Requesting A Different Academic Advisor When Applying?

Transfer Students
1

This is an odd question and is the result of being in a bit of a strange situation.

I was previously enrolled in a university, but left and went to a technical college, primarily to save money. However, I’ve decided that earning a BA degree is worth it even if it means taking on a little student loan debt, so I intend to go back to this university. Per the college’s rules, I shouldn’t have to re-apply, but even if I had to, I left in good academic standing and am in good standing at my current institution as well, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

However, I do not want to continue with the same degree program I was in at this university, I want to switch my major to something else. The thing is, the academic advisor for the major program I want to switch to is the same person who “investigated” me for violation of school policy the first time I was at this university. He dismissed it and ruled that I did not violate policy or do anything wrong, but I still think it may be a little awkward having him for an advisor.

I intend to ask the school if I can work with another advisor, but my question here is, does anyone with any knowledge of these kinds of things know what the chances are of having someone else advise me, and how to best go about it? It’s just that at this school, you typically don’t get to choose your advisor, they’re assigned to a certain major. I guess I could work with him, but I’d prefer to work with someone else given the circumstances (and you are required to meet with your advisor every now and then at this school, it’s not optional).

Thanks in advance for any insight on this.

2

If he investigated, and detemined that there was nothing there, then it seems to me that he would be more likely to be on your side than against you.

Often students have a formal faculty advisor who is assigned to them by their major and who has to sign off on their paperwork, but also develop strong relationships with other faculty members who serve as unofficial advisors. Once you are in your new major, look around at the rest of the department, and see if there are people you could form that sort of relationship with. Remember, you only need to meet with your official advisor once or twice a semester at most.

3

I had a good rapport with my previous advisor, I could ask if they’d be willing to let him advise me, even though he doesn’t typically advise students majoring in the field I’d be choosing.

And yeah, it’s not that I think the advisor who investigated me would necessarily hold anything against me, I just think it would feel strange having him advise me, that’s all.

4

I checked with my old university today and they told me you do not have a choice as to who advises you. Your academic advisor is based on your choice of major - meaning the guy who conducted that investigation would be my advisor. So now I’m trying to decide what to do.