Your academic advisor will depend on your status. If you have a declared major, your advisor(s) are with your college/school and/or major. In addition to your college, school, and major advisors, you may have advisors from special programs you are a member of (e.g. Honors, ROTC, SSSP, etc.).
If you are undeclared (General Arts & Sciences) or a pre-major (e.g. pre-business, pre-education, pre-psychololgy, etc.), we at MAC are your primary advisors and can assicst you with your academic questions and concerns, or refer you to the appropriate offices. Students are assigned to their MAC advisors by the first letter of their last name:
| Last names starting with: | MAC Advisor |
| A-H | Michiko Bigus |
| I-N | Megumi Makino |
| O-Z | Comfort Sumida |
If you are unsure of who your advisor is, come in to speak with us or to obtain a referral.
How do I see an advisor or peer advisor?
The MAC is appointment-based, and appointments are scheduled on a first-come first-served basis. You can schedule an appointment to meet with your advisor or a peer advisor by coming in to QLC 101. If you are off-island and unable to come in, you can email us at macadv@hawaii.edu. Keep in mind, during busy times (i.e. around the start of the semester, registration, or important deadines), we are unable to respond to emails in a timely manner. As there are a limited number of appointment openings, it is best to come in to schedule in person, for the best appointment availability.
When you schedule an appointment via e-mail, please make sure to include the following information:
Each appointment is 30-minutes long, starting every half hour between 8:30AM and 4:00PM from Monday to Friday (except for holidays). Actual appointment slots vary from week to week depending on the availablility of advisors.
The MAC is operating on a walk in basis in the month of August (August 1st to 31st). During this period, no appointments will be scheduled.
All incoming students will need to check the MyUH Registration timetable (www.hawaii.edu/myuh/manoa) to find out when their assigned day and time is to register. Registration times are assigned based on the number of credits you have earned at the time of registration. You can register from your assigned day and time up until the registration deadline, at which time a late registration fee will be assessed if you have not registered for any courses. All registration will be done via the myuh website: www.hawaii.edu/myuh/manoa.
How many credits should I take?
Students need at least 12 credits to achieve full-time status. We recommend that students start off with 12-15 credits in their first semester in order to allow for the adjustment to college and to avoid being overwhelmed and do well. Of course, students are often the best judge of their own capabilities, and may want to consider taking more credits if their schedule and other commitments allow.
I am a freshman. What classes should I take?
There is not pre-determined set of classes all freshmen must take in their first semester. While general education courses do exist, certain majors, colleges / schools specify what courses you should take for a given area. As a result, it is beneficial for you to have some idea in terms of what major(s) you are considering as well as your long-range plans (i.e. medical school), so that you can take courses in a way that will help you to graduate efficiently. Click here to learn more about academic considerations to set up your first semester schedule.
What are major or department restrictions on courses?
Enrollment in classes may be restricted by the department, or to the students with declared majors in the subject, to allow for screening of students. Please contact the departments directly if you are interested in taking a course with a restriction. Contact information for departments can be found on their individual websites (manoa.hawaii.edu/academics/departments.html), or in the back of the printed SOC.
Do I need to take a placement exam or exams?
This answer depends on a number of factors, including potential major(s), type of degree (bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of education, etc.) as well as long range plans (after college).
English Language Institute tests are given to students whose first language is not English. Students may gain clearance. If they do not, they will need to take the ELI placement exam and possibly courses to clear the ELI requirement (www.hawaii.edu/eli).
How do I get health clearance?
Contact the Student Health Services for all questions having to do with health clearance (www.hawaii.edu/shs).
How do I request more materials about UHM?
Visit the Admissions and Records website at manoa.hawaii.edu/admissions/undergrad.
How do I check on the status of my application?
Contact the Office of Admissions and Records at ar-info@hawaii.edu.
How do I sign up for a campus tour?
Campus tours and Admissions Information Sessions are offered weekdays, except holidays, and seating is limited. The schedule and sign-up information can be found at manoa.hawaii.edu/admissions/undergrad/visit/#tour.
How do I find my way around campus?
Check the interactive campus map at manoa.hawaii.edu/campusmap.
Learning communities are only offered during the Fall semester. A learning community is a group of freshman that take a set group of courses together. Learning communities have many benefits, including reserving students space in courses that could potentially fulfill requirements, providing academic support and simplifying registration. Spaces are limited and sign-ups are done on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, when available, see manoa.hawaii.edu/freshman.
What is New Student Orientation? What are the benefits of attending NSO?
New Student Orientation is an excellent way to gain a better understanding of the campus and the way it works. There are numerous benefits. Spaces are limited and sign-ups are done on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, see www.hawaii.edu/nso.
How many credits do I need to be a freshman? Sophomore? Junior? Senior?
Class standing is determined by the number of semester credit hours earned. Per the catalog,
| Freshmen: | Less than 25 semester credit hours |
| Sophomore: | Earned 25-54 semester credit hours |
| Junior: | Earned 55-88 semester credit hours |
| Senior: | Earned 89 or more semester credit hours |
What should I do if I decide I don’t want to stay in a class?
Determine whether you are in the drop period (no "W" grade), the withdrawal period ("W" grade) or past the deadline. Check the registration website to determine what you need to do (www.hawaii.edu/myuh/manoa). If you are unsure, or have questions, speak with your academic advisor ASAP to discuss your options and to ensure you are following the proper procedure and meeting necessary deadlines.
On average, how long does it take to graduate?
Nationally, students average 5 or more years to graduate. There are many reasons why students take time to graduate including work hours, outside commitments, changing majors, and not seeing advisors. Meet with your academic advsiors on a regular basis to stay focused and to ensure you are on-track to completing your requirements.
When should I declare my major?
This answer varies depending on the major and college / school. Strictly speaking, it is important that students interested in majors including a lot of sequencing (i.e. engineering, architecture, and those in the math, science and foreign languages) declare their major as soon as possible to prevent delays. If students are trying to decide between two or more majors, it may be possible to take courses that are required by both majors until they decide. See an advisor for further information. Beginning Fall 2008, incoming freshmen are required to declare a major by the time they reach junior standing, or 55 credits. A pre-major (e.g. pre-business, pre-psychology, pre-education, etc.) is not considered to be a declared major.
What types of co-curricular activities are available on campus?
There are numerous activities on campus, including
Do I need a computer? What type of computer should I get?
While it is always handy to have a computer on campus, there are a number of computer labs which you can utilize with a valid student ID (www.hawaii.edu/itslabs/hours.htm). You will need to supply your own paper or you can utilize a debit card from the libraries to print. The UH Information and Technology Services website provides information on recommended computer specifications (www.hawaii.edu/infotech/hardware.html).
On campus parking is limited. There are few dorm parking stalls. Parking passes are assigned during continuing student registration and priority is given to upperclassmen. Street parking is available, but is limited and subject to time restrictions (www.hawaii.edu/parking).
Yes, there are numerous on-campus jobs available to students. Search the SECE Job Database on the Career Development and Student Employment website (cdse.hawaii.edu) for job postings and on-line referrals.
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Updated: 12/18/08