CSI Conversation Starters – Advising/Outreach Questions

Developmental Based Advising

You may choose one or more of the questions below to open the dialogue with the students regarding their CSI results on each scale of the College Student Inventory. Feel free to ask your own questions.

Academic Motivation Scales Study Habits

1.How did you study when you were in high school?
2.Do you prefer to study with someone or alone?
3.Describe how you would normally prepare for a test?
4.What do you think of getting tutoring in challenging classes? 

Reading Interests

1.Do you like to read?
2.What’s the latest book you have read?
3.Do you ever find yourself lost in the world of ideas?
4.What kinds of information do you find most intriguing on the Internet?

Verbal Confidence/Math and Science Confidence

1.What were your best or worst subjects in high school?
2.Was it easy to maintain your grades in high school?
3.Are there any areas you anticipate that will be challenging to you in college?
4.Do you feel more confident in math and science areas, or in verbal or written areas of study?

 Commitment to College

1.When did you decide that you wanted to go to college?
2.Do you find yourself balancing competing priorities?
3.Did you ever consider doing something other than going to college?
4.What do you hope to do when you finish college? 

Interactions with Previous Teachers

1.Who was your favorite teacher in high school? Why?
2.Did your teachers challenge you intellectually?
3.Did you get to know the administrators in your high school very well?
4.Would you say that, in general, the teachers and administrators were supportive of the students?

General Coping Scales Social Engagement

1. What are the social activities you enjoyed most in high school?
2. What is your preferred way to socialize, one on one, small group, large group?
3. What did you enjoy most about orientation?
4. Are there clubs or organizations you want to become a part of this year?

 Family/Guardian Support

1. How would you describe your transition from high school to college?
2. Are you the first in your family to go to college? Or, have you had parents, sisters, or brothers who have gone to college before you?
3. Did they want you to go to a college close to home?
4. What are the greatest challenges you think your parents will face with you in college – distance from home, different schedule, missing you, other?

Capacity for Tolerance

1. Do you have the same political and/or religious views as your parents/guardians/other family members?
2. Does this ever cause a problem for you?
3. Do you have definite thoughts about global warming (or other issues)?
4. Were there issues you encountered in your high school classes that challenged your own points of view?

Career Plans

1. Have you thought about your academic major at this point?
2. How did you choose this major?
3. What do you hope to be able to do with this major when you graduate?
4. Are there professions that you would like to learn more about?

Financial Security

1. Are you finding college to be more or less expensive than you thought?
2. Were there any expenses you had not anticipated in planning for your college education?
3. Have you and your parents been working with our financial aid office?
4. Are you working or do you plan to work while you’re in college?

Receptivity Scales Request for academic help

1. Have you ever encountered assignments that you found difficult or even “impossible” to complete?
2. Where did you go for help with these assignments in high school?
3. Did your high school offer tutoring services to students who had difficulty with their coursework? Did you use those services?
4. Would you seek tutoring if you encountered difficulty in your classes here or would you seek help from a classmate first?

Request for personal counseling

1. When you encountered problems with your friends and classmates in high school, where did you go for help in resolving the problems?
2. Did your high school offer personal counseling services? And what did these services consist of?
3. Did your friends and classmates use these services?
4. Are you aware of the services we have available here should you or your friends ever need the services?

Request for social engagement

1. Have you met a lot of people since you arrived?
2. Do you plan to stay in close contact with your friends from home?
3. Would you like to learn about ways to meet more students here?
4. Would you like someone to contact you about getting involved in more social activities here at the college?

Request for career guidance

1. Did your high school counselor meet with you to talk about your career choices?
2. Have you ever taken any aptitude tests to find out what careers you’re best suited for?
3. Are you aware of the career services we have here?
4. Would you like to have someone from that office contact you this semester?

Request for financial guidance

1. What are the greatest money concerns students have while they’re in college?
2. Do you anticipate any financial challenges this year?
3. Where have you gone for help in the past when you had questions about your finances?
4. Would you like to talk with someone here about your college finances?

Final Questions

1. Does this profile describe you accurately?
2. Does it “look” like you?
3. Are the recommendations helpful?
4. Are there changes you would make in this profile?

Strength-Based Advising Focus

Instructions: These questions are designed for advisors who want to use a strengths-based approach to guide the student interview. Questions 1-3 focus on the strengths the student brings to the interview, based on his/her responses to the CSI items. Question 4 focuses on how to get students to capitalize on their strengths as they engage in their college experience. Generally it is not necessary to ask all questions. Also, feel free to add your own questions.

Academic Motivation Study Habits

1. How did you study when you were in high school?
2. How did you develop an approach to studying that worked for you?
3. Can you share some examples of how this approach has helped you keep up with your studies?
4. How will you adapt this approach to help you study effectively in college?

Attitude toward Reading

1. What type of reading do you enjoy most?
2. What is your earliest memory of a captivating book?
3. Has the Internet increased your interest in seeking out new information? If so, how?
4. How will your interest in reading and “inquiring mind” benefit you in college?

Verbal and Writing Confidence

1. What is your favorite way of writing (poetry, essays, journalism) and do you use different styles for different purposes?
2. What type of feedback have you received from your teachers regarding your writing?
3. Who influenced you most in developing your writing skills?
4. How will you use these skills to your advantage in college?

Math and Science Confidence

1. What were your favorite math and science classes in high school?
2. How did you develop an interest in these subjects?
3. Which of these areas (science and/or math) will you continue to pursue?
4. How important is it for you to engage in co-curricular activities that support your interest in these areas?

Commitment to College

1. When did you start thinking about going to college?
2. What made you decide that going to college was “right” for you?
3. What program(s) or area(s) of study are of greatest interest to you?
4. What are your thoughts on what you would like to do after college? What are your plans?

Interactions with Previous Teachers

1. How would you describe your favorite teachers in high school?
2. How did your teachers influence students’ attitudes toward school?
3. How did administrators at your school show their support for students?
4. Have these positive experiences made it easier for you to interact with faculty and administrators here?

General Coping Scales Social Engagement

1. What were your favorite social activities in high school?
2. How many of your friends from high school are here in college?
3. What did you enjoy most about orientation?
4. What social activities or organizations are you looking forward to this year?

Family Support

1. How would you describe your family’s involvement in your education?
2. Do you have family members/guardians who attended this college (or another college)? If yes, what helpful advice did they offer?
3. How has your family/guardian’s support made the transition to college easier?
4. In what ways do you anticipate that your family/guardian will be involved in your education now that you’re in college?

Capacity for Tolerance

1. When you were growing up, did you and your family/guardian ever find yourselves on opposite sides of important issues (like politics or religion)?
2. How did your family/guardian encourage you to develop your own opinions and thoughts about controversial issues?
3. How did you handle issues in your classes that challenged your points of view?
4. Are you looking forward to college classes that will lead you to more closely scrutinize your current views?

Career Plans

1. What academic major or area of interest are you considering?
2. What intrigues you most about this major/area?
3. What kind of career advice have you received thus far (from family, friends, teachers, etc.)?
4. How will you make your decision on major or career?

Financial Security

1. When you decided to go to college, how important was it to feel financially prepared?
2. Who provided the help you needed to decide how to pay for college?
3. What kind of jobs would you consider if you decide to work while you’re in college?
4. Where will you go for help with your questions about personal finances while you’re here?

Receptivity Scales Academic Help

1. How did you approach assignments that seemed “impossible” to complete in high school?
2. How did you go about finding the help you needed at the time?
3. What type of help was most beneficial to you in tackling tough assignments?
4. If you encounter a seemingly “impossible” assignment here, have you determined how to get the help you need?

Personal Counseling

1. How were you able to deal successfully with friend and/or family problems in high school?
2. What types of personal counseling services were available to students in your high school?
3. To what extent did students use these services?
4. How familiar are you with the counseling services available here should you or your friends ever need the services?

Social Engagement

1. What are some of the opportunities you have had to interact with other students here?
2. How do you stay connected with your friends from home?
3. What types of social activities would you enjoy being a part of while you’re here?
4. Are you open to receiving information about opportunities to participate in various social activities in the college community?

Career Guidance

1. Did you have an opportunity to explore your career interests with a high school counselor?
2. Did your counselor(s) use aptitude tests to identify careers you’re best suited for?
3. What additional information would you consider helpful as you explore your career options?
4. Would you like to be contacted by our career services office this term?

Financial Guidance

1. What are your greatest money concerns while you’re in college?
2. What kind of information on managing your money was presented to you in high school (special courses, speakers, videos, brochures, etc.)?
3. Where have you gone for help in the past when you had questions about your finances?
4. Would you be open to discussing your financial concerns with a financial aid counselor if the need arises while you’re here?

Final Questions

1. Does this profile describe you accurately?
2. Were you surprised by any of the strengths revealed in this report?
3. How can you use these strengths to your advantage?
4. Are there changes you would make in this profile?

If you have questions regarding the list of questions or need additional guidance regarding the CSI, please contact Advisement and Transition at 607-753-4726 or [email protected].

By Lana Low, Ph.D.
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