Keeping in Touch
As an associate, expect to maintain regular contact with your advisees throughout the year.
For example, you should send personalized emails to your advisees every two weeks or so to maintain regular contact.
- Sample 1: "Hi _____, I was thinking about you and thought I would send you a message. How have you been? How are your classes going? Are you getting enough sleep/exercise, eating/sleeping well? How's your social life? Can I help you with anything?
- Sample 2: "Hi _____ , How's everything going? I'm writing because ___ and I would like to take the advising group out for dinner and a movie next week and we wanted to see what day you'd be free and if you have a preference as to what movie? We really hope that you'll be able to join us. Hope to hear from you soon.
Other Tips:
- Organize a get together with your advisees for lunch, dinner, a lecture series, MIT sporting event, student group performance, etc. Check the events calendar to see what's going on at MIT.
- Touch-base with advisees periodically to provide assistance regarding time management, test taking, study skills and more.
- Help advisees with choice of major issues and with their search for UROPs, IAP activities, and summer employment.
- Send reminders for Institute-wide deadlines and ask them to check out the Class of 2016 site frequently for updates, news, and information that is relevant to them throughout the year and encourage them to review class emails for important dates and information.
Communication is not always easy, so be proactive and make an effort to stay in contact with your advisees. Freshmen are from diverse cultures and backgrounds and may have different styles of communication. Check out the Effective Communication page, for tips, strategies, and advice on effective communication.
