Student Resources

Student Academic Services has a variety of student resources available. Also listed are several external links to various campus resources. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Student Academic Services at 305.284.4333.

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Meeting with Your Advisor
As a student, you play an essential role in the academic advising process. It is your responsibility to monitor your academic progress and seek advising on a regular basis. Advisors can help you develop educational plans compatible with your career and life goals, and assist you in completing your chosen program quickly and successfully. To make the most of your advising sessions, you need to prepare by taking the following steps:

Before Seeing Your Advisor
- Set up an appointment with your advisor. It is a good idea to meet with an advisor every semester and to schedule your appointment early in the semester.
- Review your Degree Progress Report (DPR), available through CaneLink. Your DPR outlines your progress toward degree completion.
- Write down any questions and concerns that you have about your DPR. .
- For a list of courses and their descriptions, please visit CaneLink
- Review the UM Bulletin. The Bulletin from the year you entered UM explains all of the University and departmental requirements for all degrees.
At Your Advising Session
- Bring your DPR and your questions.
- Establish a target graduation date in consultation with your advisor.
- Work with your advisor to establish a program of study and an outline of the classes that you plan to take in the next 2 or 3 semesters.
- Ask any and all additional questions that you might have. Your advisor can help you best when you explain your academic/career goals and concerns.
- Keep notes from your advising meetings to remind you about what was discussed.
Follow Up
- If you have questions, contact the:
  - Center for Student Academic Services at 305-284-4333 .
- If you are an exploratory (undecided) student, contact the:
  - Center for Exploratory Advising at 305-284-3437 .
- Take charge of your academic progress! Advising is an important tool, but you are ultimately responsible for your success.
General Education Requirements
Learn more about the University Cognate System - cognates.miami.edu
Forms
Deciding on a Major
First Two Years

Use your first year to explore options: investigate potential majors with professors and advisors in the respective departments; select courses that will both fulfill general education requirements and give you a sample of the majors in which you are interested. This is a time to focus on courses that seem most interesting to you and try new things. Enjoy this freedom.

Meet with your advisor each semester! Share your thinking about possible majors. Discuss your strategies for exploration and academic planning.

Get involved! Active involvement in campus and community activities will help you focus on your strengths, interests, and skills.

After the first year, begin to work intensively with your advisor to narrow down your choices and make a decision on a major. Bear in mind that although your major will direct your studies, the vast majority of Arts & Sciences majors will effectively prepare you for any number of career options. By the end of your sophomore year you should be able to make your decision. Further delays may result in additional time needed to graduate.

Additional Resources
1. Some things you might want to know is where to go if you want to fill out a "Request for Program Change" form. These forms can also be found in the Center for Freshman Advising outside the Ashe Building, in the annex of the Ashe Building, room 112 or in the Office of Student Academic Services, Ashe 200. If you need assistance, you can make an appointment to meet with your advisor.
2. Also at the Toppel Career Center you can make an appointment to use the Career Computer Lab that houses Discover (a self-directed computer based career guidance system) and SIGI Plus. It is important to recognize that the Toppel Career Center has programs that are beneficial not only to employment seeking seniors, but to all students including new freshmen.
3. You may also want to visit the Counseling Center where career testing and counseling is also available.
4. Talk to everyone you can! Find out what courses were taken by people in your area of interest. Talk to peer advisors, other upper-class students, and professors. What degrees are required beyond the undergraduate degree? What careers are graduates with these interests likely to enter?
This is not a definitive list! There are many other resources and services available at the University of Miami, which may be more specifically related to your area of interest. Please take advantage of the opportunities that the University of Miami environment has to offer.