Where's my mail?

Veteran students know a large part of survival on Planet College is communication. In order to communicate people need to know where you are. If you haven't left campus yet it is a good time to drop off a mail forwarding notice at the housing office. If you're off campus you still will need your mail forwarded. In this case the Post Office has change of address forms. This is important. A great deal of communication is done by e-mail and cell phone. A great deal but not all. Keeping everyone updated about your whereabouts is important. If you have already gotten to where you are going for the summer you still can have your mail forwarded. Get the change of address form from your current local post office. Fill in where you want your mail sent and mail that form to your campus post office. One way or another keep in touch.

What About A Money Buddy?

Most students are familiar with the term "study buddy. " It is common to have friends or other students who become friends to study with. This is a very effective strategy for getting through your courses. If you don't have any study buddies and are toughing it out alone think it over.

Now here is another Planet College suggestion. What about a money buddy? Finances are such a crucial part of higher eduction they are practically a required subject. In fact, if you think about it Higher Education Finance has been a required course for you since you started your college education. Probably since day one on Planet College what has been going out has consistenly exceeded what has been coming in. Although probably a clear solution would be more money that is rarely possible. A solid second choice is more effective management of what is actually there. Without much experience for this type of management help could be useful.
So, again, know anybody who is financially capable?

It doesn't have to be a close friend and we are not suggesting someone who you can consistently borrow money from. A money buddy can be anybody, as we have said, who is simply fairly proficient at handling their own personal finances. Know anyone who regularly balances their checkbook, isn't often flat broke, can consistently afford what they need? Ask them how they do it. Just that. How do you remain financially unstressed? See what you can learn from them.

If you don't know anyone like this try talking to someone who actually works in finance. Not necessarily a big shot, either. Maybe a teller at your credit union or a worker in the Burser's office. Even one of the counselor's in the Financial Aid office. Ask if they can help.

If you can find someone you can trust to look over your finances you will probably need at least copies of your bank or credit union and credit card statements. This are available on line and can be easily printed out. Bring copies to meet with your chosen money buddy. Remember, you are looking for a few simple things. Essentially doing more with what you have because what you have is very, very limited. Most financial distress results at least in part from a kind of fogginess. The kind of fogginess which is a combination of busyness and inexperience. Taking time to go over your finances can produce some clarity about your spending versus your income or available resources. This clarity can be useful as a stress reliever.

Remember Rule One on Planet College whenever you have a problem, issue or a concern, or just want to learn something: Ask for help.

It's Spring, Finals are approaching and Sucking Up is in the air.

With finals approaching or underway and final grades due to be posted soon the annual spring ritual is blossoming in full on campuses across the country. The annual spring ritual is, of course, sucking up, brown nosing, butt kissing or however it is designated on your campus.

Suddenly find you are getting a D minus in Statistics and probably failing that "easy" First Aid class? Time to swing into action. E-mails, phone messages, even notes to the instructor proclaiming your enchantment with her and her subject are all part of the ritual. This along with mournful decries of protest about your way-too-busy schedule usually are a part of the package.

The purpose? To salvage some kind of decent grade, your financial aid for fall and possibly your college career.

The thing about sucking up is it is so pathetically obvious. Every instructor gets her or his share of it. Every term. And curiously most of them would actually like to help. But. You have to give them something to work with other than a tearful,"Please don't fail me."

OK, so you have a class or two you have neglected and now it is too late to drop. Try this. Get some time to talk to the professor, instructor, TA or whoever is responsible for your grade. This is going to take ten minutes, not more. Track them down at their office if they have one. Talk to them after class. Whenever. Tell them you need some time to talk about their course. When you get their attention say this, " I want to know what I need to do to pass this class." Simple and to the point. If you feel you need to supply some reason why you've neglected attending, haven't turned in papers or skipped tests do so. But. Don't make it elaborate and don't make it anyone else's fault. Just keep it simple and show you've learned a lesson and your willing to try.

In order to be convincing you will probably need to bring a notebook and possibly your work so far. If the instructor has time you two can go over whatever work you actually have done. Keep the emphasis on what you can do now. When she starts to explain your position and what you can do actually look attentive. Then, write down what she says. Like it says give her something to work with.

Then. Go do it. Whatever the instructor says. Take the time now to do the best you can with whatever is left of the term. That is it. Make a sincere effort. Turn in what you do. Make a reasonable attempt to prepare up for the final. Actually show up for the final. (You may know more than you think). And hope for the best.

Who knows? You just might pull a passing grade out after all.

This works much better than traditional sucking up. Much better. Way much better.

Oh no. I'm graduating.

Now what do I do?

After a great deal of time and energy spent in the alternate reality of Planet College the possibilities of a return to Planet Earth can present unexpected anxiety. Graduating, celebnrating your degree and the tremendous exhilaration of finally achieving your goal can be counterpointed by a profound , "Now what?"

If you are not already set on your next step, real job, grad school or whatever it might be time to seriously discuss with yourself just what the heck to do.

If in this context you need some stimulation try this: http://www.roadtripnation.com/ .

There may be more possibilities for your life with your degree than you had thought.

Good luck.