UGA Undergraduate Admissions / Orientation / Advisor Tips

Orientation

Tips for Your First Academic Advising Session

At Orientation, new students will meet individually or in small groups with their assigned academic advisor. Students are not allowed to register for classes until after the advising appointment. Here are some tips from UGA academic advisors on how to prepare for your first advising appointment:

  • First-year students will take placement tests in math and English prior to registering at Orientation. (English placement tests are required only for students with an SAT-Verbal score of 580 or below, or an ACT-English score of 25 or below.) Even if a student has scored above the required score on the SAT or ACT, it is highly encouraged that the English placement test is taken. Students have the potential to exempt English 1101 and earn 3 hours of class credit simply by taking the placement exam. Performance on all placements tests will determine your placement in either advanced level courses, introductory courses, or preparatory courses. Advisors must know your test results before they can fully advise you, and advisors will have access to the placement test results when they meet with new students during their advisement appointment at Orientation. Note: Transfer students are not required to take placement tests.
  • Since UGA departmental placement test outcomes will have a major impact on the courses in which new first-year students must enroll, try to review math and English before coming to Orientation, and get some sleep the night before tests are given. One Web site that might be helpful in preparing for the math placement exam is “Information for Entering UGA Students—Mathematics Preparation.”
  • Review the UGA Bulletin and the Course Schedule before meeting with your advisor, and create a tentative list of courses that you would like to take during your first semester at the University. However, recognize that the Course Schedule is subject to change, and you will need to be flexible as you and your advisor create a schedule that combines your originally planned courses and the courses that are available at the time you come to register.
  • Most advisors prefer to meet only with advisees and encourage parents to make alternative plans during their student’s advising appointment. Make sure that your parents understand that you will be expected to take control of your academic planning and goal setting during the advisement appointment. However, it might be good to discuss your plans with your parents beforehand, in case they have questions.
  • All students, and particularly students who are UNDECIDED about their academic major, should explore the Major Decisions Web site for information about the more than 170 academic programs offered at UGA.
  • Bring all materials that the University has sent you (admission letter, Orientation confirmation, etc.).
  • Students should note that UNIV courses are offered by the Division of Academic Enhancement for students who want to refresh their study skills, learn more about themselves or explore special topics. Students may also place into UNIV courses based on the results of their placement tests. For course descriptions of Introductory and Elective UNIV courses, check out the Division of Academic Enhancement’s Web site.
  • Students who plan majors in the Franklin College of Arts & Sciences should consider taking a one-hour credit First-Year Seminar during their first or second semester at the University to enhance their understanding of a major or field they want to explore. These seminars provide an opportunity for students new to the University to become acquainted with a senior faculty member and to learn something about the excitement of study and research in a specific discipline and the intellectual challenge of academic life at the University of Georgia. Most first-year seminars meet for one hour each week during the semester. They will be taught by some of the most distinguished members of the University faculty who will focus on topics of special interest to their research and teaching. These courses are also open to students outside the College, though the actual courses concentrate on Arts & Sciences areas.
  • Review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) segment of the Orientation Web site before leaving for Orientation.