LSJ Advising
LSJ Academic Advisers work with students to clarify and reflect on academic and personal goals. LSJ Advisers help students develop their ability to think critically and demonstrate the core skills and values of a liberal arts education. Through partnerships with faculty, staff, alumni, and LSJ students, LSJ Advisers help position students for careers of deep personal and social significance.
Location and Contact Information
Smith Hall Mezzanine, M253 (Between the 2nd and 3rd floors)
lsjadv@uw.edu
206-543-4762
LSJ Advising Office Drop-In Hours via Zoom and In-Person
Jonathan's dog Soda will be in the office Mondays during in-person advising. If you are uncomfortable with dogs for any reason, please don't hesitate to reach out before coming into the office so that we can accommodate you! We want advising to be a comfortable and welcoming place for all members of the LSJ community.
The office will only be open on Mondays and Wednesdays during the summer. Our staff will be available remotely during normal business hours the rest of the week.
Summer 2025 drop-in advising will take place during the following schedule:
**Please Note: No drop-ins on Fridays during Summer 2025. Additionally, no drop-ins from August 4 - 22**
| Day | Time | Modality | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mondays | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | In-Person | Smith Hall M253 |
| Tuesdays | 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Zoom | Zoom Link | Zoom Sign-In Sheet |
| Wednesdays | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Zoom | Zoom Link | Zoom Sign-In Sheet |
| Thursdays | 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM | Zoom | Zoom Link | Zoom Sign-In Sheet |
| Fridays | NO DROP-INS | N/A | N/A |
For virtual drop-in advising, please check-in via the Virtual LSJ Drop-In Check-In Sheet.
All advising will take place through these drop-in hours. No pre-scheduled appointments will be available.
For all in-person drop-ins, please check in at the LSJ front office (Smith Hall M253) prior to our meeting.
For all Zoom drop-ins, please check in via the Zoom Drop-In Sign-In Sheet below.
Zoom Link Zoom Drop-In Sign-In Sheet
*Hours subject to change; see below for office closures and/or revised drop-in hours.
What to Expect when Meeting with an Adviser
LSJ academic advisers are here to work with you to navigate your degree and explore opportunities that impact your academic progress and career planning. The advisers work with you to plan for short-term and long-term goals.
Here are examples of how you can work with an academic adviser:
- Prepare to apply: See an LSJ academic adviser to talk about applying to LSJ. Advisers can answer questions and provide tips for preparing your application.
- Degree planning: As a student you may decide to double major, double degree, add on a minor or two, or plan for other experiential learning opportunities. The LSJ academic advisers can help you make plans to help keep you on track and taking full advantage of opportunities.
- Study Abroad: Explore study abroad opportunities through winter and summer opportunities or early fall start! Work with an LSJ adviser to see how courses can be used toward your LSJ requirements.
- Graduate: Apply to graduate and finalize your academic plans with an adviser. Get graduating senior priority (GSP) registration allowing you to register for classes the Friday before seniors. Students can apply to graduate once they have earned 135 credits (senior status). It's recommended to apply to graduate two quarters early in order to utilize your GSP registration status for your final two quarters.
We encourage you to come to drop-ins to have any questions answered!
Email the LSJ Advising Office
If you have a simple answer to a question or asking about any of the topics below, feel free to email the LSJ Advising Office lsjadv@uw.edu. For more complex questions, please plan to speak with an adviser during the drop-in advising sessions listed above.
- Add Codes and overloading closed courses
- Course registration questions
- Questions about a specific class
- Applying to graduate
- Changing a major or minor
- Registration for a course you have permission to add
Emailing a Professor
Emailing a faculty member can be intimidating, especially if you don’t know them very well. Getting an email started can be the hardest part of reaching out. Thankfully, there are a few guiding rules that can help you start off on the right foot!
- Proper salutation
- Always start out your email with a polite “Dear” or “Hello” followed by your professor’s name/title (Dr. XYZ, Professor XYZ, etc.). If you’re not sure what their proper title is, using “Professor” followed by their last name is almost always a safe bet.
- Tip: If you want to know their proper title, check the class syllabus!
- Introduce yourself
- Even if your professor knows who you are, it can never hurt to give a brief introduction. Simply giving your preferred name, year, major, and the course you’re enrolled in can provide a great deal of context.
- Use correct grammar and spelling
- An email is more formal than a text or message on social media, so be sure this is reflected in your writing (no abbreviations/acronyms). Be sure not only to use spelling/grammar check, but also proofread the email. You can even ask a friend or roommate to give it one final read-through.
- Use a formal closing
- Conclude your email with a closing, such as “Best regards”, “Sincerely”, or “Thank you” followed by your name.
Thinking About Letters of Recommendation?
Do you need a letter of recommendation? Have you ever asked for one? Do you know a good timeline? These are often questions the advising office receive. This article provides advice on how/when/who to ask for a letter of recommendation.