Although last year was my first year attending Florida State University, I came in with a little under 50 transfer credits due to taking college level courses throughout high school. This made me technically a sophomore, but without any of the knowledge of a second year student. I was a little lost in what I wanted to do, I basically chose my major because of the potential money I could make, and a VERY slight interest. Besides that, my transcript was completely messed up. Classes were coded incorrectly, and some classes weren’t coded at all. I spotted this mistake right away because my dad’s exact job is to finalize transcripts for high school students.
When I went to see my advisor for the first time I was dreading it. I’ve heard the countless horror stories of college advisors, and I had quite a few questions and concerns. Due to my academic standings when entering FSU, I was offered a spot in a program called “degree in three” which gave students first pick in their classes to ensure they could graduate in three years. Part of this program entails your advisor mapping out all of your classes for the rest of your time at Florida State. So on top of the million questions I had to ask, I also needed her to map out 3 years’ worth of courses. I was so nervous, but I was welcomed with open arms immediately when I stepped into Mrs. Scott’s office. It was her first year as an advisor so frankly I was worried she’d make mistakes, and become overwhelmed with the amount of work I was giving her to do. She was so calm, and called for assistance as to not half-ass the roadmap to my life. Mrs. Andrews, another math advisor came in and sat with us through the whole meeting, which lasted almost two hours. Never had I felt so cared about or welcomed.
After my first meeting with her she gave me the room number of the registrar’s office, which is who I would have to see about getting my transcript fixed. They weren’t very kind, and it was definitely an entire different atmosphere than Mrs. Scott’s office, but they assured me that it would be fixed by the time spring semester came around. Fall came and went, I didn’t need much more help. I was doing pretty well in my classes and I had no complaints otherwise, but I did notice my transcript still was not fixed. I emailed Mrs. Scott and the next day I had no more errors, and all of my classes were correctly coded.
It wasn’t until spring that I really started to struggle. I was completely failing one of my upper division math courses. My first test was the only test I did well on, I got a 90%, and that was the only assignment we had within the add/drop period. Add/drop is the window you have to drop a class with no penalty. You get refunded the money that you paid for the class, and it won’t show up on your records that you decided to drop the course. After that first test, and entering the withdrawal period I averaged about a 40% on every assignment. The entire semester I spent struggling because my pride would not let me hit that withdrawal button. To withdrawal from a class means you have to pay for it, and your transcript will bow have a big fat “W” so that everyone who looks can see that you basically gave up on a course. Common knowledge says that the only reason you withdrawal from a class is because you were about to fail, but didn’t want the F factoring into your GPA. I tried to salvage that grade, spending every day in tutoring and three days a week I went to three different tutoring sessions. I wasn’t as focused in my other classes, and I basically had no personal life. Once I realized that there was no coming back from the whopping 50% I had in the course three weeks before the final exam, I went to see Mrs. Scott, something I wish I would’ve done sooner.
I basically broke down in her office because not only did this failure mean I would have to withdrawal, but it also meant I would have to switch my major. One of my biggest fears in all of this was disappointing my parents, mainly my father. My parents have always been strict about grades, and I’ve always excelled in school. I couldn’t even imagine the jokes, mockery, and disappointment I would face when I told them, and ultimately when I went home for the summer. I expressed this concern to her, and even started crying in her office (I am not someone who cries in front of anyone). She calmed me down, and explained the reality of the situation.
“It’s better to withdrawal, than get an F and have a much lower GPA; college is about finding what you love doing, and obviously Math isn’t it. Most people graduate with anywhere from 1-3 withdrawals on their transcript. In the real world it’s not as big of a deal” she said.
She went on to give me advice on where I should go from there. She sat and went through about 10 different majors that I was interested in, and stayed with me until I found one that I would ultimately switch to. She even gave me advice on dealing with my parents, something she didn’t have to do. She told me that it’s better to apologize than ask permission, and reminded me that I was an adult and had to do what’s best for me (this is probably the best advice for anyone making the switch from overprotected child to adult).
Mrs. Scott’s advice and guidance are something I will always cherish, and always be one of the most valuable things I have had at Florida State. Throughout my time being one of her students, she would spam my email with helpful resources combined with her own witty thoughts. It’s not until now that I realize what an asset she is, and I wish that everyone could have Mrs. Scott. Now, that I am in the school of business, she can no longer be my advisor, and I envy everyone who can have her.
My experience with the business advisors has been disappointing to say the least. Not only did it take 4 times to get an appointment with them. They have a strict 15 minuet only policy.
When I first went to try to change my major, I came into my appointment stating just that, and she immediately tried to direct me to another office. An office which I had already visited, and they told me I would need to speak to an advisor. They were bothered to answer any of my questions, and the women literally told me “I’m not going to sit here and plan out all of your classes for two years because that would be crazy, and I don’t have the time.” Something that I really needed, and something that Mrs. Scott did willingly.
I’ve never met a kinder, or more caring women than Mrs. Scott. She was so accessible and made everyone her priority. She had reasonable office hours, and would schedule appoints with me during a time block of almost an hour. She took the time to know me, and replied to all of my emails in a timely manner. She’s full of compassion and it shows immensely. I would say that Mrs. Scott is FSU’s most valuable asset; she’s definitely been the most important to me.
