College · Family Resources

Know where the help is
before you need it

Every college lists tutoring, advising and counseling; what differs is how fast you get in and how much you get. Rate each college on the help you will use, enter the counseling wait and session limit, and see which one has your back in a hard first semester.

Start a comparisonWhat you get

Comparisons

The worked example is made up: three colleges for a first-generation student who counts advising and basic needs as must-haves. Use initials or a code.

Loading the comparison form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

College · Family ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A saved comparison per decision: how much tutoring, advising, counseling, career help and basic needs matter; each college rated 1 to 5 with days to a first counseling visit and free sessions a year; seven questions such as after-hours help and first-generation programs marked answered or still to ask; and a next step. The flags rank the colleges, call out counseling waits over two weeks, turn session limits into sessions a month and flag a must-have rated 2 or lower. A side-by-side table prints.
Who it is for
High school students and families comparing colleges, especially first-generation students and anyone who expects to use tutoring, counseling or emergency aid.
Format
Browser tool with a saved record per decision. Prints a side-by-side table with the scores, the full record, every comparison in a table or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Family Resources space in Caveat College.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Weigh the help you will likely use.
  2. Ask each office the same questions.
  3. Enter the counseling wait and limit.
  4. Rate each college.
  5. Print the side-by-side table.

Start a comparison

Five offices to know by name

Who helps with whatAdvisingCourse plans andstaying on track tograduateAsk: assigned to you?TutoringCourse help and thewriting centerAsk: free, and when?CounselingStress, anxiety,grief, crisisAsk: wait and limitsBasic needsFood pantry, emergencygrantsAsk: how fast it paysWho helps with whatAdvisingCourse plans and staying on track tograduateAsk: assigned to you?TutoringCourse help and the writing centerAsk: free, and when?CounselingStress, anxiety, grief, crisisAsk: wait and limitsBasic needsFood pantry, emergency grantsAsk: how fast it pays
Names differ by college: the same help may sit in a learning center, a dean of students office or a student success office.

Counseling has limits

Many college counseling centers use a short-term model with a set number of free sessions, then refer students to providers off campus. The Center for Collegiate Mental Health tracks how demand at campus centers has grown. Ask how long the wait is in the busy weeks of a term, not the first week.

Basic needs are support too

A 2018 Government Accountability Office report found that many college students face food insecurity and that some who may be eligible for federal food assistance do not receive it. A food pantry or an emergency grant can keep a student enrolled through a bad month.

Sources

  1. Center for Collegiate Mental Health, Penn State. Annual Report (ccmh.psu.edu).
  2. U.S. Government Accountability Office. Food Insecurity: Better Information Could Help Eligible College Students Access Federal Food Assistance Benefits, GAO-19-95, 2018 (gao.gov).
  3. U.S. Department of Education. TRIO Student Support Services program (ed.gov).
  4. NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising. Core values and concept of academic advising (nacada.ksu.edu).
  5. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org).

The worked example and its colleges are made up. Services and limits change by year; each office is the final word. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.