"What students often look for most is someone to talk to about their longer range plans," Hanson said.

Some first-years said that information sessions about House advising as early as this spring would help to allay their fears.

"It would be nice to have it now. Now is when we're beginning to think about our future, when we have to choose our concentrations," said Xunhua Wong '01.

Others are content to wait until they move in next fall to learn about upper-class advising.

"I haven't thought about advising at all," Julia M. Rosenbloom '01 said. "I think I'll figure it out or someone will tell me."

Some first-year students also feel that as they learn more about the College, they will come to rely on official advisors less and less.

"I don't expect to rely on my advisor too much," Robert A. Pike '01 said. "There are plenty of people around that can give you good advice. I won't be devastated if I have a bad advisor."

But for nervous first-years, both Neugebourn and Hanson said students can feel free to call their Houses to learn more about their prospective advisors.