Preparing for Academic Success

Preparing for Success

Here are some topics that can help you get prepared for the program:

• 10 TED Talks Every College Student Needs To Watch

• Best Practices for Students Taking an Online Course 

• Time Management & Study Tips

Undergraduate Advising Center

The UG Advising Center was created to serve the diverse needs of the undergraduate population. This center offers four pathways of support depending on student needs; please see descriptions for each of these supports below:

• Academic Advisor: A member of the undergraduate faculty whose role is to approve lower and upper-division coursework, discuss education plans, develop a personalized course schedule, and revise plans, if necessary. Academic advisors will also be the first point of contact for many students and will make appropriate referrals based on student concerns. 

• Program Mentors: Offers institutional and program guidance; determines, advises, discusses, and addresses student academic status issues  (e.g. LOAs, academic probation). Intermediary between all advisors and mentors. Makes appropriate referrals based on student concerns.

• Academic Mentor: Builds tools for and guides students on academic success (e.g. goal setting, time management skills, tips for being an effective online learner, etc.); serves as a writing and statistics/research tutor for UG students; develops and executes plans for students in problematic academic standing. Makes appropriate referrals based on student concerns.

• Career Mentor: Provides career guidance and support. Makes appropriate referrals based on student concerns.

Academic Advising 

You will receive an email from your assigned Academic Advisor after you are admitted. You will book an advising appointment, where you will devise your course schedule for the entire academic year. At the appointment, you will also review the classes you've taken that may or may not qualify as credit for your upper-division coursework.

Registration

Registration instructions will be given to you once you complete your course schedule during your advising meeting. Should you have any questions about registration after this point, please direct them to Dr. William Snow (wsnow@paloaltou.edu), Chair of the Department of Undergraduate Studies.