Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. If you don't see your question on this page, please email us at writingcenter@messiah.edu so we can help!
All undergraduate and dual-enrolled students attending Messiah University can schedule appointments at the Writing Center. Adult Degree Program (ADP) and graduate students should reach out to the Heartfelt Editor for writing assistance. Click here for more information on writing support for ADP and graduate students.
Writing Center appointments are primarily held in-person at the Writing Center in Murray Library. However, online appointments can be scheduled by commuters, dual-enrolled students, and quarantined students. We also welcome walk-ins but may not have an available tutor.
At the Writing Center, we believe writing is a collaborative process. No one's paper will be perfect-even if it's good, there are always ways it can be made better. Often, another set of eyes can see areas for improvement that you wouldn't find on your own. Talking about your paper with someone else is a great way to process your ideas, get direct feedback, and show you how your readers might interpret it.
While we do accept walk-ins, we prefer that you make an appointment. This helps us ensure that someone is available to help you. You can schedule an appointment up to one hour in advance of your desired appointment time and can cancel at any time. If you are unsure of how to make an appointment, visit Scheduling a Session.
To cancel an appointment, click here or log into Falconlink and select the "Learning Center/Writing Center Appointments" tab. Then, select "Scheduled Appointments" and click "cancel" on the appointment you'd like to cancel. If you scheduled two consecutive appointments, please be sure to cancel both appointments.
There is no fee for canceling an appointment, and you can cancel any time prior to your appointment.
No; the Writing Center can help you with any level of writing. Writing can always be improved, and even "good" writers can benefit from the Writing Center. Our own tutors often make appointments at the Writing Center because they recognize the value of the services we offer!
Of course! We can help you at any point in the writing process, from brainstorming to final revisions. Whether you have a full draft, an outline, or nothing at all, we are happy to work with you.
Although we can help you with some basic formatting and citations, we recommend you use other resources provided by the university, such as the librarians. You can ask for a librarian's help at the circulation desk or contact a librarian via the green chat button on Murray Library's website. Librarians are able to go through your formatting and citations with you.
For additional help, click here for the library's citation guide. You can also use the APA Style website or the Purdue OWL website.
We can! However, we will often look at your grammar after we look at the rest of your paper, and we usually don't have time to discuss every grammar mistake. Many students find it helpful to read their papers out loud because they catch mistakes they wouldn't otherwise. To refresh your grammar knowledge, The Writer's Reference has a helpful section on grammar and mechanics.
We appreciate your interest in joining our team! Click here to learn more about what it's like to work at the Writing Center and how to apply to work with us. We hire tutors for the upcoming academic year at the end of the spring semester. Typically, we also hire a few more tutors for the upcoming spring semester at the end of the fall semester. Watch our social media channels and your Messiah inbox for updates!