About Advising

Academic advising is an important component of the undergraduate experience. In the Columbian College, there are three kinds of advisors: faculty advisors who work with freshmen on first semester registration and in the Proseminar for Scholarship and Advising; major advisors who are faculty members in the department of the student's major, and professional advisors who are on the staff of the Office of Undergraduate Studies.

An Advising Timeline

Freshman Registration	Freshman Year	Sophomore Year	Junior Year	Senior Year
Choosing classes before your first semester	The Proseminar	Finding your major	Upper level courses	Reaching graduation

Freshman Registration: Students will receive information about registering for their first semester classes when they accept admission to GW. A faculty advisor will be assigned to them and they will communicate before the student arrives on campus about choosing classes, planning a schedule for the first semester, and meeting academic requirements.

Freshman Year : Students will work with their faculty advisor in the Proseminar for Scholarship and Advising ( PSA ) during the year to make a plan of study for the next four years, begin the process of identifying majors, select appropriate courses to fulfill the GCRs, review policies and procedures that affect their academic progress, and address any academic or other issues that arise. The PSA advisor continues to serve until the student has declared a major. Pre-med students should meet with the Health Professions Advisor in Phillips 107.

Sophomore Year: During their second year, students will begin to investigate potential majors by speaking with departmental advisors . They may also discuss their options with their faculty advisor and with the professional advisors in Phillips 107. Students must declare a major in their fourth semester. At that time, they will be advised by the undergraduate advisor in the major department . They may continue to meet with their freshman advisor, but most students find that their specialized needs are best met by the departmental advisor. Students intending to go to law school should meet with the Pre-Law Advisor in Phillips 107.

Junior Year: As majors, students will be advised in their academic department for course selection and other matters. They will receive an audit of their progress toward the degree (Balance Sheet) from the advisors in the Office of Undergraduate Studies. The purpose of this audit is to provide information necessary for graduation. Students may meet with a professional advisor to review this audit, and also with their major advisor .

Senior Year: Congratulations! You've made it this far. The major advisor will be helping students consider graduate schools or professional opportunities. Meanwhile, after students have submitted a graduation application, the professional advisors will be reviewing student records for graduation. Final clearance for graduation, which usually occurs within two to four weeks after all grades are entered, is carried out by the professional advisors in cooperation with the departmental major advisors.