Undergraduates: Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of students use the Writing Hub?
All kinds! In general, the kind of undergraduate student we see is a “B” student who is looking to improve their writing skills—that is, a strong student writer who is interested in improving!
Do I have to bring a draft?
No! We’re happy to work with you at any stage of the writing process, even if you’ve just started thinking about a paper and haven’t written a single word.
How long is a Writing Hub appointment?
Undergraduate students can make 45-minute appointments with a writing consultant, with up to 3 appointments per week.
How many Writing Hub appointments can I make per day/week?
Undergraduate students can schedule up to 3 45-minute appointments per week, and can make up to 2 appointments per day (just not back-to-back).
How far ahead in the calendar can I make an appointment?
You can make an appointment up to two weeks from the current date. Plan ahead so that you can meet a tutor at the most helpful point in your writing process!
Can I make a same-day appointment?
You are allowed to make same-day appointments to meet with a writing consultant if a consultant has availability in their schedule. (Standard limits to the number of daily and weekly appointments–2/day, 3/week–still apply.)
Can I make an appointment to see someone right now?
You can make a same-day appointment using our online appointment system at http://ucsd.mywconline.com. You can also come in to the Commons and check with a front-desk staffer to see if we have any immediate openings. If we do, you can see a writing consultant right away! (Standard limits to the number of daily and weekly appointments–1/day, 3/week–still apply.)
How do I cancel my appointment?
If you need to cancel your Writing Hub appointment, please do so as soon as possible using the WCOnline system so that another student can use that time to meet with a writing consultant. Simply log on to the WCOnline system and click on your appointment. A pop-up window will then appear, and you can click on the “Cancel This Appointment” box at the bottom.
NOTE: Appointments cannot be canceled in the online system within 30 minutes of their start time. Please call 858-246-2110 or email tlcadmin@ucsd.edu to let us know of a last-minute cancellation. Repeated last-minute cancellations may result in a suspension of your ability to make appointments.
What is the No-Show Policy?
We have an appointment no-show policy:
Your appointment will be marked as no-show 15 minutes after the start time. Missing three appointments during one academic year without prior cancellation will result in your WCOnline account being deactivated, preventing you from logging in. You will, at that point, need to contact the Writing Hub administrative team (writinghub@ucsd.edu) to re-establish your active account.
Keep in mind that you can always cancel or modify appointments ahead of time by logging into the scheduling system at https://ucsd.mywconline.com or by contacting the Front Desk via e-mail at tlcadmin@ucsd.edu or via phone at (858) 246-2110. Please take note that appointments can be canceled up to 30 minutes prior to the start of the appointment in order to avoid being marked as no-show.
Do you provide accommodations?
Our organization’s goal is to make materials and activities accessible to all participants. To request accommodations in connection with any Writing Hub service, please contact us at writinghub@ucsd.edu. We will make every reasonable attempt to make arrangements, but whenever possible, please give us at least 5 business days’ notice.
How much do Writing Hub services cost?
Writing Hub one-on-one consultations and workshops are free to UC San Diego students, educators, and departments.
Do you have a waitlist so that I can be notified if any appointments become available?
Yes, the Writing Hub scheduling system will allow you to sign up for the waiting list on a given day; you will be notified if any appointments become available, at which time you can sign up. To sign up for the waiting list, click on the "WAITING LIST" link on the lower right side of the schedule for that particular day.
Who will I be working with if I come in to the Writing Hub?
Writing consultations are most effective when writers work with a near peer; namely, an undergraduate student working with an undergraduate writing consultant or a graduate student working with a graduate writing consultant. To that end, we ask that undergraduate students make appointments solely with our undergraduate writing consultants.
Do I have to see the same consultant every time?
That’s up to you. When you self-schedule an appointment, you can select whichever consultant you’d like to work with. You can stay with the same consultant for consistency or vary consultants if you’d prefer to get different points of view. Profiles of all the writing consultants are on the Writing Hub website.
Is there any kind of writing the Writing Hub won’t help with?
The Writing Hub can help with both course-related writing assignments and extracurricular projects, such as cover letters or personal statements.
The Writing Hub cannot provide any help with assignments whose guidelines explicitly prohibit students from working with the Writing Hub and/or a writing consultant.
We cannot provide feedback on legal documents; course-, instructor-, or advisor-evaluations; or documents (including emails and letters) related to a student’s academic status (e.g. academic probation, academic integrity processes, financial aid, etc.).
Will a writing consultant proofread my paper?
A writing consultant will work through the paper with you, giving you a reader’s feedback about what’s working well and what could be improved. The consultant will not edit or proofread for you but will instead help you become a stronger editor and proofreader of your own work.
Do Writing Hub consultants help students with grammar?
Yes. We provide instructional guidance to help students learn to identify and correct their grammatical errors. In alignment with our educational mission, Writing Hub consultants do not proofread students’ essays for them, but instead work one-on-one with students to help them develop more effective strategies as proofreaders and editors of their own work. This includes helping them: identify patterns of grammatical error in their writing; identify and address error types that most affect their ability to convey meaning accurately; identify and address error types that undermine their credibility with readers; suggest proofreading techniques; and locate additional resources for studying grammar.
Can you assist with writing in other languages?
Yes! We have some consultants who are comfortable tutoring in other languages. The ones who are have indicated so on their bios.
I am working on a group writing project, can I bring my group members to my appointment?
Our consultants are happy to meet with groups of students who are working together on a collaborative writing project. Please be sure to indicate your intention to come as a group on the appointment form, and keep in mind that there is only one consultant, who will have to consider the opinions and perspectives of multiple students. The best practice is to work out in advance, as a group, what questions/concerns you’d like to discuss with the writing consultant. Come prepared to actively discuss your writing as a group.
Can I audio or video record my Writing Hub session?
No, we do not allow sessions to be recorded. You are more than welcome to take notes on paper and/or an electronic device. Exceptions are made for students with accommodations from the Office for Students with Disabilities; please contact the Writing Hub (writinghub@ucsd.edu) before your session to make these arrangements.
Can you provide proof to my instructor that I came to the Writing Hub for help with my writing?
During the final minutes of your Writing Hub session, your writing consultant will work with you to write a brief review of what was covered during the session and outline the next steps for your writing process. This information will be emailed to you following your session, and you can then forward the information along to your instructor as proof of your visit to the Writing Hub.
Can my friend attend my Writing Hub session for me?
No, the Writing Hub will only work with the student whose name and PID matches the identity in our appointment system, and they must be the author of the writing to be discussed.
Why am I locked out of my WCOnline account? Why is my WCOnline account disabled? What should I do?
If you miss three (3) Writing Hub appointments without canceling, your ability to make appointments will be suspended and your WCOnline account will be automatically disabled; all future appointments will be canceled, and you will be required to email the Teaching + Learning Commons (tlcadmin@ucsd.edu) to discuss necessary steps for re-enabling your account. Until you do that, you may still take advantage of walk-in writing consultation services and workshops when available.
Are there any reasons why the Writing Hub would revoke a UCSD community member’s access to Writing Hub services?
Some reasons why the Writing Hub may revoke someone’s access to our services:
- Misrepresenting your status as an enrolled UCSD student
- Misrepresenting the nature or authorship of the work under discussion
- Creating or using more than one account in the Writing Hub online scheduling system
- Engaging in conduct that violates the UCSD Principles of Community, or any other Writing Hub, Teaching + Learning Commons, or UC San Diego policy or regulation.
As a student seeking services from the Writing Hub, it is important to respect and maintain appropriate professional boundaries between yourself and the writing consultants. This includes being mindful of the fact that while a writing consultant is your peer, there are certain actions that can cross the line to impropriety. Here are some actions we consider inappropriate:
- Contacting a consultant on their personal email or social media accounts without their prior approval
- Giving gifts
- Touching a consultant without their consent
- Trying to make off-schedule appointments with a consultant
- Unsolicited social invitations
- Making remarks about a consultant’s appearance, intelligence, or demeanor.
Can UCSD Extension students access the resources at the Writing Hub?
Unfortunately, our policy dictates that we are permitted to work with only undergraduate and graduate students whose PIDs begin with “A” and who have a UCSD email address. But if you are a UCSD Extension student who is also concurrently enrolled in UCSD courses (in addition to UCSD Extension courses), you may use Writing Hub services.
Can alumni access the resources at the Writing Hub?
No, the Writing Hub does not work with students who are not currently enrolled in classes at UC San Diego.
Still have questions?
Email us at tlcadmin@ucsd.edu. We are happy to answer any questions you may have!
Undergrads
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Teaching + Learning Commons
(Geisel Library 1st Floor)
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