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Harvard, Other Ivies, Address Advising

It's an innovation that seems to work well. Because the counselors live with their advisees, first-year students say they find the freshman--counselor relationship easier and often more informative.

"People come to them like older siblings," Strom said.

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But like any advising system, Yale's structure is only as good as its counselors.

"In terms of freshman counselors, it's a pretty competitive process to get to be a counselor. Some are really good, but others are not," said Sarah M. Aviel, a Yale junior.

Freshman counselors are not the only source of advice and support for first-years.

In addition to the counselors, Yale first-year students are assigned a member of the faculty or administration for more involved, non-resident academic advising.

"The big flaw is that advisers freshman year range from unhelpful to utterly useless," Abraham says.

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