Now that you’re taking the longer and more arduous “college path” on this flimsy playing-board called the Game of Life, there are a number of spaces across campus worth landing on to help you make it to “Millionaire Estates.”

Choosing to attend college increases your probability of landing a better job and a higher salary, but UCSB Career Services can help you stack those odds.

Don Lubach, associate director of Career Studies, said his department is armed with the tools to pair students with employers, as well as play major-matchmaker.

“First, we have the largest reserve of jobs available to students on campus via Gaucho Link,” Lubach said. “Second, for students interested in information about majors, Career Services have the resources to look beyond UCSB and link students to majors and careers using a variety of instruments to help first-year students identify their interests and passions.”

After aligning yourself with a major, more specific guidance can be obtained from an academic advisor. Advising offices in both the College of Engineering and the College of Letters and Science can steer you toward internships and research opportunities as well as track your degree progress to keep you on the four-year path.

Meanwhile, course-specific tutoring can rule out chance where your G.P.A. is concerned. Campus Learning Assistance Services – C.L.A.S., for short – helps students in their mastery of university course material through group and drop-in tutoring in math, science, statistics, writing, foreign languages and economics courses – all at no extra cost.

Despite prudent planning, you are bound to encounter unexpected events in the Game of Life, and that’s why Student Health offers a variety of services to ensure your physical and mental health along the way. In addition to general medicine practices and a discounted pharmacy, the Wellness Program at Student Health offers advice and activities centered on social and mental well-being.

Also housed in Student Health is the UCSB Drug and Alcohol Program. The program has a staff of knowledgeable counselors who can answer questions ranging from concerns about personal consumption habits to classifying those white pills your roommate keeps popping.

Ian Kaminsky, director of the Alcohol and Drug Program, said students do not have to be suffering from serious abuse or addiction problems to drop in.

“If students have questions about what they are seeing, or if they come across something funky they have never seen before, they can come in free and confidentially and say ‘hey my roommate has some drug I have never seen before,'” Kaminsky said. “We can provide general information like what the substance is and answer questions like ‘should I take it, should I not?'”

Advice is also available to students outside of Student Health through UCSB’s Counseling Services. Director of Counseling Services Jeanne Stanford said her department provides a safety valve for students feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of college life.

“Students come in feeling stressed, anxious and depressed but we want them to come in before their situation turns into a crisis,” Stanford said. “There is no cost for walking in.”

According to Stanford, Counseling Services now offers an after-hours phone service featuring licensed counselors and therapists available for immediate consultation on evenings, weekends and holidays via phone.

“If you are having trouble sleeping, anxious about something, you can call us at 2 a.m.,” Stanford said.

Even with the countless campus spaces designed to ease your journey through the Game of Life, there may be a few blurry nights where you still need some extra guidance – even if it is just back to your dorm room. On those nights you can call UCSB’s Community Services Officers, our bicycle-mounted volunteers who are always available to provide free personal safety escorts on campus and in Isla Vista. They can be reached at 805-893-2000 any time.

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