High-achieving students often need more academic advising, not less, because they tend to have many interests and more options open to them. It can be confusing to find so many subjects fascinating!

Several kinds of advising are available to Honors students. Your needs will change over time, and you will always be adding to your list of staff and faculty "advisors," such as your home school recorder, your faculty advisor, Honors advisors, and many other helpful people you will encounter. A list of typical advising topics follows.

How to match the requirements of your academic program with those of the Honors Program most efficiently.

This is a good example of an area where you will work with more than one advisor. Your home school or college should be considered the expert on your academic requirements, and you should meet with your designated academic advisor and/or your college recorder on a regular basis to make sure you understand what you need to do. Our advisors (Carolyn, Hanna, and Steve) can then help you match those requirements to those of the Honors Program.

We strongly recommend that you meet with an Honors advisor at least once a semester to plan your progress toward meeting requirements. Coming in prior to registration will help you plan for a successful next semester. Regular communication between you and the Honors staff is essential, and the best way to prevent unpleasant surprises about where you stand. Once a year, we will provide you with a printed report of your progress in the program.

We expect you to be familiar with the Honors requirements (but not necessarily an expert) before you come to us for advising (see The Honors Program Curriculum & Requirements ). First-year students will have one class session of HNR 100 dedicated to a review of the requirements.

The web page mentioned above includes links to lists of courses that meet Honors requirements . The lists are always being updated, so we include them only on the website so you will always have the most current information.

How to navigate within your academic program as an honors student.

All of the Honors faculty advisors can advise students about their disciplines and about various issues regarding the Capstone Project. They may also make referrals to other faculty with whom you should speak.

How to make the most of your undergraduate experience.

Study abroad, internships, community service, extracurricular opportunities - these are all part of a rich and well-rounded undergraduate experience. If you are interested, but don't know quite how to get involved or get started, come see Carolyn, Hanna, or Steve. We can put you in touch with the right people.

How to prepare for and carry out your Honors Capstone Project.

Finding the right faculty advisor for your Honors Capstone Project is key to having an enjoyable, rewarding, and successful experience. This topic is covered in detail in the Honors Capstone Project handbook, which you will receive at the end of your sophomore year or beginning of your junior year; it is also covered at http://honors.syr.edu/CapstoneProject/Index.htm.

When things aren't working.

Even the best students sometimes hit a stumbling block. You may discover you're in the wrong major, or a particularly challenging semester may have brought your gpa down. Sometimes personal and family issues make it hard to do well academically. In any situation, please consider us an excellent first stop. We can either help you ourselves, or point you to someone who can.

Career advice and graduate fellowships.

The Honors Program, in conjunction with the Office of Undergraduate Studies, serves as the clearinghouse for information regarding major graduate fellowships such as the Rhodes, Fulbright, and many others (see "Scholarships and Fellowships") If you want to apply for such fellowships, Steve Wright in our office can help you through the process. Steve also has expertise in career counseling, and is happy to meet with you when you're ready to start thinking about what happens after you graduate.

Come see us!

In summary, our staff advisors can help you plan for registration for the coming semester, negotiate the demands of multiple majors and minors while fulfilling Honors requirements, plan for graduate or professional school, and think about long-term career development. We very much enjoy meeting with students, and are eager to get to know you. Plan to meet with one of our advisors at least once each semester to assure that your academic plans are well-conceived, and that you're making progress on Honors requirements, as well as thinking about the long-range issues.

In our experience, those students who are frequent visitors to the Honors suite, whether to meet with an advisor, use the computer cluster, relax in the lounge, or simply to spend some time visiting with the staff, are those who excel. Remember that, when we know you, we can recommend you for special opportunities that arise.