Student Success and Support Resources

Dennis Learning Center
Counseling and Consultation Services
Office of Diversity, Outreach and Inclusion
Student Advocacy

 

Military and Veteran Services
Office of Institutional Equity
Student Life Disability Services
Student Wellness Center

Success in college can be affected by many personal and life situations. We want to empower you and support you while you are here.  Whether you are in need of academic or personal support, there is someone who can help!  

A support network can consist of a variety of interactions with a range of different people who can support you in multiple ways. You might be connecting with your roommate, your residence hall staff, your peers in your courses, your instructors, your advisor...anyone! 

Making sure to spend time with friends and/or classmates can help you to more effectively learn college material, and so can collaborating with faculty and staff. Research has shown that college students learn as much, if not more, from peers as they do from instructors and textbooks and that student-faculty interaction positively influences academic achievements 

In addition to the connections you're creating and developing with your peers, faculty and advisor, it's also important to keep in touch with your family and loved ones wherever they are. Students who move away from home to attend college sometimes feel the need to break away from their families and old friends completely. Although relationships will change and grow as you journey through your academic career, the friends and family that supported you before you went to college can continue to play an important part of your support network. They can provide comfort, encouragement, and helpful reminders to seek help, to believe in yourself and your contributions to the campus community, to believe in your ability to learn and continue to grow here. So stay connected by calling home, video calling, or writing emails or letters. Let your family and friends know about your coursework and community involvement, as well as any other important life relationships and events. They may be able to give you the outside perspective you need when you’re having a difficult or frustrating day. And don't forget to ask about and listen to what’s happening at home as well. You're here doing and learning and exploring and trying new things, and at the same time, they're where they are having similar experiences too. Part of their change will be that you're here. They're navigating a transition of their own, too!

All of this relationship building takes time, and figuring out how to include it in your schedule and achieve balance as you juggle your school and social commitments can be a process. We are here for you!

Math and Stats Learning Center Tutoring Services
General Chemistry Learning Resource Center
Physics Tutoring
The Writing Center

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

  • Introduce yourself to others: When you're sitting in your classroom, or attending campus activities, or participating in programs in your community, find a few people to say hello to and exchange names with. We know not everyone is an extrovert or feels perfectly comfortable being forthcoming like this, but taking the risk of speaking to someone can get you in touch with new people to connect with, learn with, adventure with, and more.
  • Find a community: Some students take comfort in a faith-based community. Others enjoy athletic communities. Others seek out an art community or a music community or a community that's rooted in plants or animals. There are so many opportunities to find community at OSU! Check out these student organizations, and the events calendar. Finding the right community can help you find connection and feel at home.
  • Get to know your professors: Check in during office hours, even if it's just to say hello and introduce yourself again. Building a rapport with your instructors can lead to relationships, support and opportunities that can help you grow throughout your college experience.
  • Contact your advisor: If you don't know what to do or where to look, chances are your advisor knows the answer (or can find someone who does).  Whether it's navigating your curriculum, or needing to understand resources and opportunities on campus, our academic advisors are here to help!
  • Join a Supplemental Instruction (SI) group: Students who regularly attend SI Sessions earn better grades, develop a greater understanding of the course material, and learn more effective ways to study. Additionally, they develop relationships with peers and develop a network of support. SI session attendance is not mandatory, and students may begin attending at any point in the semester. Do note - the greatest benefit derives from regular attendance and active participation. Pro tip: check out common academic support resources that Engineering students use by clicking the red buttons at the bottom of the screen. 
  • Proactively get academic coaching or tutoring: The Dennis Learning Center offers free one-on-one appointments for Ohio State students. Trained in learning and motivation strategies, Academic Coaches help undergraduate, graduate, and professional students examine academic strengths and weaknesses and develop strategies that lead to success.
  • Call home or connect with someone in your support system: Keep in touch with your family, friends, and loved ones. Everyone is going to change, and it's important to share what you're experiencing, reconnect with who you may be missing, and hear what others who you're close with are experiencing, too.