IU faculty member wins Outstanding Academic Advisor Award

After eight years of advising at IU, a faculty member has been honored for her commitment to her students.

Rachel Tolen recently won the 2014 Terri Nation Outstanding Academic Advisor Award.

“I feel the most satisfaction when students tell me of the success they’ve achieved,” Tolen said. “Students have to work so unbelievably hard to be admitted to medical school, so when a student writes to me to tell me he or she was admitted and says that my advice was helpful, it really makes my day.”

Tolen works in the Health Professions and Prelaw Center, a program of the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education.

She provides advising and other services for students who want to pursue careers in law, medicine and other health professions.

Currently, she’s busy helping students prepare to apply to medical school this summer.

Tolen said she develops an individualized strategy to help each student apply to medical school.

She recently recorded podcast episodes to coach students through different phases of writing essays for their applications.

“I wanted to create those so students would be able to access them from wherever they are at whatever time, to help them get through some of the more difficult steps in
applying,” Tolen said.

Tolen said her favorite part of advising is helping students write their personal statements or prepare for their interviews at medical schools.

“I enjoy being involved in helping students define their future career goals in medicine because, by doing so, I can help influence the kind of physicians they will be,” she said. “We are all patients, so helping students who will develop into better, more caring physicians one day is a way of helping patients and everyone in our society in the end.”

Many IU faculty members within the Provost’s Office said they are proud of Tolen and her achievements.

“We are delighted that Rachel’s exceptional work with students has been recognized with this award,” said Elizabeth Guertin, assistant vice provost for undergraduate education and executive director of advising.

“Rachel’s commitment to learning about each individual student’s interests and strengths and helping the student to tailor their education to provide them with the best preparation to achieve their future professional goals exemplifies the best in advising.
For so many students, Rachel’s advice and recommendations have contributed to an extraordinary educational experience at IU-Bloomington.”

When students apply for medical school, they must reflect on their personal goals and what they want to achieve through medicine, Tolen said.

“It’s truly a privilege to be able to support someone at such an important time in their life,” Tolen said.

Tolen said the times she finds most difficult to be an advisor is when she can’t change something for a student, but wishes she could.

“A student might get a low score on the MCAT, for instance,” she said. “I can advise the student on how to prepare, but I can’t change the score.”

Still, Tolen said she tries to help the student overcome whatever obstacle is in his or her way.

“It makes me want to work harder when I know that doing so might make a difference for a student who will become a caring physician one day,” she said.

After winning the award, Tolen said she felt honored, but her colleagues deserve equal recognition.

She said it was important to thank her fellow advisors at the Health Professions and Prelaw Center and the advising community on campus for what they have taught her.

“None of us could do our jobs in isolation, and ultimately having a supportive community of advisors on our campus helps enhance the success of students,” Tolen said.