Information For:

First Years

You and Your Meiklejohn

Your Meiklejohn understands that you are new to Brown, and that you might or you might not know which courses you want to take this semester, this year, or even over your four years at Brown. Whatever your thoughts on your academic trajectory, your Meiklejohn is ready to help.  

Your first year at Brown is a time for discovery. Your Meiklejohn will help you consider academic areas and social activities you never thought of and help you build on your strengths. But there is one thing your Meiklejohn will never do: tell you what to do. (You wouldn't do that to the important people in your life, would you?) Rather, they will advise you.

As a supportive critic for your first year, your Meiklejohn will listen and discuss, backing some decisions, challenging others, cautioning against possible pitfalls, suggesting other possibilities, and referring widely. Your Meiklejohn will always respect your responsibility and accountability. 

It’s not all about classes

Every piece of Brown is interrelated; it is impossible to separate academic advising from helping you transition to life at Brown. In addition to giving you advice on course selection, your Meik's advising might extend to topics such as:

  • Encouraging the formation of relationships with professors and deans
  • Helping with effective office hours techniques
  • Taking advantage of (virtual) events on campus
  • Strategizing your own academic path
  • Exploring extracurricular opportunities
  • Utilizing Brown's academic and non-academic resources
  • Acting as a resource for all troubles

Your Meiklejohn may not be able to help you with every problem you encounter at Brown, but they WILL know who can help you. Meiklejohns are experts on finding resources on campus and are eager to help in any way they can!

 A Year-long Relationship

Don't forget that your first year is exactly that--a year. Not a first semester, or month, or week. A year. Your Meiklejohn knows this, and will be with you for your entire first year at Brown. Your questions might change as you acclimate to Brown's campus and curricular culture, and your Meiklejohn will be right there alongside you. Don't forget about them; they won't forget about you.