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All the signs are there -- the coughing, sneezing, and sore throat -- and mom is nowhere in sight. That's right -- you're a college student in the middle of flu season. Now what do you do?

Christina Henderson, a sophomore at Fordham University (Bronx, NY), was one of many students who had to figure it out for herself. "I had a case of strep throat last year and it was really uncomfortable. It was the first time I'd gotten sick away from home. Some people are skeptical about the health center because it's not a doctor's office. But they were really professional and they treated me like an adult. There was only a 10-minute wait, and I got the medicine I needed."

Campus health centers
Of course, until you're sick, you may not even realize what's available at your campus health center. "I've never had to use the college health center," says Matthew Dunphy, a senior at Tulane University (New Orleans, LA). "I know they offer flu shots and meningitis shots every year, but besides that I try to steer clear."

Other students, like Jana Raus, a junior at the University of South Florida (Tampa, FL), however, frequently make use of their campus health centers. "A lot of people don't have cars, so the on-campus health center is really convenient," she explains. "They also have a dermatology clinic, gynecological exams, free HIV testing, and other basic care services. I probably go around three or four times a year."

The services that college health centers provide vary from campus to campus. While some colleges offer specialized services, others may offer only general care. At the Boston, MA-based Boston college's Health Center, for example, routine medical examinations, a pharmacy, diet and nutrition clinic, and immunizations are all available. Boston College students can also receive testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and female students may attend clinics for gynecological services.

Smith College (Northampton, MA) offers a more comprehensive package, including nutrition education, prescription medication, an allergy clinic, and counseling.

Sexual Health
Another area you should research is what your campus offers in terms of sexual health care. Although you can get tested for STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) at almost every university across the nation, your right to contraceptives is not always guaranteed. Fordham University, a Jesuit institution, has pamphlets about STDs and sexual health in the waiting room in its health center. What you will not find, however, is any information about contraceptives.

"It is against school policy to advocate any form of contraception besides abstinence, in accordance with the Catholic teaching and tradition," says Kathleen Letizia, the school's director of student health services. "We don't advocate condoms or the pill. The university does, however, supply students with gynecological exams and STD testing."

Health Insurance
Regardless of what your university offers, it's up to you to find out how much you'll be responsible for financially. After seeing your bill, your first instinct may be to reach for your charge card. Jana explains, "Our health center is open all year round, the receptionists are nice, and it offers great services. The only thing I don't like is that it's so expensive."

One way to cut costs, experts advise, is to enroll in the university's health plan. All institutions of higher learning require some form of medical insurance. Whether or not you're covered by a private insurance company, you are still eligible for coverage by the university. All Smith College students enrolled in a degree program and taking at least four credits are eligible. Students not covered by the university's insurance plan are not charged for an office visit but must pay for all other costs.

At Columbia University (New York, NY), meanwhile, students are covered for up to $2,000 of emergency care under both their basic and comprehensive insurance plans.

Drinking Can Be Hazardous to Your Health
Besides paying for health care, your behavior can cost you in the health department as well. According to a study commissioned by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, drinking by college students ages 18-24 contributes to approximately 1,400 deaths, 500,000 injuries, and 70,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape each year.

In a report released last year by the Justice Department's National Institute of Justice and Bureau of Statistics, about three percent of college women say they have been victims of rape or attempted rape during a typical school year. These are very real situations, and knowing what to do may save your life, or the lives of those you know.

Emergency Numbers
Speaking of life-saving smarts, you should research the emergency care your prospective college offers. These emergency situation services also vary from college to college, from providing emergency numbers to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) care, and transportation. At Hamilton University (Clinton, NY), for instance, emergency telephones are located throughout campus. They are marked with a blue light so they may be seen at night. The phones connect directly to the department of campus safety, and immediately identify the location of the caller so they can send assistance.

The University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) offers a 24-hour physician telephone consultation for emergencies. Columbia University provides an even more comprehensive emergency program. Their EMS service, CAVA, is a student-run emergency care service available 24/7. While transporting students to the nearest facility, they administer free pre-hospital emergency care.

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