Q&A with Academic Advisor, Meg McCartney
Ormond College
Meg McCartney is an Academic Advisor at Ormond – supporting students to navigate university life.
Sunday 12 July 2026 • 4 minute read
What’s a typical week like for you as an Academic Advisor? There are some students who I meet with regularly across the semester – helping them navigate the highs and lows of study and build confidence over time. But I also get plenty of emails from students I haven’t met yet, asking to discuss subject selection and study skills. Many students I’ve worked with over time come back to my office and share how their lives are going … college lore, friendships, new challenges. The chairs in our office are so comfortable – they seem to invite longer, quality conversations. What kind of guidance do you typically provide for first-year students? First-year students often prioritise social life over study and self-care in the first semester. The second semester is about finding a rhythm and learning to say 'no’ sometimes. I encourage students to reflect on what they’re truly enjoying, to carve a more intentional path through subjects ahead. Learning how to learn is hardly taught in high school, so I share these strategies with students. (The Academic Skills department at the University also does an incredible job with this.) What are some of the other reasons students come to Academic Advisors at Ormond, and how can you help? Oh, they come for all kinds of reasons: exchange, course changes, burnout, administrative fires, or broader life challenges that are starting to affect their studies. Often, what looks like an ‘academic issue’ has deeper layers underneath – mental health, friendships, family, finances, identity. I allow students to unravel what is going on and connect them with psychologists or career guidance where needed. When students get caught in complex University processes, we academic advisors can also help them navigate the system and advocate as needed. What’s your own academic background? I studied psychology with a pinch of neuroscience, found my way into honours, and realised I wanted to move into practice rather than research. I had spent long enough staring at a computer screen; I even had a nightmare that I was trapped inside an Excel spreadsheet. This year, I began a Master of Clinical Psychology and now feel like I’m right where I need to be. At Ormond, as well as being an Academic Advisor (quietly apprenticing the iconic James Brown), I’m also the Leading Tutor in Psychology. What’s your favourite part of the job? I love it when students share their secret hopes for their lives. A commerce student who quietly wants to be a ceramicist, or a design student who loves aeroplane aesthetics. I am always sensing what students are meant to pursue and develop in themselves. Seeing them grow into that path is more rewarding that I can say.