When I was a freshman, I tiptoed into my advisor's office, and sat down to hear my fate: the classes I was supposed to take that first semester.

I listened to her, agreed with her recommendations, and walked out with the schedule we had created.

I enjoyed my classes, but there were times when I wished I would have had more flexibility.

I wished I would have realized that I didn't have to lock myself into a concentration within my major. I could have chosen more classes that intrigued me, rather than taking classes that ended up being a bit repetitious.

I liked my advisor, by the way. She did her job well, and helped me with what I thought I wanted.

Here's the thing, though, that I didn't realize until I switched schools and was a bit more confident in who I was.

College is what I choose to prepare myself for.

This is why your advisor shouldn't do all your thinking for you--because they're not you. That's not grammatically correct, but it's true.

I don't need to follow the standard paths the school has set up, although those are great. The faculty creates those to give a general path so that I learn what I need to know. But I don't have to stick to them completely.

Maybe I will need to know something that is not in the "standard requirements." The theology classes I took in college will help me contribute to my church. They definitely are not in the required classes for my Writing and Editing degree, but I want them anyway, because they develop me as a person--which, incidentally, gives me depth as a writer.

Maybe I do not need to know something that is in the "standard requirements." I sat in a Mass Media Writing class on my first day of classes after transferring, and I realized that I really did not want the class. I have no interest in writing for radio or television, and if I do someday, I'd rather prepare for it then. I went to my advisor, who was the head of the department, and she agreed to waive the class for me.

Advisors miss things.

I realize they are kind, dedicated people. But note that last word: they are people. They will make mistakes. They will find it hard to keep track of all your personal goals, the requirements of your major (and concentration, if you have one), as well as which classes are running and when, which professors actually teach well, and which extracurriculars are helpful.

You're an adult. Do the research.

Find out exactly what the requirements are for your major. Find out when the classes run. Ask older students about which professors invest in their students. Ask about the benefits of extracurriculars. Stay aware of department changes.

It's not actually that hard. You just have to be willing to ask other people for help, and read the information your school has written about your major. All of this will pay off, because you can successfully meet your goals.

Advisors can't meet your goals for you.

You're probably paying a lot for college. That money is not going to feel like a great investment unless you walk away with an education that you actually wanted.

What is a priority for you?

Maybe you want to graduate early. In that case, it is really important to know which classes have prerequisites, so that you can take them in the right order. You really don’t want to end up in your last semester needing a class, and discover that you missed taking the prerequisite.

Maybe you want experience. Try pursuing internships: they can give you an exposure to the field you want to work in, and sometimes will even pay you.

Maybe you want to pay as little as possible. Be sure that your class load is spread out correctly, so that you stay full-time until graduation. Scholarships are paid out in full only to students with a full load. Also, ask other students about scholarship opportunities, and talk to faculty in your department. They might have connections you could use.

You get the idea.

Decide what you want to do, and do what it takes to make it happen!