Washburn students require an alternate PIN to register for their classes, and we can only have access to this PIN after meeting with our advisor. Advisors and registration go hand in hand and they play an important role in helping students navigate their academic paths. I like the fact that advisors give advice rather than doing everything for you. Most of the time, they end meetings with suggestions like, “I would suggest you…,” which allows students to make their own decisions while still getting guidance.

However, the advising process is not always as helpful as it could be. Sometimes the advice can be unclear or incomplete. For example, I wasn’t informed that taking a class as pass/fail wouldn’t fulfill my general education requirement. In my first semester, I mentioned that I maybe didn’t want to take Introductory College Writing and the advisor simply said, “Ok” instead of letting me know it was a requirement and that skipping it could delay my ability to take upper-level courses. 

This happened in August, just a couple of days before classes started, so maybe the advisor was in a hurry, but moments like these can make registration more confusing than it needs to be.

I think Washburn’s advisors have the right idea of letting students take ownership of their choices, but clearer communication is needed. Being informed about requirements, options and long-term impacts would make the advising process much more effective. Registration is stressful enough on its own, and having an advisor who can guide you clearly can make all the difference.

Advisors and registration for courses are supposed to work together to help students succeed, but only if students leave meetings with all the information they need. With a little more clarity and thorough guidance, Washburn could make registration a smoother and less stressful experience for everyone.

Edited by Anson Appelhanz and Bidhya Sapkota