Advising at a Glance: What to Expect & What’s Expected

Wondering what your advisor can help with—and what they’ll expect from you? This quick guide breaks it all down. Think of it as your Advising Syllabus!

What is Academic Advising?

Academic advising is a partnership between you and your advisor—designed to help you get the most out of your time at ��ñ��. Your advisor is here to support you in making informed decisions about your classes, major, and campus opportunities, while also helping you connect your academic plans to your personal and professional goals.

Advisors can help you:

Understand your degree requirements and stay on track to graduate
Explore classes, minors, certificates, and co-curricular opportunities like study abroad, research, and internships
Navigate challenges, whether academic or personal, by connecting you to the right campus resources
Reflect on what you want out of your college experience and where you're headed after graduation

Advising isn’t just about picking classes—it’s about helping you build a path that fits you.

Departmental Advising: Consistent Support, All 4 Years

From your first year through graduation, you'll work with the same Psychology or Neuroscience advisor as long as you remain declared in the major. (If you change majors, you'll get a departmental advisor in that field instead!) This means consistent support as you adjust to college, explore your major, and plan for what’s next.

First-Year Focus: We’ll help you settle into college life, understand the major, and build a strong foundation.
Sophomore–Senior Years: We’ll dive deeper into your major, help with course planning, connect you to research, internships, education abroad, and prepare for graduation.

Advising is a team effort. We're here to help you explore, grow, and reach your goals—one step at a time.

What You Can Expect From Your Advisor

Your advisor is here to support your success—academically, personally, and professionally. Here’s what you can count on from us:

Support You Can Reach: We offer in-person and virtual appointments, plus weekly drop-in hours for quick questions.

Expert Guidance: We’ll help you understand your degree requirements, plan your courses, and stay on track to graduate—while also highlighting opportunities like research, internships, education abroad, and honors

Whole-Person Approach: We care about more than just your classes. We’ll talk with you about your goals, strengths, and challenges, and support your personal and professional growth along the way..

Campus Connections: Need something beyond academics? We’ll connect you to Career Services, CAPS, Financial Aid, Pre-Health, and more.

Timely Replies: We aim to respond to emails within 2–3 business days. During peak times (like registration), it might take a little longer—but we’ll always do our best to get back to you as soon as we can.

What Your Advisors Expect From You

Advising is a two-way street—your advisor is here to help, but your engagement matters too. Here’s how to get the most out of the advising experience:

Stay in the Loop: Check your CU email regularly, review your degree audit each semester, and keep track of academic deadlines like add/drop and registration. Don’t wait until something is urgent to reach out.

Come Prepared: Bring questions or ideas to your appointments. Take time to look over your class options, degree audit, or any forms ahead of time. A little prep goes a long way!

Engage: Advising works best when you participate. Ask questions, reflect on your goals, and be open to exploring new opportunities.

Communicate: If you need to cancel or reschedule, do it through Buff Portal Advising or email us. Keeping us in the loop helps us help you.

Own Your Journey: Advisors are here to guide you, but your academic journey is yours. You make the final decisions—so take charge, stay curious, and use us as a resource along the way.

Advising Options

Drop-Ins: Quick 5–10 min chats—great for registration or simple questions.
Scheduled Appointments: 30–45 min deep dives into course planning, study abroad, research, or graduation prep.