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Your Path: Advising and Registration

5:00 minute read

As an adult learner returning to college, seeking guidance from academic advisors and effectively navigating the registration process are important steps in ensuring a successful academic journey.

Let’s explore how to schedule meetings with academic advisors and prepare questions to make the most out of your advising session.

Consider Meeting with Advisors

Academic, career, and financial advisors are valuable resources, they can guide course selection, degree, career and financial planning. Here’s how to schedule meetings with them:

Contact the Advising Office: If you are considering an advising appointment reach out to the advising or admissions office at your school of interest.
Plan Ahead: Schedule your advising appointment well in advance, especially during peak registration periods. This ensures you have ample time to discuss your academic goals and plan your course schedule, finances and or career path.
Be Flexible: Be open to scheduling appointments during regular business hours or at times that may be convenient for your advisor. Consider alternative options such as virtual appointments if in-person meetings are not feasible.

Prepare Questions

Prepare Questions for Advisors Regarding Course Selection, Transfer Credits, Career, and Financial Planning. Before an advising session, take some time to prepare questions to make the most out of your time with the advisor. Here are some questions to consider:

Course Selection:
- What courses are required for my degree program?
- Are there any prerequisites or corequisites I need to be aware of?
- Can you recommend courses that align with my academic and career goals?
Transfer Credits:
- How do I request a credit evaluation for transfer credits from previous coursework or exams?
- What is the process for transferring credits, and how many credits can I transfer?
- Can you provide guidance on selecting courses that fulfill degree requirements and maximize transfer credits?
  - Ask about credit for prior learning. Credit for Prior Learning or CPL is credit awarded for skills and knowledge gained outside of a traditional classroom.
Career Planning:
- How does this degree support my long-term career goals?
- What skills will serve my chosen career path?
Degree Planning:
- How can I create a degree plan that fits my schedule and timeline for completion?
- Are there any opportunities for credit for prior learning or work experience?
- What resources are available to help me stay on track academically and reach my goals?
Academic Policies:
- What are the academic policies regarding grading, withdrawals, and academic standing?
- Are there any specific policies or procedures I should be aware of as an adult learner returning to college?

Registration

After meeting with your advisor and preparing your course plan, follow these steps to ensure a smooth registration process:

🔎Review Registration Dates:

Check the registration dates and deadlines on your college’s academic calendar.
Mark these dates on your calendar to ensure you don’t miss them.

☀️Register Early:

Register for your courses as soon as the registration period opens.
Early registration increases your chances of getting into the classes you need before they fill up.

✔️Verify Course Availability:

Double-check that the courses you want to register for are available.
Have backup options ready in case your first-choice classes are full.

💻Use Online Registration Tools:

Most colleges offer online registration platforms.
Familiarize yourself with the system and ensure you know how to navigate it before registration opens.

📆Confirm Your Schedule:

After registering, review your schedule to ensure all your courses are correctly listed.
Make any necessary adjustments within the add/drop period.

Next Steps

Schedule meetings with academic advisors

Prepare questions for your advisor to make sure you have a clear understanding of the path ahead.

Take note and prepare to register for classes as soon as you are able.

Summary

Scheduling meetings with academic advisors and preparing questions for advising sessions are essential steps for adult learners returning to college. By proactively seeking guidance and asking thoughtful questions, you can make informed decisions about your academic journey and set yourself up for success.

Help Topics > Motivation

Deciding when—or whether—to go back to college as a working adult can be tough. Here are some questions to help you make the right choice for you.

Why do you want to earn your degree?
How will you juggle coursework with work and family?
Can you learn and grow without returning to college?
Can you afford it?

Consider your responses to the above questions about your motivation, time, energy, flexibility at work, finances, and learning preferences. Are you in a place with those resources that make school realistic for you right now? Think also about whether you have your ducks in a row at school, such as unblocking any holds on your student account and a clear sense of which requirements you’d need to meet to graduate. Then, ask yourself whether you have what you need to succeed or whether you still have work to do. This can help you determine your timeline on returning.

Reach out to a ReUp Coach via the sidebar on your dashboard if you ever need help deciding when a return to school would be best for you.

This depends on how many credits you have remaining and whether or not you'd like to return part-time or full-time. Reaching out to your school to discuss this with an admissions counselor or your academic advisor will provide you with the most accurate timeline that works best for you.

This depends on your previous major and the progress you've made during your previous attendance. This would also be a great question to ask your admissions counselor or your academic advisor.