With another semester of online school, there are a variety of free resources that are available for students. Taking advantage of these services can be beneficial to your grades, wallet and, most importantly, your semester as a whole.
- Library Database:
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With books costing hundreds of dollars, be sure to check if yours are available through American University or through our DC Consortium. The library’s website will tell you if it is available online, in paperback at the library itself or in another DC library. You will be able to request a chapter or more emailed to you or the entire book through the Interlibrary Loan. If you are struggling with finding resources for your research paper, use the “Ask a Librarian” service on the bottom left corner of the website.
- Career Center:
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You may be receiving emails from the Career Center, but if they go straight to spam, all of their services go to waste. American University partnered with Handshake, a job and internship application site, to provide students with a range of opportunities.
The Career Center will help you with finding the right opportunities, practicing interviews and perfecting your resume and cover letter. When making an appointment, it will be through Handshake and you will click the Career Center link on the top right corner. You are able to choose what the appointment is for and which Career Center expert is to have your session with. All for free and all on your time!
Appointment Options: Career Exploration, Deciding on a Major/Minor, Internship Search, Interview Prep, Mock Interviews, Job Search, Resume/Cover Letter, and Salary Negotiation/ Benefits.
- Language Exchange Program:
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For SIS students who are learning another language and/or going abroad, this program sets you up with another student whose goal is also to “improve foreign language skills.” The application, open until Feb. 12, will allow the program to match you with a partner who has native fluency in the language you want to learn. You will meet on a weekly basis with your partner and, in the end, you can choose whether or not to continue together. The best part is that when you become an AU alumnus, you are allowed to continue with the program.
- Writing Center:
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Last but not least, the Writing Center. They have many appointments each day, so if you are stuck the day before the due date, try to see if there is any availability. You first have to create an account and log in with your American University ID, then choose your date and time. You will see your tutor’s qualifications before you confirm the appointment. They will read everything you sent them and make comments. More importantly, they work with you and help notice writing errors you may not have noticed before. The best part, with my tutor’s help, the grade I received was a grade point higher than its rough draft. Now this will be a resource I use for the entirety of the semester.
Using services such as these takes the stress off of everyday school life. Students have access to librarians waiting to help find all types of sources almost 24/7, career experts to aid in your future, native speakers able to practice a range of languages with, and lastly, upperclassmen or graduate students able to look over your assignments. This combination will only increase your individual grades and then your GPA as a whole.
Be sure to look into these resources!