The Northland College Office of Admissions collaborated with Sharon Anthony, associate dean of academic affairs, to compile a list of “must-knows” for first-year students as we head into advising season.

1. Don’t be scared. Academic advisors are friendly and kind. They won’t judge you—they want you to be successful and are here to offer advice on which courses they think would best suit you for next year.

2. Come prepared if you can. Take a look at the Northland course search tool on MyPortal and jot down four or five classes that spark your interest. Focus on 100- or 200-level courses or classes that don’t have prerequisites. Don’t forget elective courses like choir, band, and rock climbing! Also, consider bringing a list of classes that were particularly challenging in high school so you can consider trying them again at the college level.

3. Be honest about your preferences. If you know you have a 2 p.m. slump every single day, make sure to let your advisor know you’d like to try to schedule a twenty-minute break to grab a snack or sit under the trees between classes.

4. Have your college-level coursework on file. Upload a transcript of your AP, IB, ECCP, or other college-level coursework to your admissions dashboard beforehand so your advisor knows which subjects you may not need an intro-level course for.

5. Take the writing assessment at least one full day before your advising meeting. This assessment is used to place you in the correct level of writing class. If you haven’t taken the writing assessment, your advisor won’t have all the information they need to advise you well.

6. You can go in undecided! You do NOT have to have a major picked out. It’s okay to go in “undeclared.” Take courses that are interesting to you, join a club or two, and talk with your professors. You’ll find your passions along the way.

Visit your Admissions Dashboard in spring 2025 to request an advisor.