Education Articles from College Matching Service

Almost every college has a tool that is available to students, but more importantly to prospective students interested in attending college.

Who should read this article?

This article is for prospective students of all ages. Its purpose is to show you a resource that often is not utilized properly by students interested in going to college. When you know which school you would like to attend, or you have a short list of schools, than this is the next step for you to take.

What is a college adviser?

A college adviser is a staff member at a university whose sole job is to help figure out a way to help a student attend that university. Most commonly they are used for financial aid advisement. If you do not have the funds sitting in your bank account, and most people don’t, these college advisors will help you find the money necessary to pay your tuition. This can be done through scholarships, loans, grants, and many more options.

How do I meet with the college advisory?

For my alma mater, Grand Valley State University, it was as easy as calling the Student Services department and requesting a meeting with an adviser.  Eventually I figured out it was better to request an adviser for the specific thing I was in need of, in this first case, it was with my upcoming freshmen schedule.  But further down the road I made a request for a financial aid advisor to figure out how to come up with $5,000 for my senior year’s tuition balance.

I recommend calling beforehand and setting up a meeting time on campus.  The advisor undoubtely has access to paperwork or handouts you will need.  By meeting in person and on campus, you can maximize the productivity of your meeting.

Does it cost money to speak to and adviser?

Of course not. The majority of students who attend a university are assigned an adviser if they ever have any questions.  So for prospective students, this same courtesy is extended.  Colleges know that attending college is a complicated process.  Through advisers, they have the opportunity to address all of a students concerns and to create a path to success for each student.

How do I begin?

It is very simple. Call your university and request a meeting with a student advisor. Feel free to call the main switchboard of the university, or in other words, the main phone number.  They will route you to the right department for your request.

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