Make an appointment
Appointment tips
- Arrive 5-10 minutes early for your appointment
- Bring your DalCard!
- Let us know your name & pronouns at the front desk
- Email your advisor directly or advising@dal.ca if you can no longer attend your appointment
Where to go for advising
Attend a workshop!
Set yourself up for success
The Dalhousie Bissett Student Success Centre offers a mix of scheduled appointments (year-round) and drop-in/same day appointments (at peak times throughout the year and in September and January until the add/drop deadline,) to meet your academic and career needs. Read through our types of appointments and frequently asked questions below.
If you are ready to make an appointment, see Halifax or Truro under contact us.
Types of appointments
Academic support and advising
We provide academic support and advising to students in:
- first- and second-year Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- first- and second-year Faculty of Science
- first-year Faculty of Engineering
- our On Track programs
If your faculty is not listed, please visit where to go for advising.
Our Student Success Advisors can help you:
- clarify your education and career goals
- monitor your degree plan
- choose courses that relate to your goals, strengths and interests
- address concerns about your studies
- apply strategies for academic success from first-year and beyond
- identify experiential opportunities such as co-op or study abroad
- develop an education plan
- explore academic options (including academic policies) when faced with personal/family emergency
- determine where to go for additional support
Same-Day/Drop-in appointments
Drop-in appointments are quick, 15-minute appointments available during peak times including around Registration and in September and January until the add/drop deadline. Wait times vary and students are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Please call our reception at 902-494-3077 to be added to the call-back list.
Contact us, including location & hours
Scheduled appointments
Scheduled appointments are 30-60 minutes long and focus on your goals, degree planning, identifying skill-development opportunities, and addressing academic concerns.
Meet the team
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Make an appointment online
Course registration assistance
For course registration assistance and advice, we offer 15-minute drop-in appointments with Student Success Advisors and Peer Advisors in September and January until the add/drop deadline.
These appointments are 15 minutes long. Wait times vary and students are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Please check-in at the reception desk when you arrive.
For course registration assistance that may take longer than 15 minutes, please make an appointment for academic support and advising with a Student Success Advisor.
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Career counselling
Our career counsellors have all earned graduate degrees in counselling, psychology or in a related professional field. They are skilled and experienced in helping students with their career and personal concerns.
Career counselling often involves:
- exploring career options, developing personal skills and building confidence
- looking at your personality and how it affects your success and satisfaction
- creating strategies to cope with personal issues that affect your view of yourself and your future
- the identification and removal of barriers that may stand in the way of achieving your educational and career goals
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Resume review, job search assistance or interview preparation
Peer advising appointments
Our Peer Advisors provides advice, support, and coaching to meet your individual career needs. Make an appointment or stop by during drop-in hours. Drop-in appointments are 15-30 minutes long, depending on availability. Scheduled appointments can be longer.
A typical appointment might include:
- a review of your resume or cover letter
- interview preparation tips or a practice interview
- how to use myCareer to find job postings
- getting started with your job search strategy
Contact us, including location & hours
Workshops
We offer regular workshops on a range of career related topics including resumes, cover letters, job search strategies, tips for LinkedIn, interview preparation, and more. You can register for a workshop on myCareer – they are listed in the Event Calendar.
Study skills support or tutoring
Workshops
Our Studying for Success programs offers regular workshops on a range of topics from effective reading strategies to note-taking techniques and exam preparation strategies. Registration is recommended, but not required.
If you are interested but unable to attend one of the workshops, you can make a one-on-one appointment with one of our study coaches.
Study coaching
Study Coaches are graduate students from different areas of academic specialty who are pursuing studies in either Masters or PhD programs at Dalhousie. Their training and experience provide a range of expertise in helping students in a range of study skills. Our study coaches:
- explore methods to capture the most pertinent details from lectures and textbooks
- help you define your preferred learning style and offer complementing study techniques
- guide your development and application of an effective study strategy
- provide useful tips on the best way to prepare for exams
- refer you to appropriate academic support services as needed
Appointments with a Study Coach can vary between 30-60 minutes. Students can make an appointment by contacting the coach directly or dropping by during their office hours. Scheduled appointments have priority.
Tutoring
If you are looking for assistance in understanding specific course content and assignments, or preparing for tests and exams, our tutors can help. We can match you to an appropriate tutor in your field of study. Follow these 4 steps to request a tutor.
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LinkedIn photographs
Yes, we can take a LinkedIn photograph for you! The photograph only takes a few minutes, but does require one of our staff to be available. We encourage you to visit during our peer drop-in hours or contact us to make an appointment.
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On Track programs
Our On Track programs help support you by identifying and developing your strengths and making the most of your curricular and co-curricular experiences. Learn more about our On Track programs.
If you are already registered, you can contact us to make your next appointment.
Contact us, including location & hours
Frequently asked questions
Why are there so many different advisors at Dalhousie?
There are many different advisors on campus: admissions advisors, academic advisors, faculty advisors, student success advisors, accessibility advisors, international advisors, and more. Essentially, they’re all experts in their fields who can give you advice. Academic advisors know all things academic—degree requirements, planning, etc. Faculty advisors are experts for all things academic in their particular faculty—programs, post-grad opportunities, etc. Student success advisors help you identify your strengths, learn new skills, and achieve your academic and career goals. Accessibility advisors are experts when it comes to student accommodations and accessibility. International advisors are experts on all things international. And so on.
We know it can be confusing to know who to see and when. The descriptions here can help you figure out where to go for advising. If you're unsure, contact us!
Can I have my appointment via phone or Skype?
Yes! If you would like to have your appointment via phone or Skype, please let us know when you book your appointment. If you book online, email advising@dal.ca
Example email:
Hi there,
My name is NAME and I just booked an appointment with ADVISOR on DATE. Would it be possible to have my appointment via phone/Skype?
Thank you,
NAME
How do I prepare for my appointment?
While every appointment is different, there are some things you can do to prepare.
To prepare, you should:
- write down any questions that you have
- check important dates, policies & regulations that apply to you or your situation –
and write down any questions that you have about them! - bring any documentation that you may need with you
Our advisors also expect you to:
- contribute to and maintain a safe and respectful space
- take responsibility for your academic performance
- show up for your booked appointments on time or let us know if you can no longer attend
- be open to creating, developing and modifying your goals
- keep a personal record of your progress towards meeting your goals
How do I read my degree audit?
The Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS), available through Dal Online, gives you a personalized and current snapshot of where you stand in meeting your program(s)'s requirements. Visit our degree requirements/audit page for more information about:
- where to begin
- audit types
- reading your degree audit
- graphs
- planned courses/course cart/what-if courses
- moving courses to a different requirement on your degree audit
- switching requirements to those listed in a more recent academic calendar
- hypothetical/what-if degree audit
- tips and troubleshooting
We also know that it can be confusing to understand your degree audit on your own! Make an appointment with an advisor (here's where to go for advising) for assistance in reading yours.
When is the last day that I can make changes to my course schedule?
The deadlines to add and/or drop courses vary and can be found in important dates.
Before your drop a course!
There are different deadlines in the calendar: without a "W" and with a "W". Visit our dropping courses page to learn more about what this means. You can also make an appointment with an advisor (here's where to go for advising) for advice.
How often should I make appointments?
This will depend on your situation. For example, you can meet with a peer advisor or study coach as many times as you would like throughout the semester. You can meet with your Student Success Advisor once or twice per semester or on an as-needed basis. If you are registered in an On Track program, there is likely a minimum number of appointments you must have to complete the program.
At the end of your first appointment, ask for a recommendation!