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So, you've gotten to college. Before you can pass go and collect $200, you've got to find out where your classes are, how to join the debate team, where to get your mail, and how on earth you're going to meet a group of friends to become your regular lunch crowd.

Luckily, there are an abundance of  

College student resources

  on campuses that provide you with anything and everything you'll need to know about your new home. From the student center to freshmen orientation weekend, colleges are saturated with university student resources for you to use at your disposal.

The best way to get oriented with the campus is to go to freshman orientation weekend. While it may be something you'd rather skip, you'll feel much better after you get an initial feel for the campus and where everything is. It will also prevent you from looking like that confused college freshman who walks in late to their first college class because they couldn't find the building.

Stress alleviation aside, freshman orientation is where lots of initial friendships are made. It's also where you'll get your roommate assignment, your mailbox number, your meal card, all important campus phone numbers, and your dorm room assignment. Making an initial connection with your assigned roommate before the first day of college will prove worthwhile, as it will allow you to get some logistics out of the way!

Besides the obvious things, campuses often have tons of additional resources that you may not know about until you ask. Many campuses have a gym, intramural programs, study abroad and student exchange programs, free lectures, seminars and film screenings, and a very helpful help center! Make sure you utilize all of these resources to get the most out of your college experience. Besides, part of your tuition is paying for these services.

If you're just beginning your College Search, you can also benefit from these college student resources. One overnight visit to the campus can tell you a whole lot about it, and could serve as the deciding factor for whether or not you choose to attend the school. Stay in a dorm, eat in the cafeteria, visit student organizations you're interested in, attend a class or go to a campus social and you'll find out quickly exactly how the school fairs in your mind.

You can also visit the career center and ask about graduation rates and job placement, visit the campus coffee shop and strike up conversations with current students and ask them how they like the school, or talk to professors during their office hours or after visiting a class. It may seem like a lot of research to do, but utilizing these college student resources is vital to making the right college choice.



Jackie A. Bondanza is a former writer for The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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