Students on their own often carry every form, deadline and setback by themselves. This is about finding people on campus and beyond who can share that load: a liaison, an advisor, a mentor, and someone you trust enough to list as your emergency contact.
People whose job is to help
Many colleges name a homeless and foster youth liaison, sometimes called a single point of contact, who helps students without family support with aid, housing and food. Some states require their public colleges to have one. Ask the financial aid office or the dean of students who holds the role at your school.
TRIO Student Support Services, where a college has it, offers advising, tutoring and help with aid to students with low incomes, first-generation students and students with disabilities. Its spaces are limited each year, so ask early in the term. Campus programs for students from foster care, where they exist, often add a staff member who checks in with you every term.
People you choose
Beyond staff, look for someone you trust who knows you: a former teacher, a coach, a supervisor at work, a mentor from a youth program or a caseworker who stayed in touch. One person who answers the phone when a form is confusing can save a semester. Ask them plainly whether they are willing to be that person.
Forms often ask for an emergency contact, and you can list anyone you choose, including a friend or mentor. To let someone talk with the college about your records, most colleges have a release form under federal privacy rules. You decide who is on it, and you can change it whenever you like.
One person who answers the phone when a form is confusing can save a semester.
Keeping the circle working
Keep names, offices, phone numbers and email addresses in one list you can reach from your phone. Share your class schedule and housing plans with at least one person, so someone notices if you go quiet. A short message each month keeps a mentor close enough to help when trouble comes.
Counseling centers on many campuses offer short-term sessions to enrolled students, often covered by student fees. Asking for that help is an ordinary part of college. If you were in foster care, your state's independent living program may also offer coaching or a support group for people your age.
Steps to take
- Ask the aid office who the homeless and foster youth liaison is
- Apply to TRIO Student Support Services if your college has it
- Choose an emergency contact you trust
- Save every helpful contact in one list on your phone
Who decides
Your college's homeless and foster youth liaison
One reliable person on campus and one you trust off campus can carry you through the weeks when everything goes wrong at once.