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Posted by Sarah Roche on June 14, 2011
When I made the decision to return to school, I was excited about reaching academic goals that I had always wanted to achieve. I hadn’t even considered some of the hidden benefits of becoming a full-time student. The following are some perks that come with returning to school as a Non-Traditional Student.
Fitness Facilities:
Once I realized that the Campus Recreational Services not only offers FitSpace, a gym in the University Union, but Group Exercise classes, a swimming pool, and a number of other fitness facilities , I was surprised. When I found out about the personal training sessions available for a bargain price, I was really excited to take advantage of the opportunity. Throw in the hiking trails in the Nature Preserve and you have a number of ways to stay healthy and increase your fitness without joining an outside gym. Instead of renewing your gym membership save a few dollars by taking advantage of the facilities available on campus.
I had been nervous about whether or not I would still be able to handle a full-time college course load. During my first semester as a returning student, these fears were realized when an Economics course was causing me a large amount of stress. Unfortunately, I procrastinated and missed the semester deadline to be matched with a tutor. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Stop into the College-In-The-Woods library to fill out a tutor request card. They match you with a tutor within about 24 hours. This service, by the way, is completely free and allows for one-on-one tutoring.
As an addendum, I was alerted after sending the first draft of this article for review that there are two Discovery Centers, one in Hinman Library as well as College-in-the-Woods. The Discovery Centers are open from 5-8 pm Sunday through Thursday and have a mission to “help students successfully transition into and throughout their undergraduate experience while maximizing their academic potential.” Tutoring is offered as a service through the Discovery Centers, so make sure you use this benefit. Of course, if you miss the deadline, like I did, you can head over to Advising & Mentoring in the CEO office for assistance.
Have you found the Continuing Education and Outreach Office yet? It is tucked in the alley between the library and the Computer Science building. In this office, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) offers advising specifically for non-traditional students, whether you are matriculated or not. The CEO office is the place to head to for assistance with your needs as a non-traditional student.
Health Services:
In order to return to school as a full-time student, I had to give up my full-time employment status. That meant giving up my health insurance. Yikes. I was able to take advantage of the Student Health Insurance offered by Binghamton University and have had to visit Health Services on a couple of occasions. Each time the staff was helpful and knowledgeable and made for an easy visit. One of the other services available through Binghamton University is counseling. Non-Traditional students face a drastic life change when returning to school. Change rarely comes without conflict, so if you are feeling the need to talk to someone, don’t hesitate to make an appointment at the University Counseling Center.
Are you a non-traditional student who has used some of these campus services? What other campus services would you suggest non-traditional students use? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
