We asked veteran O-Week PAAs who have also served as O-Week Advisors about their experience in these two important, but very different O-week roles. They reflected on both the perks and challenges of the two positions to help future PAAs find their best fit.
O-Week PAAs
Perks of the job
- Balancing the perfect mix of fun and responsibility.
- Getting to introduce students to academics at Rice
- Feeling like you are truly contributing to student confidence in academic plans and in their schedule
- Eating great food at OAA/O-Week PAA meetings
- Getting to know the OAA much better and learning how to take advantage of academic advising resources at Rice University
- Getting to work with and learn from other co-O-Week PAAs
- Getting to know Divisional Advisors/esteemed faculty
- Working with all advisors within the college, masters, DAs, OAA, and coordinators
- Getting to hone your PAA skills
- Having students know your name after O-Week
- Becoming an expert on academic requirements for different departments
- Being able to make an impact without being an extrovert
Core differences
- Liberty to move amongst O-Week groups
- Getting the opportunity to get to know and help many more students than as an advisor
- Participating in as many or as few of the O-Week Activities as you like
- Working behind the scenes to ensure that students have all the resources they need to register for classes
- Busier than advisors during advisor training, but more relaxing during O-Week
- Getting enough sleep during O-Week
O-Week Advisor
Perks of the job
- Getting to know your specific group of students very well over the course of the week
- Getting to know and work with your co-advisors and coordinators
- More relaxing during training than during O-Week
- Orienting students to social life within the college and university
- Being a college spirit leader (college cheers, balloon fight, etc.)
Core differences
- Having a greater arts and crafts role
- Getting limited sleep during O-week (morning meetings, late night food runs, etc.)
- Having total responsibility for your 8 students (waking them up in the morning, getting them where they need to be, etc.)
- Having to go to all meetings during O-Week
- Participating in all O-Week events with your new students
Advice from Ginny Johnson, (2010 O-week PAA, 2011 O-week Advisor, 2012 O-week Coordinator): “I would encourage all potential O-Week PAAs/advisors to seriously take time to consider their strengths & weaknesses. Additionally, ask them why they want to be apart of O-Week and what role they see themselves fitting. Being an O-Week PAA was one of the best experiences that I have had at Rice. However, it is time consuming and challenging at times. It requires that you be organized, perceptive, friendly, and approachable! Both are great roles to have during O-Week!”
Hope this helps! We look forward to meeting our 2012 O-week PAAs and Alternates in the upcoming weeks.