21 Advising
“Your pathway is just that, YOURS”
Advising and Student Expectations
It is highly recommended to meet with an advisor during your time at MCC to verify that the pathway you envision is going to lead where you want.
| What you can expect from your advisor | Student expectations |
| Be knowledgeable of MCC’s programs, policies and procedures | Take ownership of educational choices |
| Review requirements for your degree or certificate of interest | Communicate with your advisor using your student email |
| Develop a semester-by-semester plan | Come to your advising sessions prepared (bring questions, academic plan, transfer requirements…) |
| Guide you to support services as needed (academic departments) | Chose the day and time of each class, and complete the registration process |
| Encourage you and assist in exploring transfer options and career goals | Pay tuition by deadline |
What to Expect in an Advising Session
Sometimes there is more than one path to get to your goal. The advisor will discuss these options with you and help lay out the pros and cons of each option.
- The advisor will ask you questions to clarify your goals
- You will discuss the classes required for those goals
- The advisor will verify the classes you are taking to make sure they apply to your degree for financial aid purposes
If your goals are not clear, that is OK. Your advisor will ask you questions to help you to clarify your goals.
The Advisor You Should Meet with
Some students will have an assigned advisor. You can identify your assigned advisor in Student Information Center. If you do not have an assigned advisor, it is best that you meet with an advisor assigned to your FOI. MCC has advisors for each FOI, general advisors, and specialty advisors for some programs.
If you don’t know your FOI, are undecided about your program, you can speak with a general advisor.
When You Should Meet with an Advisor
All degree-seeking students should meet with an advisor to select courses for each semester. In future semesters, you should set up an appointment early in the registration process to ensure you get the courses needed to meet your academic and career goals and that fit into your personal schedule.
How You Connect with an Advisor
Advisors are available to connect with you in various ways. You can schedule individual appointments via phone, video, or in-person. You can also reach advising for quick questions via live chat and advising email. The Academic Advisement website has the full scheduling and availability details.
The advisors are here to guide you, but the decisions are yours.
Advisor vs. Counselor at MCC
These terms can vary based on the college you are attending. At MCC these are very different roles. Advisors help you enroll in classes and can refer you to academic resources. Counselors are there to offer short-term mental health support and can refer you to personal resources.
