If you are a student at any college or university, you have felt the pressures to perform well in your classes while balancing the complications of life. You have felt the stress that can persist when papers are due or when exam scores are posted. Oftentimes your professor’s office hours (or struggling with your work alone, for that matter) are not enough, and at times it can seem like you are on your own in tackling these difficult exams and writing these impossible papers. However, this could not be further from the truth. There are several resources on campus that give students the tools they need to succeed in their classes and develop better study habits and skills. The Learning Resource Center, located on the second floor of the Lilly Library, is a wonderful place to find free help in some of your most challenging subjects.

Tutors at Behrend’s Learning Resource Center are friendly, approachable, and dedicated to improving your grasp on the important topics that may be preventing you from otherwise getting the grade you are striving for. Writing tutors at the LRC will review your paper before you hand it in, catching sentence level errors and grammar issues alike. They are also able to ensure that your paper’s content and focus is aligned with your professor’s prompt or grading sheet. However, the LRC’s value to students is not limited to composition help, the LRC has tutors for almost every course at Behrend, so whether you are struggling with Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, or Engineering, you can be sure that you will find a tutor that will help you work through the difficult concepts and gain a mastery over them. In addition, you may choose to send your “tutor log” (a sheet that records the tutoring session) directly to your professor, to let them know that you are going the extra mile, and working outside of class time. Overall, stopping by the LRC will improve your grade, enhance your understanding of topics, and impress your professor.

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There are several ways to begin taking advantage of the LRC. First, you may log into TutorTrac, an online scheduling program that will enable you to reserve a spot with a tutor for one-on-one help. This is the recommended option, so that you will be sure that a tutor will be available to help you when you need it most. However, if you encounter a last-minute quiz or paper, tutors are available for drop in hours. Writing drop-in tutors are ready to work with you in the LRC’s office in the Lilly Library, while math tutors are available in several buildings on campus. It is always best to stop by the LRC to find out where to find a drop-in tutor for your course.

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The LRC is also a great place to find assistance with applications. Whether you are applying to an internship for the summer or graduate, law, or medical school, the LRC will review your application to make sure your personal statements reflect your talents and strengths. In addition, the academic planning and career office located in Reed is also a fantastic one-stop-shop for all of your application needs.Regardless of your major and current GPA, Behrend’s LRC is a fantastic tool that every student should take advantage of.