Planning for the Fall

Advising Week is fast approaching! Between April 4 and 8, faculty, counselors, and staff will be ready to respond to student requests for information and guidance. Advising Week, which immediately precedes the start of Priority Registration for the Fall 2011 semester, gives us a special opportunity to assist students in focusing on their long-term educational and career goals and in making good academic choices to achieve those goals. This is a good opportunity to look at the courses you have taken and those you are planning to take to be sure you are on track for completing your degree or certificate program. What can you do?

Start by pulling up your degree progress report. Your degree progress report will show your placement test scores, then an unofficial transcript, and finally which degree program(s) you are in and what the requirements are. Anything in bold or in red still needs be completed. If you are unsure about what courses can be used to meet fulfill your elective requirements, there is a list available here. Be sure to look carefully at the different lists for Humanities/Fine Arts, Social Sciences, and Physical/Life Sciences/Mathematics.

Also, remember to view the transfer guides and articlation agreements if you plan to transfer after you graduate from NOVA.

Once you have identified the courses you'd like to take, use NOVA Connect (MyNOVA) to view the course offerings for this fall. Choose the sections that work best for your schedule and be sure you have met the prerequisites (click on the course name and it will tell you if there are any prerequisites while giving you details about the course). Once you have chosen your classes, be sure to write down the 5 digit course number so you will be ready to enroll yourself on the first day of registration.

Campuses are organizing a variety of activities to support Advising Week. Virtual Advising also continues to provide opportunities for students to connect through chat or email Sunday through Thursday, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Monday through Friday, noon to 2:00 p.m.

By being proactive now, you will make the most of your time this fall with classes you are interested in and scheduled during times that work for you.