Sarah Sylvan

Hey Caffeine Gremlins!

My coffee order for today, which is obviously the most integral part of this blog, was a medium iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts. Dunkin’ is just a quick five-minute walk from my apartment, so when I get up early enough in the morning and it’s not too hot yet, I love to take a stroll. Today, I got my iced coffee with a few shots of caramel, some milk, and just the right amount of sugar. I find that Dunkin’ over-sweetens their drinks, and then the sugar doesn’t dissolve completely, so I end up just chewing on grains of sugar.

The drink was alright; I always order the same thing, but I find that it always tastes different. I’ll give today’s coffee a 6/10. It was refreshing, but mostly underwhelming.

Speaking of things you’ve already paid for but might still be a little underwhelming—let’s talk about college resources. Unlike today’s coffee, some of these are actually worth the hype.

Most colleges offer many “free” resources, and it’s worthwhile for students to take advantage of them. Of course, these services aren’t “free, free,” considering you’re paying for tuition, but you might as well get your money’s worth and utilize them. Resources differ between students on and off campus, but there’s plenty of overlap. As I embark on my new college journey, currently taking classes at my local community college, I’ve reflected on the resources I used during my undergraduate studies and the ones I plan to use now.

1. Tutoring

When I was pursuing my undergraduate degree at George Mason University, I took advantage of several of the university’s tutoring options. For my communications class, there was a special section of the library where students could meet with a tutor to review essays and even have the tutor watch their presentation for class. The English department at GMU had its own writing tutors who were a great help for students of all writing levels. Additionally, there were math tutors who, for students as math-illiterate as I, were a life saver.

2.  Fitness Centers

Students on campus and at home might have the opportunity to utilize their colleges’ fitness centers. For in-person students, your university may have gyms where you can exercise, a pool for swimming (if available), or even offer exercise classes. My university also had basketball courts where I’d go and watch my friends play on their intramural teams. This was a great way for students to stay active and build a sense of community. For online students, some universities offer Zoom classes featuring topics such as yoga and dance that can be taken from anywhere.

3.  Career Advancements

Every semester, my university runs networking events for the undergraduate students. They invite hiring representatives from companies, both local and international, to meet with students in the function hall. Students dress up in blazers and shiny dress shoes, they hand over their resume, and schmooze their way into a job. If you’re solely online and unable to attend networking events, your university may have a career center that can provide resume feedback and conduct practice job interviews.

4. Mental Health Counseling

I’m including mental health services as something universities offer, but I want to preface this point by saying that not all services are created equal. There is a mental health crisis in the United States, and college campuses aren’t immune. As the American Psychological Association explains, campus counseling centers are increasingly overwhelmed by the growing number of students seeking care. The centers might be great for getting connected to support groups and more traditional mental health needs, but they are known for making quick decisions on what to do with a patient suffering from a more complex diagnosis.

If you want to try visiting your campus’s mental health center but are an online student, they may offer teletherapy or subscriptions to therapy apps. Every campus, though, is different, so it’s best to check with their offices.

5. Visiting Authors

This may feel anticlimactic to some, but for me, this was the highlight of my university experience. Every few weeks, GMU would host a new author who might focus on a wide variety of genres and topics. No one presentation was the same; each and every one was intriguing. I’d leave each event with so much to think about, and in my English class the following week, I’d talk my teacher’s ear off about it. Thanks to the benefits of modern technology, many universities now stream author talks, allowing all their students to view them.

When I was an undergrad, I was told that for the next four years my university was my playground. Those words still ring true to me, and I do my best to remember them. Universities are their own little ecosystems, so if you have the time and energy, I encourage you to delve deeper into what your university has to offer.