see below). All majors offered by UM-Flint are grouped into six broad categories of academic domains. Choosing a meta-major will help you narrow your options to related majors under one or two categories so you can start exploring related degrees and careers.
  • Meet with your SSC advisor and develop a plan to explore academic programs of interest.
  • Review courses associated with your majors of interest and register for Introductory Course(s)
  • Meet with faculty members in your majors of interest. Your advisor will assist you in identifying faculty members to contact and prepare questions for them.
  • Meet with upper-class students in major interest areas. Your advisor will help you identify students to contact and prepare questions for them.
  • Use the “What If” option in Degree Works to explore different scenarios that lead to graduation

Explore career options:

  • Prepare a draft of your resume. Use the writing resources available to students.
  • Attend a Career Fair. 
  • Meet with a Career Advisor.
  • Participate in job shadowing or informational interviews.

When you are ready, declare your major: Log in to SIS

  • Click Student Services
  • Click Student Records
  • Click Change of Curriculum form

A bit more on meta-majors . . . Choosing a meta-major can help you narrow down your options to fewer, more manageable majors that you can explore in more detail. Meta-majors are broad categories to groups related majors together. Below you can see the six meta-majors that pertain to the University of Michigan-Flint.  We customarily assign students during orientation into groups for the day based on the meta-major in which they are interested.  Further information on degree requirements for the programs that fall within each meta-major can be found on the Degree Pathways section of the UM-Flint website.

 ARTS & HUMANITIES  BUSINESS MANAGEMENT EDUCATION & HUMAN SERVICES
 NURSING, PUBLIC HEALTH, & HEALTH PROFESSIONS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATHEMATICS (STEM) SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

How Exactly Do I Change My Major?

If you decide to change your major, minor, or concentration, please first discuss your choice with your current academic advisor.  Once you have the information and facts you need, here are the steps to have your University of Michigan-Flint record updated:

Adding or changing a major, minor or concentration

Log into the Student Information System

  1. Click on “Student Services”
  2. Click on “Student Records”
  3. Click on “Change of Curriculum”
  4. The system will then ask if your current major information is correct.  Click “No,” then fill in your new major, minor, and concentration (if applicable), and finish by clicking “Submit.”

This process places your request in the processing queue, meaning you will not see the change take effect immediately.  The Office of the Registrar will make the change 1-5 business days from the date of your submission.

How Do I Make Sure I’ll Graduate on Time?

  • Plan well
    • You should meet with your Academic Advisor at least once every fall and winter semester to update your academic plan in MyDegreePlan.
    • Register for courses early so you can choose the schedule that best works for you.
    • Check all required courses for prerequisites.
    • Complete approximately 30 credits per year (some degrees require more than 120 credits so this may vary).
    • Get a planner, an app, or any system to organize your entire semester in advance.
       
  • Set clear goals
    • Choose a major that you are really interested in or have a passion for.
    • Meet with career counselors at the Career Center to explore career options and expectations.
    • If you are unsure about your major or want to explore options, talk with an academic advisor at the Student Success Center.
    • Make sure to regularly consult with your advisor to ensure you are taking the appropriate courses; this can avoid wasting money, time, and effort.
       
  • Understand your finances
    • Talk to your academic and financial advisors about options to pay for your studies.
    • Calculate the cost of completing all the requirements to graduate and explore options to ensure funding ahead of time.
    • Prepare a financial plan for each year of your program.
       
  • Focus on your coursework
    • Become familiar with the syllabus for each course you are taking.
    • Complete all of your assignments on time.
    • Work with tutoring services as needed to maintain your grades.
    • Attend Supplemental Instruction sessions whenever those are available for courses you are taking.
       
  • Use your time well
    • Manage your days and weeks to allow for enough study time:  For every hour in class, plan to spend 2 to 3 hours on study.
    • Plan time to prepare for course assignments, have fun, and get involved in campus life.
  • Work on staying healthy
    • Prioritize getting enough sleep (sleep helps memory and learning).
    • Spend time with people whose company you enjoy. 
    • Eat a healthy diet and avoid junk food.
    • Plan for daily physical exercise.
    • Find positive and healthy ways to manage stress and anxiety.

Do I Really Need to Follow My Advisor’s Advice and Attend All of My Classes?

Yes.  And here’s why:

  • Skipping a class is a big waste of money if you miss out on the information you need to pass the class.
  • Lectures and classes supplement reading assignments
  • In class-discussions enhance your critical thinking skills
  • Taking notes in class will help you understand reading assignments and be better prepared for exams.
  • Attending and taking notes will save on study time later
  • You can ask questions and learn from other students’ questions
  • You’ll be more prepared for upcoming work
  • You can meet other students who can help you study or find useful resources.

Print these Frequently Asked Questions.