Undergraduate Advising

Undergraduate advising means not only guiding your advisees through the Physics major, but also ensuring that they meet their institute requirements. Below are resources and information to help you.

Spring 2023 Important Dates

  • Registration Week: Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 3
  • First day of classes: Monday, February 6
  • Registration deadline without late fees: Friday, February 10
  • Last day to go on May Degree List: Friday, February 10
  • Holiday: Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 20
  • Add Date: Friday, March 10
  • Spring Break: Monday, March 27 – Friday, March 31
  • Holiday: Patriots’ Day, Monday, April 17
  • Drop Date: Tuesday, April 25
  • Pre-registration for fall opens:  Monday, May 1
  • Last day of classes: Tuesday, May 16
  • Final exams: Friday, May 19 – Wednesday, May 24
  • Commencement activities:  Thursday, June 1 – Friday, June 2

For all important MIT dates: https://registrar.mit.edu/calendar

Many of our students are double majors, with one major designated as primary and another as secondary.  We’ve indicated which of your advisees have Physics as their secondary major. It will be important to check in with them, but they may not require as much guidance as will those students who have Physics as their primary major.

For Seniors (2023)

  • Choice of program: Next to their name, we’ve indicated if your advisee has not yet created a flex plan nor declared the focus track; we need to have them make that selection immediately if they plan to graduate in May.  
  • For Flex Students: All existing flex plans are in advisees’ digital folders; please make sure your advisee is on track to graduate, based on their flex plan. If changes need to be made on the plan, they should plan to meet with Dr. Sean Robinson, our Flex Plan Coordinator, as soon as possible.  Please note that while a thesis is not required for the Flex major, some Flex students have opted to write a senior thesis proposal, and must therefore be registered for 8.THU in the spring term.
  • For Focus students: Please use the linked blank focus sheet to be sure your advisee is on track to graduate. We also recommend that you check in about the progress of their senior thesis. Please make sure that each Focus senior registered for thesis (8.THU). A thesis requires a total of 12 to 30 units, which can be taken over one to two semesters.
  • Degree List: Seniors graduating in May must apply to be placed on the degree list by Friday, February 10.  Students file degree applications on WebSIS
  • Physical Education Requirement: A graduating senior who has not completed the PE Requirement should have already filed a completion plan through the Physical Education Office’s online form. Then, he or she must enter the PE lottery via WebSIS.  If a student has not completed the PE requirement or filed a completion plan, or is lotteried out of a selected class, he or she should consult with the Physical Education Office for assistance as soon as possible.
  • P/D/F Option for Juniors/Seniors: Third or fourth-year undergraduates who wish to take an elective subject using the junior-senior P/D/F option should use the grading options menu to select it.  This option cannot be used to fulfill a Departmental or Minor requirement or a GIR, and no more than two subjects may be taken under this option during the junior and senior years.
  • Beyond undergraduate: Please consider talking with your advisees about their post-graduation plans, and recommend to them that they visit the Career Advising & Professional Development Office if they need extra guidance.

For Juniors (2024)

  • Your advisees should have determined whether they plan to be a Focus or Flex track major, and discussed the choice with you.
  • Flex Students: Your advisees should aim to create their formal Flex plan by the end of this spring term, if they have not done so already. All existing Flex plans are in advisees’ digital folders.
  • For Focus students: You may use the blank focus sheet to make sure your advisee is on track.
  • Please check in your advisees’ digital folders for any important notices indicating that they are behind pace, missing requirements, etc. If there is a letter in their folder, you should make a plan with your advisee to address the specific concerns.
  • We recommend that you encourage your advisees to apply for UROPs, especially if they are considering graduate school. Any other advice you can provide them about their selected path will be helpful.

For Sophomores (2025)

  • Sophomores should be thinking about whether they plan to follow the Flex or Focus track.  This doesn’t have to be determined in the sophomore year, but by junior year, students should be ready to create a plan for completing the requirements of one of the two tracks.  Any existing flex plans for sophomores are in their digital folders.
  • Please check in your advisees’ digital folders for any important notices indicating that they are behind pace, missing requirements, etc. If there is a letter in their folder, you should make a plan with your advisee to address the specific concerns.
  • We recommend that you encourage your advisees to apply for UROPs, especially if they are considering graduate school. Any other advice you can provide them about their selected path will be helpful.