Some Assembly Required

Ever buy one of those kits which has a label on the outside "Some assembly required"? Usually that means you have bought a box full of parts which you are then supposed to assemble into the picture on the box. Whatever the product is. Hopefully there are directions included. Hopefully you read and follow these directions in order to achieve your goal, the finished product.

Now. You are a college student. You arrived on campus as essentially a bundle of parts. You have been looking forward to and working on assembling these parts into a finished product. That product is a college graduate, you. Unfortunately, there have been no directions included to show you how to assemble yourself into graduate. This lack of direction can be discouraging. Sometimes this discouragement can take the form of assessing your self as Not Good Enough. Not up to it. Not at the right school, or whatever form you usual self-criticism takes. This can be difficult to withstand because no one is harder on you than you.

When these suspicions arise it is time to relax and take stock of yourself. You are enough. You are essentially a worthwhile collection of parts. What may have been lacking for you is clear directions. Unlike the product which includes printed directions you do not have such directions for your goal, a degree.

Recognizing this and realizing you have come a long way just to get to where you are can be encouraging. So. Realize you are good enough to finish. There is help available. Passing the classes that you have passed means you can do it. You have enough tools in your kit to assemble yourself as a graduate. You do. You really do.

Oh no! Probation!

For any average student the news that they have been put on probation can be seriously disturbing. If you've been working as well as you can and still not .

In my experience there are two kinds of probation, grade probation and financial probation.
They are different but they do have a bearing on each other.

Grade probation occurs when a student's grade average, GPA, falls below the norm established by the school for student's in their program. Usually the university or college has a set standard for student's grades. Falling below this standard causes a student to be put on probation. This means that the student has a given period of time, often one or two semesters, to increase their average grades.

Financial Aid probation occurs when a student fails to complete the number of units for which they have received financial aid. To put it simply, for example, you enrolled as a full time student for Spring. Full time on your campus is Ten or more units. You then received financial aid as a full time student for this term. During the semester you dropped two classes and finished with Six units. Since your received more financial aid than you actually needed to complete your courses the school places you on financial aid probation. This means you "owe" them for the units you didn't complete, financially speaking. Depending on how your schools financial aid office administers these things you may have one or two terms to make up the units you "owe" them.

Now at times these two probations have a bearing on each other. This is where it can get murky. In the example above let's say instead of dropping the two classes you failed both classes. This would affect your GPA to the point that you are on grade probation. Now, having failed those two classes for purposes of financial aid it can be as if you simply didn't complete the term with the full load you started with. At this point the same standards may be applied and you may also be put on financial aid probation. Now you are on both financial aid and grade probation.

Each of these probations are explained in your schools bulletin and on line. Still clearer explanations may be necessary for you to fully understand how to get off probation. Make an appointment or just drop in to the offices involved. They are the financial aid office and the registration office on your campus. Make sure you completely understand the terms for both of these probations. Also make sure you understand how to get off of both of these probations. In particular, find out clearly what you need to do to get off of grade probation.

Then, make a plan and do it.

To Pass That Class

At this point in the term it is wise to check with your instructors or TAs to assure yourself that you are passing your courses. This has been suggested in a previous post. If you have chosen to do this here is one tip which might help affirm your commitment. If you do get time to visit with your instructor this statement is very effective to make your position clear.

" I want to do every thing I can to pass your class."

This is clear and direct. Simply say it when you are sure you have your instructor's attention. Then listen carefully to their reply.

When they have stated their terms for a passing grade repeat what they have said back to them.

That is all. It is just that simple. Do it now. Pass That Class