The first year of college can be scary and overwhelming for many students, but having a faculty adviser who helps with selecting courses and organizing schedules helps to make the transition process much easier.

Students in the College of Arts & Sciences who have not yet declared their major have two options when it comes to advising: the Advising Center or the Introduction to Inquiry course.

The Advising Center is staffed by full-time academic advisers who don't teach classes like a traditional faculty adviser. Because they know a little about the requirements of every major, the advisers' main role is to help students look at their personal interests and abilities to select the path that is right for them.

Students work with the Advising Center until they formally declare a major at which time Arts & Sciences assigns a new adviser in the student's declared department.

"We work to help find out and explore what would be the best major for you," Mary Minson, assistant dean for Academic Advising said. "Our biggest concern is helping you as a student."

Michael Gomez, a junior in Arts & Sciences said he has been going to Minson since his freshman year. Gomez has declared his major but still visits Minson to talk.

"The Center has always been very helpful. They send reminders and when things are really hectic, they find time and are patient and calm," Gomez said.

The advisers pride themselves on great performance, Minson said. At the end of every academic year, surveys are mailed to students who use the center and each adviser is rated.

"If we're serving students with regards to advising, it is very important that we have their input," Minson said.

The alternative to the Advising Center is Introduction to Inquiry. Intro to Inquiry is a freshmen seminar course that requires students attend a discussion once a week.

"The purpose of Introduction to Inquiry is to help students develop as persons and as college students by working with a faculty advisor," Dr. Scott Reid, co-director of the Intro to Inquiry program, said in an e-mail. "Each week for 12 weeks, students meet with their faculty advisor for 75 minutes. During that time, a shared inquiry is conducted."

During the discussion, an assigned story is discussed, issues during the week are talked about and problems related to college transition are addressed, Reid said.

"Because the course load is extremely light (no tests, homework, etc.), and only meets once a week for 12 weeks, in my opinion, if the only good it achieves is to better the relationship between advisee and adviser it has served a worthwhile purpose," Reid said.

Reid said it is very hard to perfectly match students with advisers in their field. There are only 15 Inquiry sections offered and different faculty members lead discussions every year.

"There is no bias in the selection of leaders. Often, one finds that faculty from departments with very large numbers of majors (English, e.g.), who have a large major advising load may be less likely to participate in pre-major advising," Reid said.

The advantage of Intro to Inquiry is more developing a relationship with a faculty member and having someone to work through problems with than anything else.

Reid has a unique perspective on the Inquiry program because he used to be a faculty adviser. As an adviser, Reid said he only met with his advisees twice a semester. But as seminar leader, he had the chance to meet with his advisees 12 times.

Sophomore Rachael Bush appreciated her relationship with her adviser, but she wanted more practical guidance.

"It was nice getting to know my adviser, but it didn't help. I just thought of it like any other class," Bush said. "He didn't advise me on my major. He couldn't really help. I felt like I was really on my own a lot first semester."

Because of her experience, Bush eventually visited the Advising Center.

"The pre-advising was a big help. They made sure everything was situated and made me feel a lot better," Bush said.

According to Minson, the Advising Center has no control over the Introduction to Inquiry course.

"If a student has a question or is feeling like they aren't being helped, they can come and talk to us and we will work with them," Minson said.

The Advising Center is located in Marquette Hall 208 and appointments can be made by phone, (414)288-7058 or e-mail between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.