Sophomore Advising
With the first year of college successfully behind them, the time has come for second year students to think about the future —specifically how they want to spend the rest of their time at UT Austin and what they need to do to make certain they are well prepared for the next step in their lives (whatever that may be).
During their second year, Plan II students are required to participate in the Sophomore Advising Program, a year-long series of events that helps students set academic goals and learn about important career-related opportunities. The components of the Sophomore Advising Program include the Sophomore Summit event, a self-reflection questionnaire and resume, Plan II Career Week, and a one-on one advising session with a UT faculty member. Participants in the Sophomore Advising Program include Plan II staff and alumni, faculty from across the campus, multiple University offices and representatives from post-graduate programs.
All four components of the Sophomore Advising program are required for Plan II second year students; failure to participate an any part of Sophomore Advising will result in an Advising Bar. It is our sincere hope students will take advantage of the Sophomore Advising program to learn more about themselves, the resources available to them, and how to best use the time they have left at UT to prepare for the future.
The Sophomore Advising Program
Sophomore Summit is an event (typically held in September) where we welcome students back for their second year at UT Austin and gather them together as members of the Plan II Community. The purpose of the Sophomore Summit is to briefly introduce students to several offices/resources on campus, provide guidance on customizing their course choices (to prepare for thesis), and explain the Sophomore Advising program. It is our hope that students leave the Summit with the information and tools they need to investigate the many opportunities that lay before them and start thinking about their future.
The next step of the Sophomore Advising program is for students to take some time to research and reflect as they complete the Sophomore Advising Questionnaire. Students are also required to compile a Résumé. Students submit their answers to the Sophomore Advising questionnaire and a copy of their résumé to the Plan II Office in October.
The Plan II Office will then use the information students submit to match them with a UT Austin faculty member with whom they will meet with for an advising session during the spring semester. All students are notified who their assigned faculty sophomore advisor is early in the spring semester. Students must meet with their faculty advisor before April and submit an advising report to the Plan II Office documenting the meeting with the faculty member.
Lastly, all second year Plan II students must participate in several Plan II Career Week events. The Career Week events are designed to help students explore their individual interests in opportunities such as studying abroad, participating in undergraduate research, finding an internship, preparing for postgraduate education, and applying to programs like the Peace Corps or Teach for America. Plan II Career Week is typically held in February each year.
Sophomore Advising Timeline 2012-2013
- September 13, 2012 – Sophomore Summit - 5:30pm -7:00pm in GEA 105
- October 19, 2012 – Deadline to submit answers to Sophomore Advising Questionnaire and Résumé to the Plan II Office.
- Spring 2013 – students notified by the Plan II Office who their assigned faculty member is for sophomore advising session
- February 25-28, 2013 - Career Week 2013
- May 15, 2013 – Deadline to meet with your assigned faculty member for sophomore advising session and submit advising report to the Plan II Office.
