Published: May 4, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
As the spring semester draws to a close, I’m at school students plan for upcoming semesters by scheduling classes, applying for internships, and updating e-portfolios. Part of this process should also involve meeting with an academic advisor.
iSchool Counseling Tools
The iSchool has an excellent academic advising process with many tools that students can use, such as the Consulting Toolbox and the
Student Success Planner. THE iSchool Student Services Team is also
available for any questions students can have on using the counseling tools. Since the iSchool is designed so that students can choose from an array of electives with few required courses, students are better able to build a diverse portfolio to gain a competitive edge in the library career market. . However, some students may have difficulty deciding
MLIS career path to choose, need help choosing from the myriad of courses on offer, or may simply be overwhelmed by the flexibility of the iSchool program and need guidance. Some students like me may just want reassurance that they are on the right track.
My first counseling session
To help me with my questions regarding my MLIS career path,
Academic LibrarianshipI decided to meet a iSchool Advising Faculty Pathway Advisor and chose to work with Dr. Maria Otero-Boisvert. I have chosen
Dr. Otero-Boisvert since she would give a course that interested me, INFO 230 Problems in University Libraries, and I wanted to build a relationship with her. I first met Dr. Otero-Boisvert last November during the fall semester to discuss my academic plans and also to get information on my career options.
We had a nice hour-long discussion about the role of academic librarianship as well as my planned schedule for the spring. Dr. Otero-Boisvert also pointed out that if I had any further questions about specific courses, I should contact Dr. Linda Main, who has extensive knowledge of iSchool courses. Our first meeting went very well and allowed me to better prepare for the spring semester.
My second counseling session
For the spring semester, I had more confidence in the career path I had chosen after attending the ARL Symposium as a member of
Kaleidoscope Program and attend
ALA ACRL 2023 Conference. These experiences gave me a better understanding of my career as a liaison librarian and I had more options to explore with courses and post-graduation plans. I decided to see Dr. Otero-Boisvert again and check my options with her.
I met Dr. Otero-Boisvert at the end of March shortly after my return from ACRL and we discussed my summer school schedule and other experiences I needed to fill in the gaps in my resume. . Dr. Otero-Boisvert provided information on internships
I could apply for the summer, residential homes that I could take upon graduation, which addressed my concerns about gaining more library experience to supplement my CV.
The academic advising process was very successful for me and helped me gain confidence while talking with a future peer in the profession. I greatly appreciated Dr. Otero-Boisvert’s insight and suggestions regarding my questions and appreciated that someone with over 20 years of experience in academic librarianship could take the time to talk about my aspirations. professionals.
Tips to optimize your counseling session
I enjoyed the iSchool counseling process very much and although I had specific questions about my career plans and goals after graduation, the counseling teachers at iSchool were more than happy to help me and provide answers. If you are thinking of meeting with an advisor, I suggest you do the following:
- Use all of the counseling tools and resources available on the iSchool website.
- Write a few clear and concise questions about what you need help with.
- In your introductory email, introduce yourself with your expected year of graduation, your educational and career goals, concerns, and availability.
Unfortunately, Dr. Otero-Boisvert will be retiring this year, but after my experience with her, I am very confident that all academic advisors will be more than capable of providing me with the proper guidance and assurance regarding my high school journey. I would love to hear about someone else’s experience with the counseling process here at iSchool, please comment below.