Article by Yaerin Wallenberger When you think of “college”, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it a lot of studying? Is it going to clubs and meeting so many awesome people? Is your first thought about college not even about college, but about the cool jobs you’re going to be able to get once you have a college degree? All of these are important parts of what goes on at college, and regardless of what your goals are, colleges have a lot of resources to help you along the way! In this article, we’ll have a quick look at just a few of the resources your college will make available to you during your time as a student (and beyond)! 1. Health centerIt goes without saying that colleges care a lot about all their students staying healthy! Each college will each have some type of health center, where you can go to get some of the most basic health necessities— Bowdoin has a little counter where you can grab little “self-care kits”, which include ear plugs, ibuprofen, aspirin, and cough drops. They’ll also have trained healthcare professionals, and you can make appointments with them to chat about your health. They’re super nice, and anything you say to them stays confidential— that means they won’t tell anyone else about your conversation without your permission. 2. Counseling servicesBesides resources that help promote physical health, colleges will also have resources to help you to maintain good mental health. If you ever need to talk things out with someone, colleges also have counseling centers, where you can schedule a meeting with a licensed counselor. You can go to counseling if you’re having a hard time in school or with your friends, or if you want a safe place to learn and practice new life skills. Like people working at the health center, counselors will keep what you talked about confidential. Counselors at college are some of the nicest, least-judgemental people ever, and they’re always there for you if you need them. 3. athletic facilitiesIf you’re looking for proactive ways to stay healthy, your college will definitely have some athletic facilities. Usually, they’ll have a gym, a field, and a pool, and many colleges have far more than that. (Fun fact: Bowdoin football players have their own special hot tub that they use after their practices!) Getting lots of exercise is helpful for both physical and mental health, so your athletic facilities are a great resource to take advantage of while you’re at college. 4. Recreational facilitiesEvery college will have slightly different recreational facilities, but regardless of where you end up going, you’ll be able to find all sorts of cool places on campus to explore all of your hobbies. Colleges typically have a student center where you can hang out with your friends, art and music studios where you can participate in creative activities. If you want to explore doing outdoor activities, many colleges will also have clubs that can loan you equipment and help you find the best spots to explore. College is a great time to continue developing interests that you already have, and to discover new ones. 5. Academic assistanceNow that we’ve covered the basics of staying healthy and happy at college, there are also tons of resources to help you to do well in class. To start off with, you’ll be assigned an academic advisor— they’re usually a professor who will help you to pick classes and to adjust to the new academic expectations at college. There are also tutoring centers; some colleges will have professional tutors, while other colleges will promote peer-mentoring, where older students will help you. If you’re a more independent learner, your college will also have at least one library where you can go and read up on any subject that you’d like to know more about. 6. career planningColleges also want you to be able to get a good job, so they’ll have a career center to help you figure out what you want to do after you graduate. People who work at the career center at your college can help you to apply for internships and jobs, write all the documents you need for job applications, and more! Each college also has an alumni network, which means that even after you graduate, other people who went to your college can help you in your job search. Your college is a lifelong community that will continue to support you long after you graduate. 7. ConclusionTo summarize, college is far more than just a place where you take your classes— it’s a place where you can unlock your potential in many aspects of your life. Your college’s resources are there for you to use, and you definitely shouldn’t be shy about using them. Here’s to happy, healthy, and exciting college years in your future!
If you have any questions about resources at college or any other general college questions, you can drop a comment down below— you can also write an email to [email protected] or to any one of us!
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