Lesson 3.6:
Communicating Concerns and Asking for Help

Knowing how to ask for help and advocate for yourself is one of the most important skills you can build during college. Life happens, and it often happens at difficult times with some unexpected stressor that occurs during the semester. This could be catching a bad cold, needing to travel unexpectedly, or taking care of a loved one who is unwell. This could take you away from school for some days or even weeks at a time. Though these issues can catch us by surprise, knowing what to do and who to reach out to for support can help you manage these tricky situations. 

The first step when you find yourself unable to complete your schoolwork due to a personal issue is to communicate your concern to others. Professors say that the #1 mistake they see online learners make is disappearing or not communicating when they run into issues. Most of the time professors are willing to listen and make reasonable accommodations as long as students communicate issues to them and actively participate in class.  

Top tips for communicating concerns to your professor 

1. Schedule a meeting: It's usually best to schedule a meeting with your professor to discuss your concerns. You can do this in person or via email.  

2. Reach out in advance: Professors are more likely to be accommodating when you let them know about issues far in advance. Sending an email a week before a paper to ask for an extension presents a much more responsible picture to the professor than sending an email a couple of hours before the due date.  

3. Be specific: Be clear and specific about your concerns. Roughly explain the difficult situation and how it is affecting your ability to succeed in the class. 

4. Offer potential solutions: If you have any ideas for how to address your concerns, offer them up. Your professor may be more receptive to your situation if you're able to offer possible solutions. 

5. Consider the options the professor presents: Sometimes the professor will allow you to submit work late and sometimes they won’t--it often depends on the student, the circumstances, and the expectations of the professor. Consider the professor’s response and speak with your circle of support to figure out next steps 

6. Follow up: If you are granted an extension, be sure to submit your work on time and write to the professor a quick note of gratitude. This shows that you're taking the class seriously and that you're committed to finishing your work.  

Reaching out when an issue emerges and advocating for yourself is a great skill to practice in college and beyond. To advocate for yourself, you can: 

1. Identify your needs. Before reaching out to others, it's important to identify your own needs and priorities. Take some time to journal or make a list of what you need before reaching out to your professors, advisors, and other resources on campus. 

2. Be clear and specific: When communicating your needs, use specific examples to explain your situation and what you need. 

3. Know your rights: Understand your rights as a student, such as the right to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Communicating with your college’s disability services department is a great way to help clarify the rights to which you may be entitled.  

4. Seek out resources: Your college has resources available to support students, such as counseling services, academic advisors, mentors, and tutors. Reach out to these groups for support and guidance. 

5. Be proactive: Take proactive steps to address issues and prevent them from becoming bigger problems. Remember--if you don't advocate for yourself, who else will? 

6. Be persistent: Don't give up if you don't get the results you're looking for right away. 

7. Practice self-advocacy: Advocating for yourself is a skill that you can develop over time. Practice communicating your needs and seeking out resources so that you feel more comfortable advocating for yourself in the future.