advice on TESC advisors

[shelbaline4]

I am going to schedule my advisement for a BA in History and I have a choice between a few different advisors and I was hoping that someone would have some input as to whom I should choose. I have choices of Rhonda Beckett, Donald Cucuzzella, Andrea Mirsky, Todd Siben, Celestine Wynn.

Any advice would be most helpful

[bricabrac]

I would go with Andrea Mirsky or Todd Siben. TS is actually a sr advisor and quite good at his job. Although some have a reputation of steering students away from easy credit methods (ex fema). If you want to do femas just ask for a list of approved courses do not get into how many you plan to do. Just know you can use up to 25 fema credits to fill the free elective section of a BA.

[FinancialWorld]

What's the difference between emailing testing about a course and doing an actual talking to advisor? What are you asking them about? I've never done this before so I'm wondering how it works and what it's for.

[bricabrac]

What's the difference between emailing testing about a course and doing an actual talking to advisor? What are you asking them about? I've never done this before so I'm wondering how it works and what it's for.

You can set up 30min appts to walk through your program with an advisor. It's best when you are beginning, so you can have courses approved and mapped on your evaluation. Advisors can also request approvals for a specific course fit from the Dean. There is flexiblity you don't know about until you ask. Also when you need to discuss taking courses from other schools that meed prior approval. IMO, it's also a good idea when you are close to finishing up.

I am one who prefers a conversation than blank emails back and forth. Also I've been given incorrect info quite a few times through blackboards generic counseling sessions.

[dblhelx]

I've had great luck with Todd. Lots and LOTS of emails, he was always patient with me. And he responded every single time within a day or two, usually within that day.

[cookderosa]

I also suggest Todd. When you talk to him, don't expect a lot of touchy-feelie-lovie stuff. He's direct and blunt. Both advising apts I had with him, he had me on speaker phone and I could clearly tell he was multi-tasking....so if you need a friend, he's not your guy hilarious . Have your stuff ready, your degree plan typed out, email it ahead if you can. Write down your questions so you don't forget or stammer. Have your exact plans ready (or the choices you are thinking about asking him about) and go in with a "just the facts" attitude. That's the best way to get answers out of him. He KNOWS his stuff. I have never, ever, heard of Todd giving the wrong information. It might happen, but it's not been shared on this board, and we talk about stuff like that a lot. In fact, if it comes right down to it, I'd only trust Todd Siben and Gary Keel. I won't name names in a negative light, but I hear other advisors giving absolutely WRONG information time and time again.

Also, if he cautions you against something in your plan, ask point blank "do you mean I HAVE to do this or that...or are you SUGGESTING I do this or that" and find out exactly which advice is advice and which advice is him relaying policy/procedure. (like FEMA which you absolutely CAN take, even if he doesn't like it lol)

[CollegeStudent7]

Thanks you guys. This is really helpful. I'll be frank..I am looking for the EASIEST way to obtain my Bachelors..perhaps that's not the right word, but the least difficult way then I guess lol. I want to make this process as quick as possible. I have 32 community college credits (general studies) and I also finished a Licensed Practical Nurse program at a 4 year college. My program was 30 units (actually 39, but I didn't need 3 classes as they were general studies that I completed) and they were all coded as being nursing classes. Mixture of sciences and MAINLY core nursing classes.Not sure if they would even transfer over and count toward any degree. Still torn between TESC and COSC. I guess you could say I have a total of 62 random credits that don't really tie together to form anything. I'm awesome at testing and studying on my own so hoping there's a fast route for me to earn my Bachelors in 18 months or less. Of my 62 credits one is Physical Education..if I had to estimate, only 53 credits of those will probably have a chance of being transferred..so it looks like I could have as little as 67 credits to fulfill my degree..or more.