Getting Support as a Student: What are Your Options?
University can be a daunting prospect. New people. New place. New expectations. New vibes. The fear of the unknown can either bog you down or unleash your potential. Things can get trickier if you have no parents or siblings who have never experienced the uni life.
You are expected to suddenly make all your own decisions, juggle different units, make new friends, study in a less restrictive and controlled setting, and maybe even do part-time work to manage your climbing expenses. All of this at once. It can obviously get overwhelming for most. But the good news is that you are not alone. Universities and colleges across America have a wide array of support systems that ease this transition and make student life more manageable.
Academic Support
Life at college or university will generally revolve around lectures, assignments, group study sessions, and late-night study sprints. After all, you’re going there with the primary motive of getting a degree and being job-ready. Almost all academic institutions have some sort of support system on campus that is designed for students who might feel overwhelmed or stressed out by the new study environment.
These could be in the form of academic skill centers, writing workshops, peer mentoring, library info desks, or even drop-in sessions. If you’re wondering what is a school counselor equivalent is in a college or university setting, it’s campus counselors who usually are a jack of all trades and can sort out any of your queries.
It is important to note that these support systems are not merely designed for students who are ‘failing’. It is natural to feel lost, get confused about a particular topic, or even inquire about referencing. Beyond solving doubts, these support systems can also be used to get effective and personalized tips on studying better.
Mental Health and Well-Being
University and stress can often go hand in hand. As stated earlier, the deluge of tasks mixed with peer pressure and sudden independence can make a heady concoction. Talking to your friends and family back home should be your first port of call. However, that may not always be an option. In such cases, you can always reach out to the help available on campus.
The majority of universities offer free counseling on campus. Licensed therapists or counselors can often get to the root of your anxieties and clear the stress clouding your mind. Indulging in group or individual sessions can be a great start. You don’t always need to have a full-blown crisis to seek out support. A study finds that at the very least, 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem in 2021. If you are dealing with a long-term issue like ADHD, trauma, or depression, do not hesitate to reach out for support and apply for special considerations.
Social Network
A very major element of college life is the people you meet along the way. Social events and connections often go on to form a core memory of this phase of life. Making friends at university is often not as easy as it looks in the movies. Not everyone is a social butterfly after all. That’s where the university clubs and societies come into the picture. There can be options for virtually everything under the sun. Sporting clubs for the jocks, film nights for the movie buffs, gaming clubs for the pros, book clubs for the bibliophiles, cultural groups for the like-minded and party nights for the wild times.
Joining something new might feel daunting and uncomfortable. But in the long haul, it can be a rewarding experience. Plus, it can be easier to talk to strangers when there is a common interest known to all. If clubs and societies are too daunting, you can start with low-pressure things like student-led events, volunteering programs, or even approach mentors, where older students guide the newbies on campus.
Financial and Practical Support
Money can be tight in student life. A surprise night out can leave you scrambling for cash. With mounting rent, grocery, and other living expenses, financial stress can get real for students. Universities also have initiatives to make life a little easier for students. For starters, stocking up on more quantities of reference books, embracing ebooks, and facilitating textbook exchange programs have saved thousands of dollars for students.
Many campuses also have food pantries and community kitchens. Part-time job boards and career support have become a mainstay on almost all American campuses. Additionally, a select few students can earn while they learn by assisting the professors. It would be a bad call to shy away from accessing these resources out of embarrassment or shame. Financial instability is a feature, not a bug, in this period.
University can be a life-altering phase of life. The things you learn, the friends you make, and the memories you create stay with you for the rest of your life. You don’t have to go through it all alone. Universities have plenty of avenues to seek support from. If you are drowning in assignments or confused about a unit, approach a campus counselor. Instead of stressing about the complexities of university life, vent out to a therapist. Use clubs and societies to meet new people and make friends. University can be tough sometimes, but you are not alone.
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