Exploratory Advising Program

First-Year Advising Program

The First-Year Advising Program is your entry point to the Center for Careers, Life, and Service.

As an incoming first-year or transfer student, you are assigned an exploratory adviser from the advising and exploration team. This adviser aims to:

Assist you in identifying your values, interests, and strengths
Encourage intentional, personal, academic, civic, and career exploration
Connect you with resources, services, and programs
Help you create action steps towards short- and long-term goals
Build rapport to establish and trusting, personable, and mutually respectful relationship

As part of the First-Year Advising Program, you can expect proactive engagement from your exploratory adviser, including:

An introductory email before you arrive on campus
A personal introduction during New Student Orientation
Individual advising appointments
Workshops in your tutorial class
Email communication with resources, events, and programs

We look forward to partnering with you as you create, test, and validate your personal, academic, civic, and professional goals!

First-Year Advising Program (Secure log-in required)

Second Year and Beyond

As you begin to narrow your professional interests, you can join one or more of the CLS’s career communities for specialized advising.

Each student’s time frame for this transition varies, and your exploratory adviser will offer support every step of the way, regardless of your class year.

Questions regarding the Exploratory Advising Program may be directed to the assistant dean and director of advising and exploration.

I secured a great campus job because I worked with my Exploratory Adviser on every step of the process by searching for jobs on Handshake, creating my first college résumé, writing a cover letter, and preparing for interviews. I couldn't have done it without her!

I really appreciate having a person who is assigned to me. It makes introductions to other CLS advisers easier, and I have a point of reference when I have questions.

My Exploratory Adviser provided constructive guidance on how to align values and potential summer internships.

I really enjoyed meeting and talking with my Exploratory Adviser because our conversation gave me a lot of understanding about myself and my goals.

My Exploratory Adviser helped me get my plan together on how the CLS can help me during my time at Grinnell.