Speaking of the future.

Planet College offers vast opportunities to get bound down in the everyday mundane pursuits of just getting through the term. When is that paper due? Do I need a Scantron? Can I park here without a permit? These things continually demand our attention. And it is difficult often to remember why you are on Planet College. The future disappears in a flood of daily details. Here's a question about your future. Where are you working this summer? Same job, or are you going away? Park ranger? Camp Counselor? Internship? If it is the same place you have been working then you don't have much to plan or think about. But if you're trying for that slot as a tutor for the special needs camp or assistant stage manager at the Shakespeare Festival this summer then it is time to prepare your application. Right now. Application filled out? Letters of recommendation included. Reference list available. Summer is coming. It really is. If you really want that position, get on it now.

What About Next Year?

NO. Not, next term. Next school year. You have your schedule for this up coming term, right. But, Unless you're graduating you still have to think about Fall 'O8 soon. This is important. A great deal can be gained on Planet College by planning at least somewhat ahead. Think about next school year.
For example, on out campus priority consideration for financial aid is given to students who file their fafsa before March 2. Take this opportunity now to file your new fafsa. They start taking new fafsas on the first business day of the new year. This year that day is Wednesday, Janurary 2. Filing your next fafsa is something you can do for yourself for your next school year. Go do it. Planet College note. If you don't know what a fafsa is go to your school's financial aid office and ask. While there ask for help.

What am I doing today?

Planet College Reminder.
Your graduation starts today.
What can you do about that? What is one thing you can do about your graduation today? One. Just one thing. Each day, one concrete step. That is what it takes. Just one thing. Whenever it is today take one step more toward your graduation.

How I know you didn't write this paper.

As an experienced college writing teacher I have read a lot of papers. In this current digital era is quite simple to obtain papers and hand them in as your own. Done all the time right? You may have done it. I and most other writing instructors can fairly easily tell after the first few weeks of the term when a student's work is original and when it is borrowed. It is easy. It is the same means that when you answer the phone you can tell who is there. The sound of their voice. Mom or your best friend, the sounds are distinctly different. Well, so is your writing. Just as you have a distinctive fingerprint and handwriting style you have a distinctive writing style. It some times is even referred to as your writing voice. So, when I pick up a student's paper to read and it doesn't sound like or seem like their other papers, I'm pretty sure they may have had "help". I might talk to them about it. I might not. Depends. Instructors have a large work load and often let things slide.

You can count on this sometimes. But not always. Here is today's Planet College tip. Do your own work. Slug it out. Get the grade that you earn. If it isn't satisfactory ask to do it over. I f it still isn't satisfactory ask for help. Learning is why you are on Planet College. You will learn to write by doing. Write your own paper. Just write.

Planet College reminder. What about next term?

Well. What about it. If you haven't left campus already. It is a good time to check. Schedule firm? Waitlist? Financial aid ready? New room mate at the residence hall. Everything packed and stored. Got it all done. It will be there when you come back in Janurary. So. Make sure everything is tight. Have a rockin' holiday.

Planet College: Butts in seats.

This is a Planet College Advisory. College is a butts in seats business. That is how it works. In order for your school to function it needs your butt in a seat. Schools thrive on recruiting students. Maybe you've seen this. Maybe you were recruited your self. What ever it was it was because your school needed you. It needs a whole big bunch of yous to make the thing work. You are a critical part of your college. Simply put, your school needs you to function as a school. Seriously. It is the students who make the school. If you and all of your friends left where would the school be?
 Closed.

Now.

It also works the other you. School is why you are there. You have decided that you need this education which the school is providing. So. Whenever it is time, get your butt in to a seat. Get through. Get on with your life. Finish and do whatever you have to do to graduate. You got your butt in there, now get your butt out of there.