Advising regular first-year and sophomore students mostly involves answering any questions they may have about their core curriculum and helping them solve their academic difficulties. Special attention should be given to first-year students as the more serious academic problems start to set in during the first year. The advisor should help the students understand that University education requires a different way of life than that of high school education and try to motivate them. In addition, some students may encounter different problems which are related to orienting themselves to the University. Such problems typically arise due to accommodation, environmental changes, and a lack of study and time management skills. It should also be considered that freshman students cope with recovering from the psychological pressure of the university entrance examination. Some students may believe that the hard part is over and may not take school seriously enough. Dealing with these types of problems requires a collective effort. Therefore the Dean of Students also helps such students. In particular, the Office of the Dean of Students organizes student mentorship, seminars on study and time management skills and assists students with adjustment problems. In addition, Koç University Office of Learning and Teaching also offers workshops, seminars and one-to-one consultation sessions to help students who struggle in their courses and fail to meet GPA requirements to continue their studies successfully with topics like academic life; self-regulation, individual planning and self-evaluation etc.

Organizational and interpersonal skills are essential for tomorrow’s leaders, and extracurricular activities that offer first-hand experience in teamwork help shape students into more responsible, motivated, well-rounded individuals. Koç University both encourages and supports participation in student activities and cultural and social organizations. The Dean of Students’ Office offers students opportunities for personal, cultural, social, and professional development that complement the richly complex and challenging academic life of the University. Students also should be encouraged to participate in the extracurricular activities supported by the Dean of Students’ Office such as cultural, sporting, arts festivals, and social events on campus.