Find the Best Online Universities

October 10th, 2005

When you’re a freshman, you probably feel like you’ve visited every office on campus, twice. From running around to the registrar to picking classes, to re-scheduling classes because you couldn’t get in, to taking common curriculum classes, your campus may feel like a maze at the end of the first few weeks. But as you get more into your major and feel comfortable with certain departments, the library and your work-study job, you may realize that you’ve even forgotten where some campus offices are located. Getting into a routine happens with everybody, but there are some campus departments you should return to — or pledge to visit for the first time — before you graduate.

• Health services: If you’re normally pretty healthy or are from a city close enough to school that you can visit your regular doctor if you get sick, you might never visit health services. But the usually-free clinic is a great place to learn about everyday health habits, STDs and sexual health, eating well, and the certain health risks college students face. The nurses and doctor are already familiar with the common problems that ail people your age, and can probably give you an answer and some suggestions to any question you have within a few minutes. Health services is also a good place to turn to if you want a flu vaccination.
• Study abroad office: Some students know in high school that they want to study abroad, while others haven’t ever really considered it. No matter what your major is, studying abroad can enrich your college experience tremendously, at the academic level and in terms of personal development. Drop in one day when you have a little extra time to pick up some brochures or talk with a counselor about what options could fit in with your schedule and long-term goals.
• Alumni relations: Unless you want your alumni connection to the school to consist of annual calls for donations, visit the alumni relations office when you’re a senior to ask about programs or networks that you can join to stay involved. You don’t have to sell your soul to fundraising, but keeping in contact with alumni groups makes professional networking easier, especially if you’re moving to a new city.
• The departmental office of a subject you’ve always been curious about: College is practically the one time in your life when you have a free pass to campus offices and an unquestionable excuse to drop in to random departments, just because you’re curious. If you’ve always known that you wanted to be an architect, but have a secret interest in religious studies, visit the religion department office. You can schedule a meeting with a professor to learn more about the classes they offer, and also pick up magazines, journals or literature they have in the waiting area. Even if you don’t drop your primary field of study, taking a class or two could satisfy your curiosity or lead to a new academic pursuit.

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