College Peer Advisors Provide Insight into Academic Decisionmaking

You probably already brainstorm with your roommates and friends about choosing a major and selecting your classes. So sitting down with peers to discuss your academic program is not a new idea for you. Why not sit down with peers who have developed substantial expertise helping people figure out the regulations that govern your progress through UCSB?

College of Letters and Science peer advisors have gone through a rigorous training program, where they have learned almost everything there is to know about the baccalaureate programs offered in the college. Peer advisors bring added insight to their advising sessions. Like the students they advise, they are taking classes, have grappled with choosing a major, and are preparing themselves for careers or for graduate and professional school. They can give you the most up-to-date information on challenging classes, interesting faculty members, and using General Education requirements to explore and expand your own intellectual interests.

We invite you to meet the peer advisors. Read about them below, and then come by the college office, Cheadle 1117, to make an appointment. Or call (805) 893-3201 for an appointment.

Carly Creelman, a senior from Sacramento, was involved with a sea turtle conservation project in Costa Rica last summer. A double major in psychology and law and society, she wants to help people find what sparks their passion when it comes to their educational goals. "If you can identify what drives you to excel, then a major should just fall into place," she says. An aspect of UCSB that exceeded her expectations is the extra-curricular and cultural experiences that are provided to students and community members. "Use every minute and opportunity to your advantage, and never regret anything," she says.

Matthew Thomas Dailey, a fourth year cell and developmental biology major from San Dimas. Matthew has many hobbies that include soccer, surfing, snowboarding, golf, photography, hiking, and fishing. In the summer of 2007, he studied abroad in Costa Rica. He is a health professions peer advisor and works with students to help them plan class schedules that meet the pre-requisite course work for their professional school of choice as well as providing advice on how best to begin their path to a career in the health professions field. Matthew's advice to undeclared and first year students, "Do not feel rushed to choose a major and feel like you have to leave this university in order to get onto the next thing as quickly as possible. UCSB offers many interesting courses and I recommend sampling as many as you can to find a field of interest. Your time here goes by fast, so work hard, play hard, be efficient, and be open to new challenges and opportunities."  

Samantha Davis is a senior from San Diego. She hopes to help students get the most out of their years at UCSB by helping make the experience as stress-free as possible. "Don't feel rushed into a major because all your friends have one" she says, "Just take classes to fulfill your GE's and you will probably find something that interests you." A French and Aquatic Biology double major, Samantha spent the summer in French Polynesia, assisting a UCSB graduate student and working on her senior honors thesis. After graduation, she plans on attending graduate school before perhaps becoming a professor.

Michael D'Hondt, a senior from Morgan Hill, recently traveled to Kenya, Africa with a missionary group where he had the opportunity to teach in an elementary school. He is an economics and classics double major who likes to play guitar and take part in outdoor activities like surfing, backpacking, and rock-climbing. Michael hopes to be a truly helpful advisor and someone his peers can trust for academic input. His advice to new freshmen: "Don’t be anxious, just work diligently and do your best in everything."

Brianna Dougherty came to UCSB as an undeclared freshman. "I declared spring quarter of my sophomore year, but I decided on my major winter quarter of my freshman year. I knew what subjects I was stronger in, and I talked to older students who were in majors I was interested in." Her declared major was business economics with financial accounting with a minor in sports management. Brianna is now a junior and is excited to be going to New York for the first time this summer to watch her brother play baseball.

Monica Estrada is a junior from Calabasas double majoring in business economics and communications. Last summer, Monica worked in Barcelona, Spain as a junior market research analyst. She is involved with intramural soccer and basketball, is a tutor for the Family Literacy Program, and is currently working as a hostess at Arigato. What tip does she give to new freshmen: "College goes by fast. Meet as many people as you can and take a wide variety of classes to see what you like."

Jeannette Figg, a sophomore from Los Alamos, New Mexico, will be working for Los Alamos National Laboratory this summer. She is an economics/mathematics major and would like to go to law school and practice environmental law. Her response when asked about her approach to peer advising, "I would like to educate my peers so they can get a better grasp of what the college expects of them. I hope this allows them to feel confident about their decisions and have a more enjoyable experience here." And her tips for incoming freshmen, "Keep up with your reading! Just because you are not constantly pushed doesn’t mean you don’t have to do your work. Try to find a balance of school and play that allows you to enjoy both."

Dustin May, a senior political science/statistical science major from Pleasanton, is one of the honors peers. He recently got back from a travel study program in Western Europe. Dustin says it took him a while to find the resources he needed at UCSB, so he is eager to help show students how to benefit from the many services and activities available on campus (academic advising, career counseling, student activities and clubs, and study abroad programs) as soon as they arrive. His hobbies include intramural volleyball and soccer, and he is looking to head to law school next year.

Emily Newlands is a junior from Denville, New Jersey having moved to San Diego from New Jersey just last summer. Emily came to UCSB as an undeclard freshman and declared a global studies major during her second year because, "I loved the subject matter." When asked her approach to peer advising, her response, "I try to make students feel that they are not alone in the big university and that I am a student too, facing all of the same courses, requirements, and professors." And what tips does she have for new freshmen? "Just get out there and do something that interests you. You’ll meet great friends in the process, and never feel like you missed any opportunities."

Jaimie Thomas, one of the honors peers, knows that college can be really stressful especially with GEs, drop deadlines as well as everything else on students' plates. Her goal is to help relieve some of that stress. "I want a student to feel at ease when they leave this office." After graduation, Jaimie's plans are to attend law school and do a lot of travelling. Her advice to new freshmen, "Make the most of your college experience! You only have four years and they speed by."

Daria Thompson, a health professions peer advisor, recently traveled to India to learn about rural health care. She currently works in a behavioral genetics lab researching addiction. A senior from San Diego, Daria urges students not to stress about having a major, "...you'll find the perfect one eventually." She enjoys her job as a peer advisor. "I like being helpful for people who are confused, stressed, busy, etc." In her spare time Daria enjoys horseback riding, volleyball, and soccer.

Sarah Trumble, a junior from Riverside, is looking forward to her job as a peer advisor. She wants to "demystify" some of the more complicated or confusing aspects of the undergraduate degree programs. "College is not as scary as it seems," she says, and she plans to help students engage in the university experience. Her advice for new students: "Slow down. Be true to yourself. Take this opportunity for a fresh start, without forgetting your roots. Call home. Get involved, meet new people, and become passionate about something. Take classes in every conceivable subject, especially ones that were not available at your high school or you have never heard of. Find a balance between work and play. Go to office hours. Create lifelong memories that you will be proud of and make friends you'll always keep."

Kristen Zimmerman, a senior economics major from Danville, she loves it when somebody leaves her office feeling confident about their academic future. Kristen studied abroad in Florence, Italy during the summer of 2006. "I had a great experience learning about the culture and history of the country in addition to taking weekend getaways to many other destinations in Italy!" Her advising interest group is athletics (baseball and basketball). "I advise athletes in all areas, however I am specifically helpful with appropriate schedule planning. Taking different sports seasons into consideration, I work with athletes to create the most reasonable schedule for that particular quarter." Her advice to new/undeclared students, "When searching for a major, focus on what subject you find interesting along with what subject you can excel in. This combination will make for an excellent experience within your major." In her spare time, Kristen enjoys running, fitness, dance, and wakeboarding.