Support Systems Help with College Life

Support Systems Help with College Life
Page content

You Aren’t Alone

College can be a challenging time, and the faculty and administrators are well aware of that. That’s why campuses provide a variety of services and support systems to aid college students in coping with everything from academic problems to health issues. Support systems help with college issues like academics, finances, social life, and more. This article lists resources students and parents should familiarize themselves with that are likely to be located on any college or university campus. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but covers the main support systems available to help students cope with college life.

Tutoring Centers

If you’re wondering where to get homework help on campus, most colleges offer tutoring to assist with writing papers and with learning the subject material of certain classes. Some tutoring programs are run by individual departments, and some are centralized locations where you can go to get help with a variety of subjects. Fellow undergraduates, graduate students, and occasionally professors, who know the material inside and out, are available to share what they know.

Just how do college tutors help? They can go over material from class in a different way that may make more sense than it did from your professor or textbook, give you advice on what and how to study, and provide encouragement and insight gained from their own experience. Writing tutors are often there to work with you one-on-one on your papers and essays from any class, giving you tips on content, grammar, and organization as well as helping you research and brainstorm.

Counseling Services

Counseling centers offer confidential help on a wide range of problems college students might have to deal with. Trained staff members are there to talk to you and provide support, encouragement, and advice on how to overcome the obstacles you’re facing. They can also make you aware of resources on campus or in the community you might not have known about. So whether you are facing a major life decision, struggling with depression or alcohol problems, or feeling down after a traumatic breakup, this is a great place to find professional help.

Career Centers

College is meant to train you for the real world and prepare you to start a career, and many of the resources you’ll need to accomplish those goals are located in the campus career center. These centers often offer information on various fields, counseling on what career is right for you, and resume-writing assistance. Often they will offer mock interviews so you can learn what it will feel like to interview for a job and get advice on how to best present yourself.

Disability Centers

Do you have a physical or learning disability, or do you suspect you might have one? The staff at disability centers is there to help you out. They can provide information, guide you towards scholarships for those with disabilities, and work with professors to provide the assistance you need (a note-taker, taking tests in an alternate location, etc).

Health Centers

It’s hard to do well in class when you are struggling with health problems. Health centers have trained physicians to give you check-ups when you’re feeling sick or general physical examinations. They have resources to guide you to other health services in your community, and many have specialized services for special health concerns (such as women’s health). Often health centers will sell over-the-counter and prescription medication at reduced rates, and offer flu shots and other vaccinations.

Financial Advisors/Financial Aid Programs

If you’re worried about being able to afford college, there are always programs to help pick up the slack. Financial advisors can help you assess your circumstances and figure out what level of assistance you need, and point you towards resources and scholarships you can consider.

Tech Centers

Many college students bring computers to campus, and rely on them for studying and homework. A computer problem can be disastrous by making it hard to access all the hard work you’ve done. Tech centers often have in-person and phone services, with trained peers who can talk you through your technology issues and suggest a solution.

Academic Advisors

Most if not all college students have to meet with an academic adviser before signing up for classes the first time, but some forget those advisors don’t vanish after first semester. They are there to help you decide which classes to take and in what order, or discuss other issues like applying for majors/minors and getting overrides.

Resident Assistants and Teaching Assistants

Sometimes it’s easier and less intimidating to seek help from a trained peer than from an older faculty member. Resident assistants live in the same dorm as you do, and are very knowledgeable about the campus and college life in general. Teaching assistants are available to help you with specific classes; they know the professors well and can answer your questions and help you figure out what and how to study.

Professors

Professors want you to succeed, at more than just their classes. If you have a good relationship with a professor, he or she can be a safe, non-intimidating person to seek help and information from on anything from academic to personal problems. And they can make you aware of other support systems that help with college issues that you might not be aware of.

Librarians and the Library

The Internet is a great resource, but it can be hard to find what you need among the billions of websites out there. If you’re trying to figure out how to get homework help, don’t forget that the library provides the kinds of academic resources your professors love you to use, and librarians who are experts on how to find the information you need. Also, libraries often house other resources like visual media, tax information and other forms, and computer labs (with printers).

Be Prepared

Remember, when you’re facing an illness or a lot of stress or a really big exam, you aren’t going to have a lot of time to go looking for these services. Familiarize yourself with what’s offered on your campus as early as possible, so you’ll be prepared for anything that comes your way. Whether you’re wondering where to get homework help or how you can possibly afford to pay tuition, your school has built-in support systems that help with college challenges like the ones you’re facing.