College of General Studies

I am an incoming student who will start at BU in January 2025, who’s my academic advisor?

You will be assigned a professional academic advisor from CGS during summer 2025. You will register for spring 2026 classes in late fall 2025.

Who supports first-year students?

In addition to all of the faculty, advisors in the schools and colleges, residence life staff, and other students services staff across campus, BU has a team of Assistant Directors of First-Year Student Success (AD) whose sole purpose is to support first-year students as they transition to college. Each first-year student has an assigned AD – you can find their name on your MyBU Student Portal in the “Advisors” section of your main Dashboard. ADs provide guidance on a broad range of topics and help first-year students connect with the BU community – you should feel free to reach out to them with any and all questions!

I am currently enrolled in classes at BU, who’s my academic advisor?

Your academic advisor’s name is available on the MyBU Student Portal in the “Advisors” section of your main Dashboard. Depending on your circumstances, you may have more than one advisor.

Who advises on degree and major requirements?

Students enrolled in the College of General Studies should consult regularly with their CGS academic advisor. CGS academic advisors help students work toward timely completion of CGS and major requirements, and they help students connect with intended major advisors to ensure a seamless transition between CGS and the degree-awarding school.

Who advises on Hub requirements?

CGS academic advisors advise students on Hub requirements.

How do I get in touch with CGS Student Services?

You can reach the office by phone at 617-353-2850, Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. For quick questions, email your advisor directly, email cgs@bu.edu, or call CGS Student Services at 617-353-2850.

How do I make an appointment with my advisor?

You can expect to receive an email in mid-to-late May with information about how to make an appointment with your academic advisor. You should also always feel free to contact CGS Student Services with questions or concerns.

How do I declare a major?

CGS students will declare their major during the spring of their sophomore year. If a student has a strong interest in a particular major, they should reach out to their CGS academic advisor to discuss their intentions in more detail. CGS academic advisors will help students plan their courses so that they are prepared to continue into a degree-granting school following the completion of the CGS program. 

If I have a question about a specific topic, where do I go?

Often you will have more than one possible source of information about a specific topic. And sometimes, if the topic is complex, you will be encouraged to consult with multiple people. The chart below gives you a starting place for common advising topics.