Preparing for an appointment
Advising appointments are a great opportunity to have someone listen to your concerns, celebrate your accomplishments, and answer your questions. You should complete the following steps before an advising appointment to help make sure you have a productive meeting with your adviser:
- Enter your appointment date and time in your Gopher Guide, UMCal or your personal calendar to make sure you don’t forget about the meeting.
- Review your APAS report and write down any questions you have about your graduation requirements.
- Make a tentative list of courses you plan to take and activities you plan to be involved in through at least the next semester.
- Prepare a list of questions to ask your adviser.
It’ also helpful to do some additional preparation for certain types of advising appointments. Choose one of the appointment types below to learn what additional steps to take as you prepare to meet with your adviser.
Appointment types
- Freshman checkback
- Transfer student scheduling
- Study abroad
- Four-year graduation plan
- Probation
- 85-credit meeting
- Asking your advisor for a letter of recommendation
Freshman checkback
Your freshman checkback appointment is a time for you to ask your adviser questions after you’ve had some experience at the U. The purpose of the appointment is to provide you with an opportunity to talk about how things are going, the challenges you’re facing, and your plans for the future.
You should be prepared to discuss the following topics during your appointment:
- How your classes are going and how you’re adjusting to life on campus
- Your work towards completing the Nature of Life follow-up activities
- Your goals for the next year both inside and outside of the classroom
- Any plans you have for changing your major, adding a second major, or adding a minor
- Your tentative four year course schedule
- Any ideas you have about volunteering, completing community service, joining student organizations, or studying abroad
- Your plans for exploring different majors and careers
Transfer student scheduling
If you’re thinking of transferring to CBS but haven’t applied, make sure to follow our application deadlines.
If you’ve been accepted as a new CBS transfer student, it’ important to know what courses you’ve completed in the CBS curriculum. Looking at the following resources before meeting with a CBS adviser will help make sure you’re prepared to talk about your course schedule as a CBS student.
- Sample Major Plans: Choose any of the majors listed here to access planning sheets that map out graduation requirements
- MNCAS: Use this system to see how courses from other institutions transfer to U of MN and fulfill liberal education requirements
- IT Course Equivalency: Use the spreadsheets available on this website to see how courses from other institutions may fulfill math and chemistry requirements
- Evaluating Transfer Courses: Use these forms to have your transfer courses evaluated to fulfill CBS major requirements.
Always remember to also print your APAS report to confirm how your courses transfer. Make sure you send transcripts from the other institutions you attended to the U of MN Office of Admissions.
You should be prepared to discuss the following things with your adviser during your appointment:
- Your goals for the next year both inside and outside of the classroom, including your future career goals
- Any courses you completed at other institutions that you think should fulfill graduation requirements, but do not appear to do so on your APAS report
- Any ideas you have about volunteering, completing community service, joining student organizations, or studying abroad
- Your plans for exploring different majors and careers
Study abroad
You should be prepared to discuss the following items with your adviser if you plan to learn abroad:
- How your study abroad experience will fit in your graduation plan
- The timing of your study abroad experience (i.e., when should you go?)
- Potential courses or requirements to complete while abroad
Four-year graduation plan
Depending on what other questions you have during an appointment, advisers may be able to help you develop a four-year graduation plan. You should be prepared to discuss the following topics if you would like to create a long-term plan:
- Major electives you’re interested in taking (e.g., Human Genetics, Plant Diversity, Evolution)
- Research topics you find interesting
- Second majors or minors you plan to pursue
- Course requirements for admission to graduate or professional schools
- Your schedule for taking professional entrance exams (e.g., GRE, MCAT)
Probation
The purpose of probation meetings is to offer support and help you develop strategies for being a successful student. You should complete a Self-Assessment Worksheet before your probation meeting. The worksheet will help you identify some factors that may play a role in your academic situation. Be prepared to discuss the worksheet, along with the following topics, during your meeting:
- Your academic and personal goals
- Available support services
- An academic plan for the next year
During the meeting you will also be asked to complete an Academic Success Contract outlining your goals and strategies you will use to meet those goals over the next semester. Your adviser will help you complete this sheet.
85-credit meeting
Congratulations! You’re potentially very close to graduation if you receive an 85-credit message and schedule a meeting. You should be prepared to discuss the following topics during your appointment:
- Remaining requirements for your major
- Remaining requirements for your degree (e.g., liberal education requirements)
- A timeline for completing your graduation requirements
- Your degree application
- Post-graduate plans
Asking your advisor for a letter of recommendation
The best letters of recommendation come from someone who knows you well and can write a strong letter with specific examples of your skills, motivation, and relevant experiences. It is often best to obtain letters of recommendation from faculty, supervisors, or employers who can speak to your strengths and abilities.
Students sometimes ask their CBS academic advisor for a letter of recommendation. If your advisor agrees to write a letter for you, there are several things you must do to ensure your letter can be written and sent on time. Schedule a meeting with your advisor to discuss your interest, preparation, and motivation for the opportunity. Provide a minimum of two weeks, and preferably a month for your advisor to write the letter.
Submit copies of all materials in 1–3 below to your advisor prior to your appointment.
- An updated copy of your resume
- A copy of your personal statement (for graduate or professional school) or a paragraph describing your interest in the opportunity (for internships, summer research programs, scholarships, etc.)
- An organized packet of information and materials for each letter, including;
| What is the program or opportunity? | Provide a website, brochure or other relevant information (if applying to multiple programs a list with web sites would be appropriate). |
| To whom should the letter be sent? | Include name of a person or committee and a complete address or pre-addressed stamped envelope. |
| What is the deadline? | Indicate if deadline requires that the letter be postmarked or received by that date. |
| What qualities, experiences, or characteristics should be addressed in the letter? | You can suggest personal characteristics, challenges or obstacles you have overcome, research experience or other items to highlight. |
| How should the letter be submitted? | On-line, by mail, CCLC recommendation file service, or provided to you in a sealed envelope. |
| What should be sent with the letter? | Include any forms or cover sheets that must be completed by recommender, if applicable. Be sure to complete, sign, and date the applicant section. |
