Campus Allies: 10 Places To Go When You Need Advice

By Neelam H. Vyas on Monday, September 10, 2012

There are tons of overlooked resources across college campuses — resources that can save time, reduce stress and prevent mental meltdowns. Whether it’s overcoming writer’s block or preparing for an interview, chances are you don’t have to tackle the challenge on your own. Here are 10 destinations on campus that you'll want to locate ASAP.

1. PEER TUTORING
Programs where students tutor other students can be found at colleges and universities across Arkansas. Hearing a concept being explained by someone closer in age to you can often be helpful (if not beneficial to your GPA). And did we mention peer tutoring is almost always free? (When you are an upperclassman, you can always pay it forward by becoming a tutor yourself.)

SIMILAR RESOURCE: Solutions manuals. You can usually check these out from your library. Just don’t get too dependent on them!

2. OFFICE HOURS
On the first day of class, professors will provide you with their office hours — times they're available for you to drop by. Since class isn’t always the best place to talk to your professor one-on-one, office hours give you time to chat and a chance to ask that question you had earlier. You can inquire about grades or even discuss an upcoming assignment. Don’t be shy about talking to your professors; most love to know you’re actually engaged in their class.

3. STUDENT ACTIVITIES
There are plenty of extracurricular activities on Arkansas campuses, and your school’s student activities office can hook you up with the organizations and clubs that fit you. Extracurriculars teach you a lot about yourself and provide some unconventional lessons that you won’t hear in a lecture. (And they look great on your résumé too!)

4. LIBRARIANS
When your professor assigns you a 20-page paper about the impact of this or that, don’t freak out. Just make an appointment with a campus librarian. They have extensive knowledge of the resources available in the school library, making them your go-to helpers as you research.

SIMILAR RESOURCES: Online "ask a librarian” services and online academic databases.

5. WRITING CENTERS
There’s always that point when you’ve worked on a paper so long that you can’t look at it anymore. That’s when writing centers come in handy; they'll be that fresh set of eyes to look over your paper to catch those misspelled words and point out parts that aren’t clear. Their services will likely bring up your grade and help you become a better writer. And that’s a skill you’ll need in any career path.

6. CAREER SERVICES
You may hear words like “resume” and “cover letter,” but do you really know what they are and how to create them? Your college’s career services office is the perfect place to learn. They're trained to help with things like choosing a major, finding a job or internship, practicing for an interview and learning business etiquette. But don’t wait until your senior year to visit this office.

SIMILAR RESOURCE: Academic adviser

7. YOUR RESIDENT ASSISTANT
Call your RA for backup when your neighbor is practicing the guitar at 2 a.m. or if you’ve caught your roommate stealing. They’ll handle the situation in a diplomatic way and can help ease tensions for both of you.

8. EMERGENCY CALL BOXES
Know where these are on your route to and from late-night study sessions at the campus library. If you're ever in danger, these sound an alarm and send campus security to your rescue.

SIMILAR RESOURCE: Campus PD

9. HEALTH CENTER
You can't avoid getting sick for four years, so locate and use the student health center for quick – often free – medical care. Campuses usually offer free counseling to students, too.

10. 24-HOUR COMPUTER LAB
It’s where you go when your computer crashes at any hour, when you need to print something or when projects require software you don't have on your own computer (or if you don't have your own computer).