Guide to Advisers

Faculty Advisers

Your faculty adviser is your primary source of academic guidance and approves your course selection and course changes.  As an experienced teacher and scholar, your faculty adviser can give you good advice on how to navigate the Princeton curriculum, take advantage of its opportunities, and achieve academic success. You will meet with your adviser during orientation and then throughout the year at key advising periods, but take the time to speak with them at other moments to share how you’re doing, benefit from their wisdom, or just chat!  Your adviser will be happy to see you!

Peer Academic Advisers

Peer academic advisers (PAAs) are friendly, wise juniors and seniors who provide an informed student perspective on selecting classes and successfully navigating academics at Princeton.  

Peer advisers are integral members of each zee group, along with your RCA and RGS.  There you will get to see them throughout the year and ask them any of your academic questions.  Your first year, you will be exploring a wide variety of subjects, and your peer advisers will all be broadly knowledgeable about the Princeton curriculum, its special academic opportunities, and how to handle challenges and succeed here.

You should feel free to contact any of Butler's peer advisers when you have a question relevant to their specific fields or academic experiences.  You will see all of them around Butler and at the advising fairs conducted in August, November, and April, before you choose courses for the upcoming semester.

Your Dean and Assistant Dean

Your dean and assistant dean for studies oversee the advising program at Butler. They are excellent sources of advice on all matters, and they can also approve your course changes when your faculty adviser is not available as well as communicate with the Registrar about non-routine course changes.  In addition, they are responsible for assigning peer tutors for introductory courses not covered by the McGraw Center, approving summer courses, and authorizing Dean’s Date extensions, course deficiencies, changes of concentration, and changes of degree between AB and BSE.  Dr. Lazen works most closely with first-years and sophomores and Dean Andrews works most closely with juniors and seniors, but they work together as an advising team and both follow your progress through all four years.  So, if you can’t reach one, you should feel free to speak to the other!

The Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs at SEAS

The Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs at the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Peter Bogucki, oversees the BSE faculty advisers and is an excellent source of advice on all matters relating to the BSE program.  Dean Bogucki initiates any changes between the AB and BSE degree (though you can always consult with other advisers before seeing him) and he signs summer course approvals for BSE students after they have gotten departmental approval for the course. He must also give approval for any BSE student to drop below four courses in a semester.

Directors of Undergraduate Studies (DUS)

The directors of undergraduate studies are the faculty members who oversee undergraduate study in their departments. If you have any questions about departmental courses or major requirements, they will be happy to help you. Once you choose your major, the DUS of your department usually becomes your principal adviser. 

Course Instructors

If you are thinking about taking a particular course, the best source of information about its aims and expectations is the instructor.  So don’t hesitate to reach out to ask a question about course content, requirements, or enrollment.  Professors are always pleased to hear of a student’s interest in their class!

Pre-Professional Advisers

There are an array of resources to provide you with pre-professional advising.

  • The Office of Health Professions Advising provides information on preparing for medical school and other health-related fields. Normally, students begin fulfilling pre-med requirements in the fall of first year, so we recommend that you consult with Health Professions Advising early in your first year to begin planning!  Your faculty adviser and some peer advisers will also be able to advise you on the basic pre-med curriculum. 
  • The Center for Career Development is a great source of advice on all careers, including pre-law and business school advising.
  • The Program in Teacher Preparation at Princeton not only advises students on careers in education but trains students to become certified K-12 teachers. 

A good description of these offices can be found on the site of the Office of the Dean of the College.

Study Abroad

In surveys given to graduating seniors, study abroad consistently ranks as their most rewarding experience as Princeton students.  Yes, Princeton offers enough amazing opportunities on its campus to fill at least eight semesters, but spending a semester or two (or at least a summer) abroad will enrich your studies and life experience in truly special ways.  Because of Princeton’s requirements, especially independent work, study abroad may require some advance planning, but the Office of International Programs will be happy to help you with this, along with departmental directors of undergraduate studies for your current or potential concentrations, your dean and assistant dean for studies, or your faculty adviser. 

Resident Graduate Students

Ten friendly resident graduate students from a variety of departments live in the Butler residence halls and would be delighted to share their wisdom and perspective as experienced students. 

RCAs

Your RCAs are also great sources of academic counsel, and if they can’t help directly, they can point you in the right direction!