After Your Orientation Advising Appointment

Your advising appointment is one step in your full Orientation Experience as an admitted first-year student. This page covers what happens after your appointment: how to handle changes to your placement results or credit, how to adjust your schedule before classes begin and how advising works once you're a current student.

What to Expect Right After Your Appointment

You and your advisor registered for your first-semester classes together during your appointment. Your schedule is now visible in MyNIU under Student Self-Service.

You're expected to attend your Orientation date on campus or virtually with your schedule already in place. If you have follow-up questions for your advisor after your appointment, contact the Academic Advising Center at aac@niu.edu or 815-753-2573.

If Your Placement Results or Credits Change

Your advisor recommended courses based on the placement results and prior credits available at the time of your appointment. If either changes afterward, the right classes for you may shift. Contact your advisor right away if any of these happen.

Your placement test results arrive after your appointment

If you took a placement test after your advising appointment, or if results came back differently than expected, contact your advisor to review whether your course schedule should be adjusted. Learn more about placement exams.

AP, CLEP, IB or dual credit transcripts arrive after your appointment

Earned college credit can change which courses are right for you. If your AP, CLEP, IB or dual credit transcripts arrive at NIU after your advising appointment, contact your advisor to discuss whether your schedule should be updated. Learn more about credit by exam.

Your final high school transcript affects your eligibility

If something on your final high school transcript changes your admission status or course eligibility, your advisor will help you understand the impact and adjust your plan. Check your MyNIU To Do List for any outstanding items.

Adjusting Your Schedule Before Classes Begin

If you need to make changes to your first-semester schedule before classes start, you have a few options depending on the type of change:

• Adding or dropping courses on your own: You can make changes through MyNIU until the published Add/Drop deadline. See the academic calendar for the current semester's deadline.
• Changes that need advisor approval: Some changes require your advisor's involvement, especially if they affect prerequisites, course sequencing or degree progress. Contact the Academic Advising Center at aac@niu.edu.
• Changing your major: If you've decided to change your major before classes begin, complete the change of major form. We may need to reschedule additional advising support.

How Advising Works Once Classes Begin

Your advising relationships will evolve as you progress through your degree.

• As a first-year student (under 24 credits earned), you'll continue to work with a first-year advisor focused on foundational courses, general education requirements and your transition to NIU. Schedule appointments through Navigate.
• Once you've earned 24 credits and declared your major, you'll transition to your college's advising office for major-specific support and degree planning.
• Near graduation, you'll work with faculty or departmental advisors in your major as you finalize your degree requirements.

You're welcome to meet with your advisor anytime during the semester, but plan ahead during peak times like registration. You're required to meet with your advisor if you're placed on academic probation.

Key Dates and Resources

• Academic calendar for add/drop deadlines, breaks and final exam week
• Student Life for resources on housing, dining, health services, student organizations and more
• Week of Welcome for the schedule of events kicking off your first semester