Liberal Arts Advising for First Years and Sophomores

Every incoming student is matched with a faculty advisor. While we make every effort to take into consideration the academic interests indicated by incoming students, all our Liberal Arts advisors can answer questions about our curriculum, and guide students through concerns and challenges.

Key Components of Liberal Arts Advising

Orientation and first-semester meetings: Students meet their advisor during orientation to discuss course schedules, workload balance, and their transition to college life.
Ongoing support: Advisors continue to serve as a consistent point of contact for academic planning, time management and campus resources.
Advisor holds and registration: Starting in the fall of their first year, students must meet with their liberal arts advisor before each registration period to have their advisor hold released.

How Faculty Advisors Support Students

Faculty advisors support students in three core areas:

Academic Planning: Helping students design a course of study that aligns with their interests and goals while encouraging deep engagement with a liberal arts education.
Holistic Development: Creating space for meaningful conversations and reflection about academic goals, campus involvement, and long-term plans.
Fostering Connections: Linking students to campus resources—such as the Baldwin Center for Learning and Teaching, Office of the Dean of Students, Counseling and Wellness Services, and Career Exploration and Development—as well as to peers, faculty, and staff to strengthen belonging and inclusion.

Advising Over the First Four Semesters at Bowdoin

Advising evolves as students move through their first four semesters at Bowdoin:

First Year: Building relationships, exploring disciplines, meeting division and distribution requirements, and establishing academic foundations.

Sophomore Year: Selecting a major in the second semester, clarifying goals, reviewing academic schedules and planning to meet division and distribution requirements, and considering off-campus study opportunities.

Advisor Holds and Course Registration

Bowdoin requires students to meet with their academic advisor to discuss course plans for the upcoming semester. An advisor hold is placed in a student’s Workday account before registration in the fall semester of their first year for spring registration and continues each semester until graduation. This hold prevents students from registering for classes. While students may build and save course schedules in Workday, they cannot register until their advisor releases the hold.

When an advisor releases the hold, it confirms that the student and advisor have met and agreed on the planned course selections.

What Students Need to Do

Contact your academic advisor early to schedule an advising meeting before your registration window opens.
Discuss your courses and academic plan by reviewing saved schedules and degree requirements together.
Have your advisor release the hold in Workday once the advising conversation is complete so you can register.