Thrive at SLU: How the Student Success Center Has Your Back
Elias reflects on how SLU’s Student Success Center helped him grow from a first-year student into a confident leader.
At Saint Louis University, student success is at the center of everything we do. Preparing for life after college, whether that’s graduate school or a professional career, starts early, and the Student Success Center plays a key role in that journey.
I remember my freshman year, when I quickly turned to the Student Success Center to help navigate challenging courses and adjust to college academics. Now, I serve as a supplemental instruction (SI) leader, supporting students in the same way I was once supported.
The Student Success Center offers a wide range of resources, including tutoring, University Writing Services and student success coaching.
- SI leaders and tutors are students who have not only completed courses but excelled in them, and then committed to helping others succeed in those same courses.
- University Writing Services provides support for class assignments, personal statements, presentations and much more.
- Student success coaching offers individualized guidance, helping students build effective study plans and develop skills for long-term success.
When I first arrived at SLU, I felt stressed and unsure if I could keep up with the rigor of my classes. Attending SI sessions helped me learn from students who had already succeeded in the same classes I was taking. I also used the writing center to strengthen personal statements and scholarship essays, which opened doors to opportunities both on and off campus. Student success coaching was especially impactful, helping me develop strong time management skills and balance academics, work and extracurriculars while still making time to relax and connect with friends.
Overall, the Student Success Center has made a lasting impact on my college experience, supporting me academically and personally every step of the way.
Elias is a junior at Saint Louis University studying medical sciences and neuroscience. He is originally from O’Fallon, Illinois.