The Office of the First Year (OFY) oversees 190 associate advisors who work alongside faculty advisors to help incoming students navigate their first year at MIT. Associate advisors are upper-level students who provide high-quality advising on class selection, time management skills, and Institute resources. In addition, Associate advisors host academic activities in the OFY as well as co-facilitate events with DSL’s Resident Peer Mentors (RPM) in the residence halls. This fall, associate advisors have already hosted Prep for the Career Fair, Trick of Treat for Advice Week, and Wellness Bingo.

Associate advisors are strongly committed to enhancing the first-year experience. Along with faculty advisors, they encourage students to challenge themselves and pursue intellectual exploration. They are ask their advisees, “What departments do you want to explore and how do you plan to do so?” This spring, associate advisors will host multiple programs that will expose first-year students to all the majors and provide them an opportunity for self-discovery.

—Leslie Bottari, OFY