As many college students know, virtually nothing in life is free. Sometimes we even question whether or not the air we breathe is free. Many colleges offer a variety of "free" services (your tuition covers the costs) that they encourage students to use because after college these services really aren't free. These offered services may differ school to school, but here is a general list of a few services and things that the college (and I) encourage you to use.

Counseling Services

This service is perhaps one of the most important ones that many should utilize but don't. The students that do seek help for whatever reason don't go to see the counselor until the end of the semester is getting close. Just like counselors in "real life", almost everything you tell the counselor is confidential. Even if you feel like your problem is small, set up a time to speak to the counselor now before he or she gets too busy to fit in a quality session with you later in the semester. Talking to someone helps a lot more than you think.

Tutors

Another service that doesn't get taken advantage of right away is tutoring. The tutors I'm talking about are student tutors who are paid via work study. These students have taken the class you're having difficulty in and will work with you. A tutor that isn't through the school would cost you a significant amount of money, and many college kids don't have extra money to spare. Talk to a professor to get you connected to a student tutor before your grade is past the point of no return.

Career Services

Career services help students apply their coursework to their field of study. The ways to do that range vastly, from helping build your resume to fit your degree work, to helping you apply for jobs. Job and graduate fairs held at your school are more than likely arranged by the folks who are in career services. If you don't utilize career services for anything else, at least go to the job/graduate fair that they set up. Many students are able to find jobs and graduate schools through these fairs.

Study Areas and the Library

Study in more than just your room. Your room shouldn't be the place where all of your studying takes place. There are areas on campus that are designated as places where you can have a relaxing place to quietly study. The campus library is probably one of the best places to study because the social norm is to be quiet in the library. While there, use the computers labs as well. The prints may not technically be free, but if your school gives you a number of "free" prints, don't let them go to waste.

Post Office

This one should go without saying, but you'd be surprised at the amount of students who simply don't use the post office on campus. I can't begin to tell you the amount of post office boxes I have walked by that have been stuffed with mail that has gone unchecked for months on end. Check your mail often. While most of it may be flyers and ads for events happening on campus, it's still worthwhile to check your mail for more than just your work study check.