Watch the Welcome to Columbia Health video for an introduction to many campus resources.

Taking care of your physical, mental and overall health is one element of having a successful college experience. Joining a new community while navigating New York City and a new school can be both exciting and stressful. Reaching out to ask for help and to ask questions is always a healthy choice.

Columbia Health offers a broad range of on-campus services including routine and urgent medical visits, short-term mental-health counseling, sexual violence prevention and advocacy services and disability services, along with educational and skill-based health and wellness programs. Visit the Countdown to Columbia page for Health, Wellness and Transitioning to College for what you should know before arriving and when you're on campus, plus check out these tips:

Before You Arrive

• Complete the Student Health History Form. This should include any medical information that is pertinent to your ongoing care — particularly around current treatment and prescriptions, as well as your immunization records. It is completely confidential and becomes part of your medical record. Your submission will be reviewed by a Columbia Health professional. Based upon the responses, you may receive information about on-campus resources to ensure a smooth transition to Columbia.

• If you need accommodations or support on campus or in the classroom (short term or ongoing), register ahead of time with Disability Services, which facilitates equal access for students. You should register at least three weeks before the start of the semester.

• If you haven't completed the Columbia University Immunization Requirements, do so as soon as possible. Your course registration is on hold until the requirements are complete.

• Make your student health insurance selection on SSOL.

Once You're On Campus

• For routine and urgent care, visit Medical Services, which offers primary care services plus nutritional counseling, STI testing, tobacco cessation programs, acupuncture and much more.

• For individual counseling, support groups and life skills workshops, visit Counseling and Psychological Services.

• For prevention and outreach, advocacy and crisis counseling/intervention, visit Sexual Violence Response.

• For questions about student health insurance, consult the Student Health Insurance Office.

• For weekly health tips, subscribe to Alice! Health Promotion's weekly newsletter and check out their health promotion and education resources.
  
  

• Come see us at the Health Expo during the New Student Orientation Program (NSOP). Learn about all we have to offer and get your flu shot too!

Find Your Support System

• Don't forget to keep in touch with family and friends from home. Though they might be far away in distance, your home support system is always just one text, phone call or video chat away.

• As you work to create a support system on campus, know that this can take time to develop. NSOP is a great first opportunity to make friends.

• You’ll also meet new people in class, in your residence hall and around campus as you get involved with campus life.

• As you settle into campus and your class schedule, make sure to leave room in your routine for sleep, healthy eating, physical exercise and fun!