How UF Preview Advisors Support New Gators

June 8, 2025
"Leave Preview with an appropriate and well-balanced schedule."

 
_{Dr. Anantharam smiles at a new student during a Preview advising session.}

Congrats on making it into the University of Florida! Can you hear the Gators growling? Are you ready to join a campus full of incredible world changers? First, you must attend the 2-day event that sets the tone for your academic career: Preview. During Preview, you'll be introduced to much of what UF offers. You'll explore our beautiful campus, learn a little history, meet your peers, and participate in signature experiences. What's the most impactful portion of Preview? That's up to you, but we know you'll enjoy planning the near future with your Preview Advisor.

In high school, you start to develop heavy questions about your academic and career goals. Talking to a Preview Advisor is your first significant step in getting some answers. They can't predict your future but can start you down the right path. Now, what exactly is a Preview Advisor?

"A Preview Advisor supports new students through UF's Preview orientation program", explains Nigel Richardson, Senior Director of Advising. "The primary responsibility of a Preview Advisor is to guide students through academic planning and course registration, ensuring they leave Preview with an appropriate and well-balanced schedule."

Before Preview, you'll need to complete Preview Prep, a self-paced online module that all new Gators must finish before attending their scheduled sessions. This module is an opportunity to explore the available majors, understand your desired degree better, and provide your advisor with critical information about your academic history, goals, and interests. Everything you input is collected into your Prep Sheet, a reference document that allows your Preview Advisor to provide personalized guidance at your Preview Session. You'll also get a copy of this Prep Sheet to keep, so don't leave anything out while completing Preview Prep!

Your first interaction with a Preview Advisor will be on Day 1 of Preview. After fueling up on a complimentary breakfast alongside your fellow incoming Gators, you'll receive an official welcome in our Grand Ballroom. Soon after, student Preview Staffers wearing bright orange polo shirts will march into the room, chanting with infectious, exciting energy. Trust us, they're a vibe. Join your assigned Staffer, who will lead your Small Group to meet your Preview Advisor and receive your invaluable Preview Workbook and Prep Sheet. This Preview tag team will teach your group about course selection, identifying degree requirements, and applying incoming credit. Later in the afternoon, your Small Group will meet again. You'll learn how to create a semester schedule and narrow your course choices to develop an Advisor-informed academic plan for a successful first term. You'll be working one-on-one with your Preview Advisor to prepare for registration on Day 2, ensuring you can access all necessary login information, remove any account holds preventing registration, and feel ready to register for your first semester as a Gator!

As Day 2 of Preview begins, make sure you bring along your Preview Workbook! Today, you'll participate in your first official advising appointment. Your assigned color rotation group will be guided to Farrior Hall when your scheduled time arrives. Don't worry about your family, friends, or other Preview guests – they'll have plenty of activities while you focus on registering for classes. This is your "me time."

Once there, Staffers will help you check in and enter the presentation room on the second floor, where you'll engage with Staffers and peers in interactive activities and academic discussions. Your advisor will sign you out and escort you to their advising room on the third floor to complete registration. This is one of the most exciting parts of Preview. This appointment is where you register for your courses and declare the major you wish to start with in your first term.

During your appointment, you may hear the term "seat" used. What is a seat?

"A seat is, most simply, an allocated slot for Preview students to register for a course," says Richardson. "Our team carefully distributes seats across all Preview sessions to ensure a fair and balanced course registration process. While no session guarantees that students will receive all their preferred courses and times, your Preview Advisor will work with you to explore alternatives and ensure that your schedule supports your academic success in your first semester. All students have an equitable opportunity to build a schedule that aligns with their academic goals, regardless of which Preview session they attend."

Okay, so you've registered for classes, left your advising appointment, and – oh no! Your major of choice suddenly sounds like the worst route possible. Maybe you had an epiphany after the whirlwind Preview experience settled in; maybe you've spent some intentional time reflecting, interviewing, and researching options; or maybe you realized you'd rather declare Exploratory right now while you're still investigating all the majors. Whatever the reason, no worries at all! Data shows that it's common for students to change their major after a shift in interests or discovering that one of the other majors at UF is more aligned with their goals and values. After Preview, students are encouraged to meet with an advisor from their new major of interest to make the switch. Contact your Preview Advisor for assistance in making this connection.

That's the end of your advising during Preview, put together by a dedicated team of Preview Advisors and the UF Student Success and Academic Advising Center Preview Planning teams. 

"This high-quality experience is made possible through the collective efforts of the entire UF community—most notably the Center for New Student & Family Programs, Preview Staffers, Enrollment Management, additional advising and campus partners, and many others—who work collaboratively to deliver a seamless and impactful orientation," says Richardson. "While we strive to optimize course registration and major exploration during Preview, we recognize that academic paths may evolve. That is why continued support is available after Preview, allowing students to revisit and refine their plans with expert guidance as they grow and learn at UF. Our goal is to empower every Gator to start strong and stay on track throughout their academic career."

Want to learn more about the academic side of Preview? View Student Success's Freshman Preview: Guide to Academics page. 

Written by Braden Blue and Sierra McVeigh.