About Helpline: 

Student Counseling HelpLine, founded in January of 1995, provides, by telephone, peer support, information, referrals, & crisis assessment & intervention for Texas A&M students. The HelpLine is open from 4:00 pm to 8:00 am on weekdays, &  24 hours a day on the weekends. The HelpLine is supervised and run by the Student Counseling Service (SCS) at Texas A&M.

Why join Helpline?

  1. That great feeling you get from knowing you made a difference in the life of a fellow Aggie.
  2. Terrific training in listening skills & current student issues... & a chance to see if this field is for you, if you are considering a career in counseling.
  3. A terrific way to build a great résumé & get letters of reference, even for non-psych majors.
  4. Develop friendships with HelpLine co-workers who have similar interests.
  5. You get the inside scoop about A&M, the SCS & other programs & services around town.

How to apply: 

• You may pick up an application at the reception desk in Student Services @ White Creek or have one sent to you via e-mail request at Susan@scs.tamu.edu.
• Once you have submitted your application (completed applications should be returned to the receptionist in the SCS Reception building at Student Services @ White Creek or e-mailed to Susan@scs.tamu.edu.) it will be reviewed by Susan Vavra. The next step is a one-hour interview with Susan & possibly, a current HelpLine volunteer. After the interview you will be notified by phone or letter whether or not you have been accepted for training.
• Training takes place the week before the semester starts, typically scheduled from 8:30 am to 6 pm on Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 am to 4 pm on Saturday.
After the training week is over, you will have a one-hour exit interview with HelpLine staff. Decisions about who has successfully passed training and will be accepted for the HelpLine are typically made the first week of class, after exit interviews are completed.

Time Commitment:

• An average of 1 shift each week. Most shifts are 4 to 6 hours long, but graveyard shifts may be longer. HelpLine workers pick their shifts & rarely have to cover the same shift every week.
• A one-hour supervision meeting each week in groups of 6 to 8 workers. This meets the same time each week for the semester and is arranged around your class and work schedule.
• Continuing Education meetings, typically once a month.
• Though this looks like a lot of time, HelpLiners report that it is really easy to fit in their schedules because there is such flexibility in which shifts are available.