Going off to college is one of the most exciting times in a young person's life. College student Joseph Mashie says he never expected an earache to lead to the possibility of him needing surgery while away from home. "It's been interesting having to deal with insurance without my parents and having to deal with the doctors one on one. But, it's all a part of going to college and becoming an adult."

Many students are on their own for the very first time, so it's up to them to find a doctor to take care of their own medical needs. "They're used to asking their mother or father "hey what's with this, I feel sick" and Dr. Mom is the best source of information out there," says Family Physician Alan Tannenbaum.

Students can be more proactive in their medical care when they first arrive on campus. Dr. Tannenbaum suggests asking around campus to find who the doctors are for the University. These are the doctors that can take care of both the simple and more complex needs.

Joseph's pretty proud of how he dealt with his medical problem on his own, however he knows nothing takes the place of family. He says, "If it requires surgery I'd probably want my mom to come up here to be honest, because it's pretty major."

If you need medical assistance and it's not an emergency, you can start by calling your student health center on campus. If you are dealing with an acute situation, go straight to your local hospital's emergency room.

If you are a student away from home, check your insurance policy, it is important to find out whether your coverage extends to the area in which you are living.