Concordia College

The ACT National Center for the Advancement of Educational Practices   The Advising Interview  10 Suggestions for Improving Communication   1.  Greet students by name, be relaxed, warm.  Open with a question, e.g. “How are things going?” or “How can I help?” 2.  Conversational flow will be cut off if questions are asked so that a “yes” or “no” reply is required.  A good question might be, “What have you thought about taking next semester?” or “What made you think about business as a career?” 3.  Good advising is effective listening.  Listening is more than the absence of talking. Try to identify the fine shades of feelings behind the words. 4.  A student may fear that the advisor won’t approve of what he/she says.  Advisors must convey their acceptance of these feelings and attitudes in a non-judgmental way.  Cardinal principle:  If a student thinks it is a problem, the advisor does too. 5.  Do not fire questions at the student like a machine gun. 6.  Most people are embarrassed if no conversation is going on.  Remember, the student may be groping for words or ideas. 7.  Try to understand what the student is saying.  For example, it is better to say, “You feel that a professor is unfair to you” rather than, “Everyone has trouble with professors sometimes.” 8.  If a student asks a question regarding facts, and you do not have the fact, admit it.  Go to your resources for the information immediately (which sets a good example for the student) or call the student back. 9.  It is better if the advisor and the student realize from the beginning that the interview lasts for a fixed length of time. 10.  Once limits have been set, it is best to end the interview at the agreed time.  A comfortable phrase might be, “Do you think we have done all we can for today?” or “Let’s make another appointment so that we can go into this further.”    Interview Questions for the Undecided Student Self Exploration As far back as you can remember, what general occupational fields have you thought of? What subjects did you enjoy in high school?  In what subjects were your best grades? Where do you think you are strongest -- math/science, literature, social sciences? What do you see as your limitations? What type of co-curricular activities have you been involved in?  Which were the most enjoyable?  What did you learn about yourself from them? What are your best personal qualities?  Name your greatest accomplishment so far.  What about the experience made it special? If you have a spare hour, how do you use it? Why are you in college? What does a college degree mean to you? In what kind of work environment do you picture yourself in five years after college?   Academic Major/Occupational Information What academic areas are you currently considering?  What do you like about these areas? What occupations are you considering?  What about these occupations attracts you? How do your abilities and skills fit the tasks necessary to succeed in these areas? Will these occupations provide the rewards and satisfactions you want for your life?  Why? What are the differences and similarities among the majors/occupations you are currently considering? Who has influenced your ideas about these alternatives?   Decision Making Do you ever have trouble making decisions?  Minor ones? Important ones? How do you go about making a decision?  Describe the process.  What specific strategies do you use? Do you use the same method for all types of decisions? Would you describe yourself as a spontaneous or a systematic decision maker? Do you make decisions by yourself, or do you need other people’s opinions first? Are you feeling anxious about deciding on a major?  Are you feeling pressured? How long do you think it will take you to make a decision?  How long do you want it to take?   Previous Page - Next Page Table of Contents