As the spring semester approaches, Fordham students are struggling to navigate the registration process, including maintaining the balance between class availability, degree requirements, and personal interests.
Advisors assigned by the Office of Academic Records consistently emailed their students with reminders to have their advisor holds lifted and their courses planned by their specific registration date.
Kimberly Malone, director of Academic Advising for first and second year students at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), said that the goal of the advisory model is to let students guide their own paths.
“It’s almost student-led in the sense that our goal is to help you fulfill what it is that you’re trying to do … how do students feel about being here? Do they have a sense of belonging?” Malone said.
Malone continued to emphasize building a relationship with your advisor so they can better understand your needs.
Malone emphasized that the advisory group focuses on holistically reviewing students as opposed to completing a checklist of course requirements without meaningful discussion.
“Especially for first-years, we go out of our way with advising webinars and emails and things of that nature and requiring all first-year students to meet with their advisor so they could build that rapport and then be able to work together going forward,” Malone said.
Malone continued to emphasize building a relationship with your advisor so they can better understand your needs. She explained how different students have different needs.
“They’re not just coming to talk about registration, they have other things that are going on that sitting with me on a regular basis helps them to feel grounded, right?” Malone said. “And then I have other students who, you know, maybe they’re having challenges academically.”
Malone said she sets up a recurring biweekly schedule with students in those situations.
“Everything is supposed to be customized to the individual student,” Malone said.
Other students voiced how it was difficult for them to register for the classes they wanted.
However, some students have voiced concerns over the limited availability of meeting times. Sophie Cammarano, FCLC ’28, said the entire registration process was difficult, starting from just scheduling a meeting with her advisor.
Cammarano said that she was only able to meet with her advisor after her registration date had passed.
“I was waiting on the zoom for at least an hour and a half before she got to me. So that was a little bit frustrating,” Cammarano said. “But once she actually did get to me, she definitely did help me with my courses.”
Other students voiced how it was difficult for them to register for the classes they wanted. Molly Ryan, FCLC ’28, explained that, despite preparing for registration by making two different plans for her schedule with the “Plan Ahead” feature suggested by advisors, she was left disappointed.
“I got two classes from each of them, but then my whole plan kind of went all over the place,” Ryan said.
“I always encourage students to be careful with how they interpret reviews.” Kimberly Malone, director of Academic Advising
Ryan said she overcame her “messy” schedule by choosing what classes were left over, but was not able to check Rate My Professor for two classes.
“It’s just going to have to work because it’s the only option,” Ryan said.
Leela Antigua, Gabelli School of Business ’28, said she also struggled to find well reviewed professors through Rate My Professor that accommodated her schedule.
“I honestly kind of gave up like I didn’t really overcome it. These are the only classes that really fit in my schedule so I have to deal with not the best rated professors,” Antigua said.
Malone added a counselor’s point of view to this discussion.
“I always encourage students to be careful with how they interpret reviews,” Malone said. “Sometimes you might have a professor that seems to be poorly rated, but if you’re a student that likes to do all your work and likes to read all your books, that could be a great professor for you.”
However, Antigua took a different approach in researching potential classes and professors.
“I asked around to hear people’s recommendations for professors, their experiences, what the class is like, how it was structured and just using that as resources,” Antigua said. “Even though I use Rate My Professor, it’s not as accurate as just literally asking someone that took something.”
Antigua encouraged her fellow students to reach out to their advisors if they feel overwhelmed with the registration process.
“I would definitely talk to your advisors because they’re just super easy to get in contact with and also just talk to other students,” Antigua said.
Advisors, too, are feeling the pressure of the busy registration season. Malone said she believes advisors oversee a manageable number of students, but that it can be “a bit much” at times.
“In the peak season, advising ebbs and flows,” Malone said.
However, as head advisor, Malone said she encourages her advisors to see every meeting with a student as an opportunity to get to know them better. By developing their relationships with students over time, Malone described how advisors can acquire a better understanding of individual students’ needs.
Head advisors encourage the utilization of advisor walk-in advising hours and connecting with professors for insight into class expectations. With the semester just around the corner, students are also encouraged to finalize their schedules before the add/drop period in January.
