The Ohio State University

Once you are admitted to the major you will be assigned a faculty advisor (in addition to your undergraduate academic advisor). You faculty advisor will play a different, but complementary role, to your undergraduate advisor. Faculty advisors assist students in many areas, including serving as a mentor, helping advisees find undergraduate research opportunities, career guidance, preparation for graduate study, and the selection of technical electives based on a student's area of interest.

Students are required to meet with their faculty advisor for at least three mandatory meetings. Although these three meetings fulfill the Department's requirements, students who benefit the most from having a faculty advisor seek out interactions with their advisor above and beyond their required meetings. Your faculty advisor can be of great assistance to you, but it does take some effort on your part to get to know them, and to give them a chance to get to know you!

Information on Faculty Advising Meetings

The undergraduate advising office will be responsible for providing reminders and instructions for your required meetings; however, it is up to you to contact your faculty advisor to schedule your appointments. All paperwork required for these meetings is below. Completed paperwork should be submitted to the Undergraduate Advising Office in N250 Scott Laboratory.

How to Make the Most of Your Appointments with Your Faculty Advisor

1. Do not wait until the day before your paperwork is due to contact your faculty advisor for an appointment! Faculty advisors, in addition to their advisees (most have between 15 and 30), teach courses, serve on department or University committees, and have research projects. They are happy to meet with you, but it is unfair to expect them to be available on such short notice to help you meet a deadline. You will get much more out of your appointment if you contact them well in advance, giving them a chance to set aside time to meet with you.
2. Fill out your paperwork in advance. The paperwork is designed to help you prepare for your meeting.
3. Write down additional questions that you may have for your advisor! You don't have to stick only to the paperwork - further questions and discussions are encouraged!

Further details about the faculty advising program can be found in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Student Handbook!