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Advising FAQs
Advisors and Advising
Who is my advisor?
You are assigned a faculty advisor in the department of your major. Undecided students are assigned to an advisor from the Counseling Center. The registration appointment card you receive in the mail each quarter will have your advisor's name on it. If you can't remember who your assigned advisor is, look up your name in one of the folders "WHO AND WHERE IS MY ADVISOR?" that you'll find on bulletin boards around campus and in the Counseling/Career Center.
Who gets an advisor?
All full-time and part-time students, who complete the steps for priority enrollment, get an assigned advisor. When the Admissions & Records Office has your college application, school transcripts, and placement test scores, and you've been accepted, you'll be assigned an advisor as part of the registration process.
Why do I need an advisor?
An advisor helps you plan which classes you should take each quarter to finish your program in the most timely way. If you are planning to transfer, the advisor can help you in the transfer planning process. Also, your advisor will give you a registration PIN each quarter that allows you to register for classes online.
What's the difference between my advising appointment and my registration appointment?
Your advising appointment is a meeting you arrange with your advisor by signing up on their office door sign-up sheet; it is not assigned. The appointment is used to work out the classes you should take the next quarter and to answer any other questions you may have about your program, transferring, etc., and to get your registration PIN.
The appointment time you receive in the mail each quarter is for registration, which is when you go to the Student Web Kiosk for online registration or the Admissions & Records Office to sign up for classes. You may register on the day and time of your registration appointment, or anytime after.
Is it possible to change advisors?
Yes. You'll need to fill out the "Change of Advisor" form, obtain permission from and the signature of the new advisor, and submit the form to Admissions & Records.
When is changing advisors a good idea?
The most common reason is changing majors. You are not automatically assigned a new advisor when you change majors; you have to submit the "Change of Advisor" form. If you need help figuring out which advisor might be best for you, ask the Counseling/Career Center staff for assistance, or e-mail your questions to advising@centralia.edu.
Do I need my advisor's signature to register?
To retain your priority student status, you must register with your advisor's signature or with the registration PIN your advisor gives you if you register online.
What should I do to prepare for my advising appointment?
- Review your Degree Guide and Educational Plan.
- Identify your remaining requirements by getting a Degree Audit (via Student Web Kiosk > Student Web Access).
- Work out a tentative schedule from the next quarter's class schedule (or use the online Schedule Planner).
- Write out a list of questions you want to ask your advisor.
Use your educational planning guide (see Educational Plans listed for Degrees and/or Certificates) and Degree Guide to help you identify which courses to take. The college catalog has information about each course, including any prerequisites.
How do I find out what courses and credits I still need to graduate?
You can get a "Degree Audit" anytime, which identifies what you've taken and what you need to take in order to complete your program.
What if I don't have a major?
Free career counseling is available at the Counseling & Career Center. Call (360) 736-9391, ext. 265, to make an appointment to talk to a counselor about your skills, interests, and values and which career(s) would best suit you. See Choosing a Major.
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Placement Testing
Who has to take the placement test?
Anyone who intends to earn a degree or certificate at Centralia College, or who wants "priority" status, needs to take the COMPASS or ASSET test. If you have at least 35 credits from other colleges, you don't need to take the test; request a test waiver from the Admissions & Records office.
Do I have to take the classes recommended by my test scores?
The classes recommended are usually your gest choice. You should discuss your course placement in Math and English courses with your advisor.
Can I retake the test?
Yes, you can retake any section of the ASSET or COMPASS. It costs $4/section for retakes. Call the Testing Center, (360) 736-9391, ext. 216, to schedule a retake, and pay in advance at the cashier, located upstairs in the Student Center.
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Transferring
What steps do I take to transfer to a 4-year school?
See the Transfer Planning Guidelines
, also available from the Counseling/Career Center.Do any Centralia College degrees transfer directly to a 4-year school?
Yes, the Associate in Arts (A.A.), the Associate in Liberal Arts (A.L.A.) and Associate in Science (A.S.) degrees transfer directly to a 4-year school. For any other degrees, you need to request a credit evaluation from the school to which you're transferring to know how your credits will transfer.
How do I know which Centralia College courses will transfer?
Pick up a transfer guide for the school in which you're interested in attending outside the Counseling/Career Center. The guide will tell you which Centralia College courses are accepted at the 4-year school.
I'm a science major -- which two-year degree should I go for?
Probably the best degree for you will be the Associate in Science degree, which emphasizes the pre-requisite science and math courses required for a specific science major. Consult with an advisor on this; which degree is best depends on your targeted major.