First Year Advising

During the first week of classes appointments aren’t available through Navigate since the window is so short.  Instead, we offer Drop-In Advising. 

What is drop-in advising? 

A short (about 15-minute) conversation with an advisor focused on schedule changes before the September 14 deadline. 

Where and when to get help: 

• Visit the First Year Advising office: 122 Lederle Graduate Tower 

• 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM between Tuesday Sept. 8 and Monday Sept. 14.  

  • Please note that our office is closed on weekends and on Labor Day 

• We’ll be offering drop-in advising all week—no appointment needed. 

How long will I wait? 

It varies. Peak times are usually right after classes end, so you may experience a wait. We’ll work hard to see you as quickly as possible, and in some majors, peer advisors will also be available to support you. 

Will I meet with my assigned advisor? 

Possibly! We do our best to pair you with your assigned advisor, but if they aren’t available, you’ll meet with another advisor who knows your major well. 

Can I make an appointment instead? 

During add/drop, appointments aren’t available through Navigate since the window is so short. When you come in, we’ll learn more about your needs—if a longer appointment is best, we’ll schedule one for you (sometimes the same day or very soon after). 

What if I want to talk about future planning (major exploration, secondary majors, involvement, etc.)? 

Fantastic! We’d love to dive into those conversations with you. To make sure you get the time you deserve, we’ll schedule a full-length appointment after September 14. Your First Year Advisor will have availability in Navigate for these conversations. 

Schedule an in person or virtual appointment with your assigned advisor through Navigate. 

• Click the blue "Make an Appointment" button.  
• Under what type of appointment would you like to schedule? select Advising.
• Choose the reason for the appointment. When in doubt, choose Academic Advising.
• Select a date then click "Find Available Time" to see your assigned advisor's calendar.

Make scheduling even easier by downloading the Navigate app!

The first step to declare, change, or add a CNS Major is to review our change of major guidelines on the CNS Petitions & Forms page. This applies to:

• CNS students changing from one CNS major to another 
• Students from other schools/colleges who want to switch into a CNS major 
• Any student who wants to add a secondary major in CNS