Preparing for an appointment

Advising appointments are a great opportunity to have someone listen to your concerns, celebrate your accomplishments, and answer your questions. Review the guide most closely related to your appointment goals and complete the associated action steps.

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First Year Checkback

The first semester of college is exciting, challenging, and filled with new opportunities and experiences. All first-year students conduct a 30-minute First Year Checkback appointment with an academic advisor to discuss the transition to college, goals, campus resources, degree requirements, spring registration, and degree planning tools.

Preparation steps to complete before your appointment:

  • Complete the pre-appointment survey, which will be sent to you from CBS Student Services
  • Use your APAS report to plan which courses you will take in the Spring
  • Explore the Graduation Planner tool and begin to format your four year plan

Questions to reflect on before your appointment:

  • How are you adjusting to campus life?
  • How are your classes going thus far?
  • What co-curricular activities have you joined or do you have an interest in exploring? Examples may include student organization involvement, research, volunteer, study abroad, etc.
  • What goals are you considering, both inside and outside the classroom, as well as long-term career goals?

  • What questions do you have related to course planning for the spring semester and beyond?

Second Year Checkback

The Second-Year Checkback appointment creates an opportunity for second year CBS students to reflect on their first two years at the University of Minnesota and discuss their short- and long-term goals. During this appointment, students can create an action plan for steps that can be taken as a CBS student to achieve their academic, co-curricular and professional goals.

Preparation steps to complete before your appointment: 

  • Complete the pre-appointment survey, which will be sent to you from CBS Student Services
  • Consider your short- and long-term goals and how they have changed over time
  • Write down questions for your advisor

Questions to reflect on before your appointment: 

  • What are you most proud of from your first two years of college?
  • What have you found challenging and how have you overcome those challenges?
  • What are you thinking about doing after graduation (career or additional education, for example)? Do you have an alternative plan?
  • What steps have you taken and do you plan to take toward your goals?
  • What campus resources could help you achieve your goals?

Transfer Checkback

The Transfer Checkback appointment is an opportunity for transfer students to connect with their advisor, discuss their transition to campus, goals, and campus resources, and review degree planning tools.

Preparation steps to complete before your appointment: 

  • Complete the pre-appointment survey, which will be sent to you from CBS Student Services
  • Review your APAS report
  • Familiarize yourself with Graduation Planner and map out at least one semester of courses
  • Write down questions for your advisor

Questions to reflect on before your appointment:

  • How are you adjusting to UMNTC?
  • What is your intended graduation timeline?
  • What questions do you have about degree planning?
  • What goals do you have for yourself during your time at UMNTC and for after graduation?
  • How will you organize your time to make progress on these goals?

Degree Planning

There are many policies, procedures, and requirements related to course and degree planning. During a Degree Planning Appointment, an academic advisor will review your APAS report and Graduation Planner to provide feedback and assist you in mapping out your remaining course requirements in a timely and balanced manner.

Preparation steps to complete before your appointment: 

  • Review your APAS report and identify unmet degree requirements
  • Use the catalog for your bulletin year to reference prerequisites and sequencing
  • Create or update your Graduation Planner
  • Write down questions for your advisor
  • Consider the timeline of your commitments outside of the classroom (internships, volunteering, study abroad, etc.)
  • Explore requirements for majors or minors outside of CBS

Questions to reflect on before your appointment:

  • How did you choose this degree program(s)?
  • What are your long term goals?
  • When do you intend to graduate from the University of Minnesota?
  • What challenges do you anticipate encountering with this plan?

Learning Abroad Planning

Due to the complex nature of learning abroad, students will typically meet with the Learning Abroad Center and their academic advisor multiple times throughout the learning abroad planning process. Once you narrow down and identify specific program(s) of interest, an academic advisor will review the course evaluation process and determine if or how courses taken abroad will fulfill major requirements.

Preparation steps to complete before your appointment: 

  • Attend First Step Session through Learning Abroad Center
  • Identify learning abroad programs of interest and research potential courses
  • Complete the student section of the Academic Planning Form
  • Meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies for your major to discuss how planned courses may satisfy degree requirements and request documentation for course approvals
  • Update your Graduation Planner and review your APAS report
  • Write down questions for your advisor
  • If you are planning to take coursework abroad toward another major/minor be sure to communicate with that program advisor

Questions to reflect on before your appointment: 

  • How did you select this program(s)?
  • What are your goals for learning abroad?
  • What do you hope to learn from being in a new culture? How do you anticipate acclimating to a new culture?
  • What challenges do you anticipate encountering while abroad? How will you address these?
  • How do you think your learning abroad experience might have an impact on your future professional goals?

Academic Probation

To support continued growth, students on academic probation are required to meet with an academic advisor to address challenges and establish a plan for moving forward. Prior to the appointment, students should reflect on past experiences that may have contributed to their probationary status. During the appointment, students will discuss motivation, strategies, and goals with their advisor to form an Academic Success Contract. Advisors will also cover the University of Minnesota academic probation policies.

Preparation steps to complete before your appointment:

  • Complete the pre-appointment survey which will be sent to you from CBS Student Services
  • Reflect on your previous semester and consider your goals for the upcoming term
  • Consider your registration plan and ensure you have completed prerequisites and have balanced, manageable course load of no more than 10-11 credits of math/science

Questions to reflect on before your appointment: 

  • What do you feel is the reason you are on academic probation?
  • How do you define success as a college student?
  • What happened in the previous semester(s) that was out of your control? What was in your control?
  • What changes have you already made to be successful in the coming semester?
  • How will you change your behavior to be successful in the coming semester?
  • What are your goals for the coming year both inside and outside of the classroom?
  • Do you know of any resources or opportunities on campus to help you achieve your goals?
Other reason for appointment

If your intent for the appointment does not align with the above appointment types please complete the action steps below in preparation for your appointment: