<p>My advisor is also my proctor. </p>
<p>I'm somewhat surprised/disappointed because she doesn't seem to have anything in common with my academic interests...something I'd really tried to stress was important to me.</p>
<p>Is this common/OK? Do freshmen wind up switching advisors or do they just seek other unofficial advice?</p>
<p>I also had my proctor as my advisor, and the only similarity she and I had was that she went to the Grad School of Education, and it was on my radar. Apart from that, our focus on our bachelors were distinctly apart. If anything, though, the one thing I could truly appreciate, and what many freshman advisors hope to encourage is a deep exploration of the course offerings and not locking into anything so early in the year. I mean, because of her, even though I’m concentrating in Earth and Planetary Sciences, I also have a secondary field in Germanic Languages and Literature. </p>
<p>As for switching, don’t think it ever really happens, but professors are generally eager to solicit questions from freshmen regarding course selection and picking and declaring concentrations.</p>
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<p>Freshman proctors are usually (always?) your advisor. To me this one of Harvard’s few weaknesses for exactly the reason you outline. Same thing happened to my daughter. Her proctor/advisor knew nothing about her concentration and was no help in designing her course of study.</p>
<p>I also just looked and saw that my proctor is my advisor. I was also a little surprised / disappointed. I am interested in the life sciences and my proctor / advisor’s background is in english. Hopefully it will all work out. </p>
<p>I wonder if the advising office tries to pair advisors / advisees who have different interests so as to help us expand our interests (academic and extracurricular)?</p>
<p>Coureur: What other avenues did your daughter take for getting good advice?</p>
<p>I was really happy when I saw my adviser’s email, mcb.harvard.edu, lol because I’m thinking of concentrating in Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB). I searched him up and he’s a stem cell researcher. Although I don’t plan on having a career in research, I think he’ll be a great source of advice when concerned with picking science courses.</p>
<p>My Proctor was not my advisor, but he constantly advised me! Many of my friends in my dorm actually just used our Proctor as their advisor by the end of the year, instead of their regular advisor.</p>
<p>Why? Were the advisors not as responsive or as good as the proctors?</p>
<p>D got her links. On her list is an advisor (different from proctor) who is highly related to her area of interest. Then her proctor and dean, which she had know previously. Also, her peer advisor who is an english major which coincidentally is my daughter’s area of academic concern. Maybe this was all luck, but my daughter is thrilled.</p>
<p>Do we get a new peer adviser each year? Or is it just for freshman year?</p>
<p>Just for freshman year.</p>
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<p>She eventyually sat down with a very helpful professor from the department she majored in. But it took her a long while to figure out who the guy to talk to was. Would’ve been nice if they had assigned her an appropriate advisor from the start.</p>
<p>Op and others looking for advisers who will help you freshman year in
science:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>This is one of Harvard’s weakness but luckily enough is limited to
just your freshman year. You may get proctors or even science advisers.
Both typically contribute minimally to providing quality advise. In your
shopping week the LifeScience and other Science areas will offer ‘advising
opportunities’. Make sure you visit these multiple times, chat with the profs
and TAs who will be there and get a shortlist of what you ‘have to absolutely
do’ in freshman year from your science interest perspective. These sessions will
prove very helpful in terms of content and contacts.</p></li>
<li><p>Have some reasonable guidelines. Unless you are the IBO gold medalist do not
foolishly suggest skipping LS1A and LS1B. You need to have aced the placement
exam and then be invited for a special exam to do so. Treat Chem 17 and 27
with the respect they deserve. Do not piggy back other pset courses with these.
Math has such excellent advising that you will not have issues finding what is
appropriate. Decide early is you are doing CS50 and recognize the time commitments
involved.</p></li>
<li><p>Try to opt for lesser when you have alternatives. Harvard rewards outcomes (as in
your grade) not your effort. Freshman Fall is about finding your EC groups.</p></li>
<li><p>Recognize that neither your proctor nor your MCB-background-adviser can really
help you with your choices because chances are they do not understand the
college opps (they most probably went somewhere else for their undergrad and
in an area like science have very less probability of being in your specific focus
area). Usually you and your fellow students can help more. Welcome to Harvard. :)</p></li>
<li><p>If you are a premed, recognize that you do not have to concentrate in science to
complete your premend reqs. In fact you will have a higher GPA probably if you do not.</p></li>
</ul>