Three Freebies Every College Freshman Should Know About

Three Freebies Every College Freshman Should Know About
After having been a freshman on the campus of three different colleges (Ouachita Baptist University-
Arkansas, Baylor University-Texas, and Henderson State University-Arkansas), I know what its like to
be new on campus, new to college life, and just in a new place feeling like there is so much to know
about what is around. You, however, do not have to feel clueless, at least, when it comes to three "free"
services found on many college campuses.
First, let me clarify, these "freebies" really are not free, not that you have to pay for them when you use
them. You already paid for them! In that mountain of student fees you pay, are hidden special
privileges. Three of these are of particular necessity for a college student seeking to benefit the most
out of college life. Unfortunately, for myself, I did not learn about these three things until much later.
Knowing these three "freebies" upfront will make your freshman and college years even better.
Take a Look at Freebies
Freebie number one is Student Health Services. Although the services available at Student Health
Services may vary some from campus to campus, the following are a few examples of what they offer.
You may receive health screenings for minor illnesses, help with minor injuries, mental health
counseling, vaccinations, certain lab work/tests, over the counter medicines, and various other services
found through the campus Student Health Service center.
Imagine, getting sick in a new place and in need of a doctor but have no idea where one is located or
who a good one might be. Perhaps you injure yourself doing intramural sports or working out and want
to have it checked out. You may even develop anxiety or depression brought about by relationships,
class stress, or family issues. Address these issues and more with a visit to your campus Student Health
Services, and best of all, it will not cost you any "more" money to do so.
The second Freebie is academic coaching. You may be familiar with one part of academic coaching
which are tutors. It is possible to find one or more classes a struggle, but, fortunately, there is free help
available. I heard my teacher mention tutors, but not until later did I learn about all that truly is
available.
Take a Look at Free Samples
Nearly every department has either tutors or study grounds. You can find out which are available and
when by speaking to your academic counselor or teacher. Along with tutors, there are labs for both
computers and writing. The writing labs are very useful in that they will review your papers for any
type of errors, and will help you understand how to write in specific formats or styles. For someone
who struggled with grammar, the writing lab saved me from turning in a Senior Thesis of "D" quality
and helped me produce one of "A" quality simply by pointing out the errors it contained.
The third Freebie is the Center for Career Development. This particular freebie is one that you can use
well past your college career. Within the Center for Career Development, you will find tools for helping
get a job, writing a resume, finding the right job to pursue, and even allow you to borrow business attire
for interviews.

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If you are an undeclared major, the Center for Career Development can show you what jobs and careers
are currently available and help you see what jobs may be more profitable down the road. After you
finish college, they can assist you with graduate school information. Many campus centers are also tied
to the Small Business Association, and can provide you with information regarding starting a new
business or pursuing an existing one.

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