How Consultations Work

• Watch the How to Book an Appointment video on our homepage.
   
• Click the Book Now button to book your 25- or 50-minute appointment in San Marcos or Round Rock or on Zoom.
   
• Looking for a specific consultant? Check out our Consultants & Staff Page to see consultants' specialties, then select that consultant when you search for an appointment.
   
• Fill in information about what you would like to work on during your session. The more information you provide, the better prepared your consultant can be.
   
• Once you've booked your appointment, you'll receive a confirmation email. Please keep this email until after your appointment.
   
• To cancel, reschedule, or make another appointment, return to our homepage, click the Book Now button, and click the gray "X" to cancel under your Upcoming Appoinments.

You may schedule one 50-minute appointment or two 25-minute appointments per day.

If you’re collaborating with other writers, they must all come to the consultation, or we will not be able to comment on the collaborative work.

• Bring your Texas State student ID. You will be asked to show it to our front desk staff when you check in.
   
• Bring as much as you can! Bring your prompt or assignment sheet and a copy of your essay (if you have a draft). Only have an outline? Working on a first draft? Bring it! We can work with whatever you have at any point in the writing process--even if you don't have anything written down!
   
• Think about what you want to work on with your consultant: what are your priorities given the assignment and deadline? We can work together on all aspects of writing, from brainstorming and organization of ideas to sentence-level clarity and citation styles.
   
• We may not get through your entire paper — that's okay! Our goal is to give you the tools and the knowledge needed to better any part of your paper (and future papers). You are welcome to book up to an hour of appointments a day, but don't think of the last page of your paper as a finish line. Writing is a process, and it works differently for everyone.

• You'll be greeted by our receptionist at the front desk and asked to show your Texas State ID and sign in. 
   
• After signing in, you may have a seat in the lobby while you wait. Your consultant will come get you at the time of your appointment.
   
• We offer free coffee and tea throughout the day, so feel free to pour yourself a mug of liquid energy.
   
• We also have a computer lab where you may browse the internet, check your email, or print out your prompt before your appointment. Sign in at the front desk to use the computer lab.

• If you are more than five minutes late for a 25-minute appointment or more than ten minutes late for a 50-minute appointment, your timeslot will be given to another writer, and you will need to rebook. This enables us to help as many Bobcats as possible.
   
• If you think you might be late, we encourage you to call us at (512) 245·3018 ​​​​​and let us know. We're more than happy to keep the session scheduled for you; just keep in mind that your session will still end at the time it was originally scheduled to finish. 

• During your session, your consultant will sit with you and first discuss your current assignment
   
• To start your session, the consultant will want to know the purpose and goals of what your working on. The consultant will ask for any relevant prompt(s) and then discuss questions such as "What are your writing goals?" "What are you struggling with?" "Do you have specific concerns?"
   
• Your consultation is a collaborative process; both you and your consultant will actively discuss how to improve your current assignment and holistic writing skills. This conversation will guide your session and will help to determine the best approach for your writing processes.

• Your session will end at 25 or 50 minutes.
   
• If you need a proof-of-visit slip for your class, don’t forget to ask your consultant for one at the end of the appointment! Only that consultant can give you a proof-of-visit for that session.
   
• Your consultant will walk with you to the front desk. You do not have to sign out. Feel free to stay for coffee, tea, or to use our computer lab.
   
• Now, it’s up to you! Continue revising your assignment--and building your writing skills--after your appointment.
   

• We look forward to working with you!