•  Discuss with your advisees their backgrounds and experiences,  progress on their goals and future plans

•  Focus on advisee’s strengths as well as weaknesses - Be honest with students

•  Discuss purposes and benefits of college

•  Encourage high expectations for achievement

•  Encourage students to get involved in extra curricular activities

•  Encourage students to develop a career exploration plan and do an internship

•  Become knowledgeable of the college’s degree requirements and policies and procedures

•  Become familiar with the financial aid process

•   Assist students in understanding the importance of developing transferable skills

•   Be sensitive to barriers to learning

•   Be aware of characteristics that put students at risk of not being successful

•   Support behaviors that lead to student persistence

•   Encourage students to seek academic support services

•   Maintain a cross cultural awareness

•   Understand student learning styles

•   Model successful academic behaviors

•   Encourage students to seek a college mentor

•   Evaluate your own advising style

•   Keep notes about decisions made and why