Academic Advising
The Science Advising Center
The Science Advising Center is located in the East Wing of Ritenour Building.
Science and Pre-Health Advising Center
East Wing, 225 Ritenour Bldg
University Park, PA 16802
Tel: 814-863-3889
Science Major and Premedicine Major Advising Appointments
Alumni:
Please call our office at 814-863-3889 to schedule an appointment with an advisor. Same-day appointments will not be made. Plan to schedule appointments at least two weeks in advance.
Prospective Students:
Please contact Megan Holmes, Future Students Coordinator, at mholmes@psu.edu to learn more about the majors offered in the Eberly College of Science.
Students who are currently pursuing the Science B.S. or Premedicine majors can use Starfish to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor. For students in any major interested in Prehealth Advising, please visit the Prehealth Advising website to learn how to schedule an appointment with a prehealth advisor.
Current students, to schedule an appointment with an advisor:
- Log into Starfish (starfish.psu.edu) and click on "Services."
- Click on the search bar for Search services and people. Type "Science - Science and Premedicine Major Advising"
- Alternatively, you can search for a specific advisor by name.
- Click on the Schedule Appointment link in the service description or scroll down to find a specific advisor's calendar under the Service Members listed. The Service Calendar (left-hand side) will show dates with scheduled appointment slots. Bold-face dates are ones with available appointment slots.
- Click the + icon next to your preferred appointment slot.
- Select a reason for the appointment.
- Type a detailed description for the meeting to help the advisor best prepare for the meeting.
- Once you create the appointment, Starfish will send you an email confirming the appointment as well as a reminder email closer to the appointment date. Your new appointment will appear in your Starfish "Dashboard."
To cancel an appointment: Click the "X" in the upper right of the appointment block on your Dashboard. If you cancel, please do so in advance so another student can use the time.
Students who are considering switching to the Science B.S. or Premedicine majors can call 814-863-3889 or email an adviser to request an advising appointment.
Drop-in advising is structured and reserved for brief concerns that will take no longer than 10 minutes to address. If it becomes evident that you have more extensive questions or concerns, you will be asked to schedule an advising appointment.
Examples of drop-in advising topics include:
- Review of current courses scheduled
- Discussion about adding/dropping courses within deadlines
- Discussion about entrance to major requirements
- Questions about where classes fit within degree and university requirements
- A signature on a university form
- Other topics that require brief answers and/or discussion
ADD/DROP WEEK DROP-IN HOURS: August 21-25, 2023
Monday through Friday, 9:00AM - 11:30AM and 1:30 - 4:30PM each day
REGULAR SEMESTER DROP-IN HOURS: August 28 through December 8, 2023
Virtual drop-in advising sessions are held during the specified days and times below. If you would like to meet with an advisor at a different time, you can schedule an advising appointment through Starfish or email an advisor for times if you cannot find any available.
Mondays, 1:30PM - 3:30PM EST
Tuesdays, 10:00AM - 12:00PM EST
Drop-in Advising will be CLOSED Monday September 4, 2023 in observance of Labor Day.
EXTENDED DROP-IN HOURS: (Late-Drop deadline; Withdrawal deadline)
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LATE DROPPING A CLASS: Friday, November 10, 2023, 9:00AM - 11:30AM, 1:30PM - 4:30PM EST
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WITHDRAWING FROM ALL CLASSES: Friday, December 8, 2023, 9:00AM - 11:30AM, 1:30PM - 4:30PM EST
E-mails and Advising
- Include your name, a greeting, and your student ID number
- Please do not use text message lingo
- Remember, problems are more difficult to address and solve by e-mail
- Only e-mail one adviser at a time - contacting multiple advisers with the same issue creates confusion and may delay our response to you
"We are happy to answer quick questions via e-mail. We will not, however, replace an advising meeting with e-mail correspondence."
We’ll do our best to answer your questions as quickly as possible, but due to the volume of e-mail we receive we might not be able to answer them on the same day. Our goal is to respond to e-mails received within three business days, so your patience is much appreciated.
Carolyn Jensen (she/her)
Director, Eberly College of Science Academic Advising Center
cjj7@psu.edu
(814) 863-3889
Melissa Krajcovic (she/her)
Director, Science Premedicine Majors
muk519@psu.edu
(814) 865-7620
Beth Johnson (she/her)
Director, Science Major
Director of Academics, Science BS/MBA Program
bai107@psu.edu
(814) 863-3889
Staff

David Cassiday
Academic Adviser
dac293@psu.edu
(814) 865-7620
Pronouns: he, him, his

Marc Counterman
Academic Adviser
mvc5246@psu.edu
(814) 865-7620
Pronouns: he, him, his

Natasha Dinsmore
Academic Adviser
nvd9@psu.edu
(814) 863-3889
Pronouns: she, her, hers

Sharon Fong
Academic Adviser
sxf912@psu.edu
(814) 863-3889
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Carolyn Jensen
Director, Eberly College of Science Academic Advising Center
cjj7@psu.edu
(814) 863-3889
Pronouns: she, her, hers

Beth Johnson
Director, Science Major
Director of Academics, Science BS/MBA Program
bai107@psu.edu
(814) 863-3889
Pronouns: she, her, hers

Kimberly Johnson
Academic Adviser
kej5244@psu.edu
(814) 865-7620
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Jennifer Keefer
Undergraduate Program Adviser
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
jls227@psu.edu
(814) 867-4907
Pronouns: she, her, hers

Melissa Krajcovic
Director, Premedicine Major
muk519@psu.edu
(814) 865-7620
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Lori Lauck
Administrative Support Assistant
lmj2@psu.edu
(814) 865-7620
Pronouns: she, her, hers

John Moses
Academic Adviser
jrm68@psu.edu
(814) 865-7620
Pronouns: he, him, his

Noelle Waggett
Academic Adviser, Forensic Science
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
nrw107@psu.edu
Pronouns: she, her, hers

Lucais Wallen
Academic Adviser
ltw5099@psu.edu
(814) 863-3889
Pronouns: he, him, his