David Ganz '96 says he thinks the first-yearadvising system is "wonderful." However, he saysthe proctors tend to hand-hold the students. "Iterred on the side of babying you too much." hesays.

Nathans says a crucial aspect of the proctorrelationship is that the student can trust theproctor's authority. "The student must not thinkthat the proctor needs to triple checkeverything."

"I get the feeling [my proctor] doesn't reallyknow what she's talking about," says Lisa B. Eisen'97, who adds that she would not feel comfortablegoing to her proctor about a personal problem."It's not for lack of caring; it's just lack ofexperience.

Eli D. Chan '97 says he has difficulty locatinghis proctor due to her busy and erratic scheduleas a graduating medical student. "She has a lot ofodd hours," he says, "and for a while she wastouring all these hospitals around the country."

While students may not choose to build a closerelationship with advisers, most students say theproctor system offers a simple, accessiblestructure and provides a continuous relationshipduring this transitional year.

Help in the Houses

Though there are many specialized advisers inthe houses, student contact with tutors may beerratic in a system which often requires them tomake the first contact. The problem, says some,stems from the lack of requirements to call andmeet with advisees.

Many students and tutors say the house advisingsystem expects students to take the initiative todetermine on their own who would provide the bestsources of advice, a task students and tutors saycan be daunting at first.

"I think Harvard expects students to have itall together more than people actually do," saysDeborah B. Edgar '95.

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III saysstudents can be startled by the unfamiliar setupof the house tutor system after the userfriendlystructure of the proctor system.

"Students experience dissonance because theyexpect to find a hallway with the proctor dooropen," he says. "There is not the same amount ofinformal availability."

Kirkland House Senior Tutor Garth O. McCavanasays the transition for the students from thefirst-year proctor system to the house advisingsystems can be jarring. "It's a shock. They are soused to having someone daily holding their hands,"he says.

He says he tells students the first week thatthe house system is more reflective of thetraditional "Harvard way of doing things,informing them of the resources and then lettingthem go and dig for the answers themselves."

Still, all houses provide masters, a seniortutor and both resident and non-resident tutors.There are four general types of housetutors--entry-way tutors, concentration advisers,non-concentration advisers and preprofessionaladvisers.

The system through which students and tutorsinteract, however, varies from house to house.Many houses offer sophomore nonconcentrationadvising which consists of a few meetingsdiscussing students' social and academic situationand concerns. The matchups are either random orbased on some shared academic interest.