Tailored Support
Beginning college is like moving to a new town. There are things you need to know and times when you need help. Washington College has you covered. We provide a full array of services to help you succeed at Washington and beyond, and that includes some special supports tailored to first-year students. While many schools have academic advisors and academic tools to help enhance your coursework, Washington creates a network of support that includes our entire community—faculty, staff, and especially returning students.
Peers
Sometimes it’s easiest to talk to someone who has already gone through what you are experiencing, which is why you have a Peer Mentor who checks in with you one-on-one and in larger groups to see how things are going throughout your first year. Peer Mentors are trained student leaders who collaborate with your First Year Seminar (FYS) faculty advisor, help facilitate Explore! Orientation programs, and more. Your Peer Mentor guides you toward campus and community resources to help you succeed during your time at Washington. Resident Assistants (RAs), trained students who oversee dorm floors, help build community within residence halls through planned activities and upholding campus policies.
Academic Services
Peer support doesn’t end with your Peer Mentor or RA—and it isn’t over your first year. Become more confident in your abilities or get extra help with something you don’t fully understand through peer tutors and course mentors. Students trained with the Office of Academic Skills (OAS), Writing Center, and Quantitative Skills Center support their classmates throughout their four years at Washington and are a great resource for you to find someone who will help give you (and your coursework) a boost.
Accommodations
Staff in OAS can also help you to further develop learning strategies and academic
skills and to get settled with appropriate accommodations so you can put your best
foot forward as you walk into every classroom. Learn discipline-specific study tools,
time management skills, test-taking tips, and more.
For assistance outside the classroom, Student Health Services provides an array of counseling options for students who find themselves in need
of help for their mental well-being.
Advisors
Throughout your time at the College, you’ll have the support of an academic advisor, a faculty member who gets to know you, your interests, and your career goals and other aspirations through regular check-ins. Advisors help you choose courses that align with your goals and ensure you’re meeting the requirements to graduate on time. For your first year, your advisor is generally also your FYS professor, allowing you to get to know one another inside the classroom and making it easier to stay in contact. A summer advisor will help you select your courses for your first semester, ensuring you come to campus having two familiar faces among the faculty. Once you choose your FYS course with your summer advisor, you will meet your Peer Mentor. Once you declare a major, you may change advisors one more time to a faculty expert within your chosen department who will guide you the rest of the way to graduation.
Career Preparation
While your time at College is exciting, we want to ensure you’re also prepared for what comes next. The Center for Career Development is another invaluable support that begins your first semester. Center staff are your partners in getting ready for the launch of your professional career. They work with you on all aspects of preparation for your unique career path, including self-assessment, career exploration, mock interviews, résumé building, and job search or graduate school planning. With these helpful resources and the support of the career development team and faculty mentors, you can take on your future with confidence.