Q: How do I decide who to ask to be my advisor?
Q: How do I ask a professor to be my advisor?
Dear Reader,
This is a big decision, but thankfully we go to Davidson and I can think of very few ways to go wrong with this choice. Unlike large research universities, Davidson emphasizes close professor-student relationships, which makes finding an advisor a lot easier!
You probably already know a lot of professors in your major personally, so start by considering professors whose classes you’ve enjoyed. Think about who has been engaging, supportive or even inspiring in the classroom. Something to consider is what kind of mentorship you need and want. Do you want an advisor who will provide clear guidance and structure or would you prefer a more hands-off approach? Some professors are more focused on academic advising, while a lot will want to get to know you personally as well.
If you’re unsure, it could be beneficial to talk to other students in your major who have already declared. They may have valuable advice to give and perspectives on which professors are most supportive.
I’m a psychology and English double major, so I only had to ask someone to be my advisor for my English major. I think it’s important to ask in person! Especially considering we go to Davidson and all professors have office hours! If you don’t know the office hours of the professor you want to ask, shoot them an email to see when they could meet, but I think it’s still worth it to go in person.
If you’re feeling especially nervous (which I totally understand), I highly recommend asking them if they are taking advisees before you ask if they’ll be your advisor. That way, if they say no, they aren’t saying no to you (and you can pretend you were just asking because you were interested and not because you wanted them to be your advisor, which is totally believable).
When you meet, be prepared to talk about your academic interests, goals and the kind of advising relationship you’re looking for. You can also ask how they approach advising and what they expect from their advisees.
If they say yes, great! If they’re unable to take you on, don’t take it personally. Instead, ask if they can recommend another professor who might be a good fit. Professors are usually happy to help you find the right mentor.
With the right advisor, you’ll have a valuable academic partner throughout your college experience. And remember, the worst-case scenario is that they say no. In that case, they weren’t the right person for you anyway and you can move on to bigger and better things!
Wishing you the best of luck,
Annabel Groseclose ‘27