Advisors help in navigating limited enrollment programs

Transcript

VO: UW advisors help students with applications and finding new degree plans.

VO: Limited enrollment programs often require an application process for acceptance into their program.

VO: Advisors prepare students for this process while also exploring alternative majors and paths to pursue their passions.

VO: Former pre-business advisor Karen Thomas says this is an emotional process.

SOT: “I wish I could say I didn’t have tears, I wish I could say I didn’t need this tissue for your issues but there were definitely some trying situations.”

VO: Building a top application, with lots of involvement and leadership is rough on students.

VO: UW cross college advisor, Colin Rohm is a fan of students getting involved but says there has been a push back on what the ideal badger should be like.

SOT: “There was this idea of the ideal badger who was in 18 clubs and went to every football game and how problematic it is to have that normative of an idea. I do think it comes with a lot of danger of people push themselves to be that ideal badger.”

VO: There is much uncertainty in building an application and waiting for an admission decision from the program.

VO: This uncertainty prompts advisors to talk about parallel planning, finding secondary majors on campus that the student is still excited about.

VO: Thomas feels that parallel planning is second nature.

SOT: “We have to talk to students about if not admitted than what are your other options. So conversations were definitely more exploratory in nature.”

VO: Thomas says she tells students they are good enough and still qualified despite a possible negative admissions decision.

VO: She also says that parallel planning helps.

SOT: “That parallel planning piece just really helping students solidify that and get that in place before they even receive an admissions decision, definitely alleviated that stress.”

VO: This parallel planning is used across campus in advising offices helping students navigate the different limited enrollment programs and their applications and end on a path toward a degree that they love.

 

 

For a look at more of my work on this topic please click here to visit my website exploring University of Wisconsin-Madison limited enrollment programs.