In this episode of Drop-Ins, hosts Molly Clock and Ryan Howlett sit down with Steve Schaffling, Assistant Dean for Student Success in Syracuse University's College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School, to answer a question many students never quite figure out: who is my advisor, and why does that relationship matter?

Steve pulls back the curtain on what a dean actually does, shares his own undergraduate experience as a commuter student juggling a long drive and a part-time job, and explains why Arts and Sciences and Maxwell students are paired with one advisor for both academic and career guidance. He makes the case that a strong advising relationship is not transactional — it is a genuine partnership that helps students connect their coursework, their experiences, and their goals into a coherent path forward.

The conversation also covers when and how students should first reach out to their advisor, what to do if you have not engaged with your advisor in a while, and how the office's integrated academic and career model — including its Alumni Connections Program — gives students a head start on answering the question, what am I going to do with this degree?

Whether you have never met your advisor or are simply not sure what they can help with, this episode makes the case for treating that relationship as one of the most valuable resources on campus.

In this minisode of Drop-Ins, hosts Molly Clock and Ryan Howlett tackle one of the most common sources of student confusion: DegreeWorks. If you've ever opened your degree audit, seen a wall of red circles, and immediately closed the tab, this episode is for you.

Molly and Ryan break down what DegreeWorks actually is, why it can feel intimidating at first, and how to read it like your advisor does. They cover common issues students run into — like a class not counting where they expected — and walk through practical tools like the "What-If" feature, which lets students test out a new major, minor, or course before committing. They also address a common point of confusion around AP and transfer credit, and explain why DegreeWorks can sometimes look different from one semester to the next.

Beyond the technical how-to, Molly and Ryan connect the everyday habit of checking your degree audit to bigger-picture skills — adaptability, planning, and self-advocacy — that carry well beyond graduation.

Whether you're a first-year student trying to make sense of your audit for the first time, or a returning student who still finds it a little mysterious, this episode offers a clear, encouraging walkthrough of one of the most-used tools in your academic toolkit.

In this inaugural episode of Drop-Ins, hosts Molly Clock and Ryan Howlett sit down with two of Syracuse University's leading first-year experience experts to unpack the question every incoming student asks: What should I know before my first semester?

Shannon Hitchcock Schantz and Elena Williams share their own winding paths through college — including changed majors, imposter syndrome, and the classes that unexpectedly shaped their careers — before diving into practical advice for new Orange students. The conversation covers what a "good" transition to college really looks like, the biggest misconceptions students have about the first-year experience, and why waiting too long to ask for help is one of the most common missteps. They also break down the purpose behind First Year Seminar (FYS 101), the role of peer leaders, and how to get the most out of your assigned academic advisor — including which questions to ask when you're not sure where to start.

Parents get a nod too, with insight into how they can use the show to spark conversations with their students at home.

Whether you're a first-year student, a transfer student, or a parent trying to understand the college landscape, this episode offers a candid, encouraging look at what it really takes to find your place at SU.