advisee

An advisee is a person who receives advice or guidance from a professional or mentor. In academic contexts, an advisee is typically a student who is assigned an adviser to help plan coursework, understand degree requirements, and make decisions about majors or careers.

Universities and colleges usually designate faculty or staff as advisers within academic departments or student-services units. The adviser may assist with declaring or changing majors, planning a degree audit, selecting courses, interpreting degree requirements, and navigating policies such as probation or appeals. Advising relationships can be formal, with scheduled meetings and written notes, or more informal.

Outside of higher education, the term can describe a client or mentee who receives guidance from a professional, such as a lawyer, counselor, or coach. However, in many professional fields, terms like client, patient, or mentee are more common than advisee.

In practice, an effective advising relationship depends on reciprocal responsibilities: the adviser provides information, resources, and goal-setting support; the advisee engages in the process, prepares questions, follows through on recommendations, and communicates questions or concerns. Respect for confidentiality and ethical guidelines is typically expected.