Despite these advising reforms, students in economics and government often underutilize the resources available to them.

“I’ve probably had the standard experience,” says Leah R. Kaplow ’12, an economics concentrator. “You’re not really forming a serious relationship [with faculty members] unless you really try to.”

Kaplow suggested that assigning specific advisers to students based on their fields of interest could improve the economics advising structure. Government concentrator Giacomo Bagarella ’13 agrees.

“A change I would recommend is someone setting students up with advisers,” Bagarella says. “I think there are a lot of helpful and intelligent grad students in the department...so regardless of how many undergraduate there are, each [student] can find a grad student to fit their interests.”

Students say that, with some effort, there is guidance to be found.

“I don’t think students are making full utilization of the system,” says Edith Y. Chan ’12, an economics concentrator and an inactive Crimson business editor. “I think it takes a lot more initiative.”

Chan says that she taps into the advising system “quite a bit” by taking advantage of economics advisers’ open-door policies when she needs help. And for government concentrators, some say that the residential program fits well into their routines.

Elihu A. Reynolds ’12, a government concentrator, says that he found great support from his House adviser.

“I’ve worked very closely with my adviser here in Adams House,” he says.

A COZIER FIT

In smaller concentrations, students say they find cozier environments that lend themselves to deeper advising relationships.

Advising resources for the history of art and architecture department are centrally located in the Sackler building, like the economics department in Littauer since the end of House advising. But the history of art and architecture department is much smaller, which students say lends the concentration a welcoming, personal feel.

“We have a really great non-residential system,” Jacob J. Cedarbaum ’12 says. “I don’t actively seek out a lot of advising.”

The anthropology department, which houses the social anthropology and archaeology concentrations, maintains a head tutor for each concentration.

“The advising system has done very well,” anthropology Director of Undergraduate Studies Steven C. Caton says.