What first-year advising resources does UConn provide for new students?

UConn gives first-year students several built-in advising supports, and most new students use a mix of orientation advising, an assigned academic advisor, and online planning tools. Advising is usually tied to your school or college, so the exact structure can vary a bit by major, but first-year students do not have to figure course planning out on their own. UConn also uses orientation and first-semester support programs to help students register, understand degree requirements, and adjust academically.

A typical new student starts with New Student Orientation, where advising and course registration are major pieces of the process. Students learn about general education requirements, placement or major-specific expectations, and usually get guidance on building their first-semester schedule. This is often the first real advising checkpoint before classes begin.

After that, students generally work with an academic advisor in their school or college. For example, students in more structured majors may have dedicated professional advisors early on, while some programs also connect students with faculty advisors as they progress. Advisors help with class selection, major exploration, add/drop questions, academic policies, and making sure students stay on track for graduation.

UConn also provides online tools through its student systems for checking degree requirements, viewing enrollment appointments, and planning schedules before registration. In practice, first-year students often use these tools alongside advisor meetings so they can map out both current courses and future semesters.

There are also broader first-year support resources beyond pure academic advising. UConn offers programs tied to student success, transition support, tutoring and learning assistance, and campus offices that help students adjust during the first year.