So far, so good?

Now, the term is grinding along at its usual pace. You still have the same schedule you started the term with. If not, you may have dropped a class or two. Scheduling problems, class starting too early ? Whatever.

Of the classes that remain in your schedule how are you doing? Well? OK? So, so? How do you know? There is one simple way to find out. Ask. Ask the instructor. Ask the TA. Ask someone who knows. But ask. How am I doing ? Am I passing? Am I behind? Do I have assignments due? Do I have assignments overdue?

Find out now. Ask.

Get a good lab partner.

Planet College Advisory. It is now that point in the term where classes are pretty well underway. The work ahead demands your attention for the remainder of the term. Of particular interest are the labs you need to take. For the most part they go along with your courses. Usually, particularly in the sciences, labs parallel courses. Geology, Physics, Chemistry etc., most of these have a related lab. Commonly these labs require students to work in pairs. This practice is to best utilize resources and time.

There are two elements critical to finishing your lab with a satisfactory grade.

Number two is always finish the assignment the week it is assigned. Do not under any circumstances leave any lab work undone. Even if you have to go in off hours to finish, do so.

Number One critical element for successfully completing this lab is get a good lab partner.

Early in the term partners are assigned by the lab instructor.

At this point in your college career you may have realized how critical working with others is. This is particularly true in labs. So, if you don't already have a lab partner be sure to pick one who is reliable, punctual and as dedicated to finishing the course as you are. If you are now stuck with a partner who doesn't show up much and doesn't do much when they do, see if you can trade or work with another group. Remember you want to finish with a passing grade.

Overall though the best way to get a good lab partner is to be a good lab partner.

Bad Information

Recently I had a conversation with a potential college student which proved to be distressing. She told me she had been accepted to a very good university but would not be attending soon. When I asked why she informed me that she was working on improving her credit score so she could qualify for Financial Aid. I asked her if she had a fafsa and she made a face and said, “Oh no.” I didn’t pursue this with this student. I could tell she was very reluctant to reveal personal information about herself or her family to a faceless bureaucracy. I can assume that she is working from incomplete or bad information. I can also assume that she had confused financial aid, which often includes student loans with consumer credit like credit cards. In fact, I have a hunch she has assumed that financial aid and consumer credit are one in the same thing. I can understand how anxiety provoking this can be. I can understand many students' concern about their credit score.

So, here is today's Planet College Bulletin: Your credit score is a totally separate issue from completing your education. This is the straight fact: Your ability to complete your higher education does not depend on your credit score. If you are a student and you need financial help go to your school’s financial aid office and tell them so.

Getting the best information you can get is critical in any endeavor. Especially, in the often confounding world of student finances. The best information usually comes from the best source. The best source for information about your student finances is not a bank, it is not a credit card company, it is not a loan company and it is not a pawn shop. Each of these will in their own way tell you what is best for them not necessarily you. The best source is on your campus. It is the financial aid office. Go there. Talk to them. Ask for help.