Freshman Advising
Each B.S.E. freshman is assigned to an adviser from the engineering faculty. Each adviser has a group of 8-12 freshmen who are all residents of a particular residential college.
B.S.E. advisers are assigned as faculty fellows to the residential colleges, so they may meet with their advisees over meals and participate in other college activities. An effort is made to have broad representation from the engineering disciplines in each college.
Freshmen must meet with their advisers at least twice, to choose courses for the fall and the spring term, and most have several additional meetings to make adjustments in their schedules.
Working closely with each faculty adviser are two junior or senior B.S.E. students who serve as peer advisers, known as “Interactors.” During the academic year, the Interactors are expected to organize study breaks (funded by the SEAS Undergraduate Affairs Office) and stay in touch with advisees informally.
Apart from the faculty advising system and the Interactors, the Undergraduate Affairs Office organizes programs throughout the year for B.S.E. freshmen.
During the “1-YES!” panel discussions (the name is short for “First-Year Engineering Seminars”) juniors and seniors talk to freshmen about various aspects of engineering life, including seeking academic help, finding summer jobs, studying abroad, interesting design courses and choosing a major. The McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning offers a program on preparing for math and science exams as part of 1-YES! Pizza is always served.
