Working with an Advisor

Your relationship with your advisor is very important. Your advisor is there to give you advice and support when you need it, to guide you through curriculum and requirements, to help you improve your study skills, to discuss study abroad and independent study with you, and to provide advice about graduate school and careers. We want to help you get the most out of your Anthropology major, and out of your experience at Tufts.

In Anthropology, you need not feel that you are restricted to one advisor. Please feel free to talk to other Anthropology faculty, or to change advisors. Each of us has different perspectives, areas of expertise, and personal styles. You can learn more about us on our faculty pages and about the areas of focus in the department. You can come to your advisor's office hours, schedule an appointment, and communicate via e-mail. Although e-mailing is easy, your advisor will get to know you much better through face-to-face contact during office hours.

Remember that we can be better advisors when we know you. Let your advisor know about your interests and activities, such as volunteering, jobs, extra-curricular activities, and student organizations. A good way of doing this is to write a short resume, and to update this once or twice a year — but make sure you keep us informed in person too. We can write you better recommendations when we know you as a person rather than a transcript!

Before the pre-registration rush begins, contact your advisor to set up an appointment: this ensures that we can give you and your course selections enough time. Try not to stop in to see your advisor at the last minute. Above all, make sure you meet with your advisor rather than simply sending your course choices via e-mail. If you're thinking of studying abroad, come and see us as early as possible so that we can discuss programs, suggest others who have returned from similar programs, and explore possible research opportunities with you.