Pre-Major Advising

First-year students are assigned a pre-major advisor. These advisors are faculty members or professional staff members from departments across the university, and they will work with you from the time you set foot on campus until you declare a major. Through regular check-ins each semester, they ease the transition into academic life at Tufts, fielding all your questions about course registration, distribution requirements, and choosing a major. Two options for pre-major advising are listed below. 

Course-Based Advising

This option allows you to take a semester-long course with a faculty or staff member who will also serve as your Pre-Major Advisor; or to take a course that is student-led, and all students enrolled are advised by a faculty or staff member. Over 50 courses are typically offered.

Advisor-led Courses

The Curricular Advising Program (CAP) and Advising Mini-Courses provide students with an opportunity to get to know their advisor in a classroom setting. CAP courses are regular introductory level or special topics courses where some or all of the seats are reserved for incoming students. No matter what the topic, you will find faculty eager to share their favorite subjects to encourage you to learn and possibly develop your own sense of passion for the subject. Alternatively, mini-courses are thematic pass/fail courses that help first-year students adjust to college.

Explorations

Developed over 50 years ago by students in the Experimental College, the Explorations program consists of seminars designed and taught by two upper-level students (who also serve as your peer advisors). In addition, a pre-major advisor is assigned to each seminar. Explorations topics have covered everything from pop culture to bioethics, including recent courses like "True Crime: A Vehicle for Social Change?," "The Evolution of the Presidency: Case Studies of Modern American Presidents," and "Cowboy Culture: Exploring Rural America and the Wild West." Explorations seminars are limited to 14 students; therefore, these courses are a great option to allow for the development of a community.

Beyond the Classroom Advising

The individualized advising option, referred to as "Beyond the Classroom," is the most traditional advising option, providing students with a pre-major advisor that they meet with as part of a one-on-one relationship, scheduling appointments for course registration and as needed throughout the semester. Some first-year students find this program works well with their academic schedule as it offers a great deal of flexibility.

Major Advising

Once you decide on your major, you will choose a major advisor in your department or program who will guide you through the process of fulfilling course requirements and perhaps completing a senior capstone or thesis. Your major advisor may also prove invaluable to helping you find relevant internships and research opportunities. If you plan on continuing your education in graduate or professional school, your major advisor can be of great help in that effort, too.

Pre-Health Advising 

If you are interested in pursuing one of the health professions after graduation, you'll work with Health Professions Advising office who will offer information, advice, and support to help you plan your curriculum, find health-related internships, and prepare competitive applications for medical, dental, veterinary, and many other health professions graduate schools. As a supplement to Tufts academic advisors, Health Professions Advisors are here to work with you one-on-one and in group settings through workshops and programs for pre-professional students.