BAC vs. GPA

On Planet College now, student thoughts turn to summer. Jobs, parties, trips and summer school classes. Before we disburse to our various destinations it could be important to go over final grades. Especially if they are not up to the standards you projected back in January. If they are there is no need to read on. You've made your grade goals and life can go on.

If not it could be useful to check your average BAC during the last term. Your BAC is your blood alcohol level. Blood Alcohol Level is simply the percentage of your blood which consists of alcohol. In most jurisdictions, and jurisdictions are where this becomes important, if you have a blood alcohol level of .08% you are considered to be under the influence. This content impairs your ability to function, most notably in operating a motor vehicle.

Alcohol use is a legendary part of Planet College. Some schools are more directly aware of this than others. Some of these schools even have programs directed toward moderating student alcohol use.

But what about you? How is your BAC awareness holding up? Did it exceed your GPA. If so there may be a clue to your over all performance this last term. Check it out.

Simple formula; When your BAC exceeds your GPA your career on Planet College is impaired.

If this has been a factor in your progress or lack of progress think about getting some help. And help can be as simple as talking things over with a friend.

Back To Earth Part Two: What does this company do?

In a hurried swelter of interviews which often accompanies graduation some students get a little lost as to exactly who they are talking to and what they are interviewing for. Sometimes even which company and what it does is unclear.

It is a safe bet that unless your uncle owns the company, you are interviewing for what amounts to an entry level position. Customer Service, Executive Assistant, Marketing Associate these are some of the titles which are available to what the companies call "new hires."

When you are being interviewed it is probably by someone from a department called Human Resources or HR. There often are other individuals at the interview but you will probably be dealing largely with the HR person.

Now, what does this company do?

Beyond the obvious, well known national and even regional or local companies, it is sometimes unclear what a company does. Usually for example with a company called Solid Waste Management Incorporated it isn't too tough to figure that their business has something to do with managing solid waste. If you are in the offices of Airport Car Rental then it wouldn't be unlikely that this company rents cars from offices at the airport.

If, however you find yourself in the offices of National Allied or The Amalgamated Group you might be wondering what exactly this company does.

Here is a Planet College tip for interview success. Ask. Ask the receptionist. You may have to arrive a few minutes early but you've been doing that anyway, right? When you do arrive usually you find the reception area for the company. When you do introduce your self, tell the receptionist you are there for an interview. Check out the walls for posters, advertising or plaques with the company name on it. This is to make sure you are in the right place. If it seems to you that it isn't clear exactly what business this company is in, ask the receptionist.

"Excuse me, I just want to make sure I'm in the right place. What does this company do?"

Ask politely. Be really careful not to sound like your making a joke. (College students have a reputation as fun-loving pranksters. But you are here for an interview for a real job.) Listen carefully to what the receptionist says. And politely repeat it back to her.

This should help cut through the confusion often generated by interviewing at many companies in the same week. It will also save you from the embarrassment some have experienced during interviews when it became apparent that the interviewee did not know what business the company was in.

Good luck!

Back To Earth.

At this time of year most students are thinking job. Summer job, better job, more work, real job. Summer is the prime earning time for many residents of Planet College. For some, though, graduation can mean returning to earth for a real job. The next permanent step in your career.

And a real job means a real change.

Particularly if you have been slobbing your way through the past four or five or six years. The same pair of jeans and t-shirt you've been wearing to class for the last year and a half is not recommend attire for job interviews.

Preparing for your interviews does not necessarily mean buying a snappy new three piece from Barney's of New York at the cost of half of your expected annual income. It does mean paying a little more attention to your appearance than you have been.

Right now your best reference for this is one of those rare "jacket and tie required" events which you may have borrowed a jacket and tie to attend.

Now it is time to step up and get your own.

About that interview or Just exactly what does this company.

Right about now, especially if you are graduating, a big part of Back to Earth from Planet College is jobs. A big part of jobs is just simply getting one. You've probably had several but if you are getting your degree this term then this time the job is a little different. It is the next step and maybe even the first step in your career.

If you are now involved in interviews there are a few basic points to bear in mind. The simple ones may seem obvious but as the TA said at your last class meeting, "Let's review." For any given interview first of all show up on time. In the world of business on time means a few minutes early.

Back it up with paper.

Record keeping on Planet College can get to be as distressing as everything else which requires detailed attention. It is wise to keep a printed copy of every paper you submit whether it is submitted electronically or not. this can really help clarify your status when the system fails. And as you know by now electronic systems often do fail. So keep a copy.

There is another area of submissions in which it is very important to keep a copy. Job applications. Usually by now you know that a resume is important. If you are approaching graduation you really realize how important resumes. You should by now have a neatly printed copy of your resume. This copy should be printed on at least letter grade paper.
It is wise to keep a file with several copies printed. This can be available if you come accross an employment opportunity and no on line submission process is available.

There is one other important reason to keep a printed copy of your resume. Follow-up
Whether graduating or not if you have been submitting job applications and resumes on line following up with a printed copy is a very useful tool to keep your name in front of the recruiter.

The Project On Student Debt.

Right now, foremost on most student's mind on Planet College is money. Fees, loans, grants, debt, tuition - money. Looking towards fall right now the future seems much different than it once did even just a short while ago. The vast changes in the economic picture nationwide have caused virtually everyone to re-consider their own personal finances. You may be facing reduced aid. You may need to work more hours. You may even be considering fewer courses in order to free up time to work to pay for school.

One large factor in the life of every student on Planet College is loans. Loans are money which has to be paid back. You need to carefully consider whether loans, any loans, are a necessary part of your school financing.

To help you consider this further http://projectonstudentdebt.org/ is available. This site has an extensive list of resources and opinions for your consideration.

Take a look right now. It may help you make a decision for fall.

Transfer Dancers

Students are mobile. Transferring on Planet College is practically a given in almost every student life. You may have already transferred from a community college to a four year school. You may have transferred from one school to another. Maybe more than once. You may be a member of the Frequent Transferers Club. For whatever reason transferring is one of the givens, an inevitable part of life on Planet College for most average students.

Right now, due to costs, it might seem cheaper to finish your lower division stuff at a community college. These schools are less costly than four year institutions but provide qualified education for the basics. If you've spent some time at a four year campus you may be "too cool" for those schools but if you are going back to save money you still need to follow their procedures.

If you are considering transferring to any other school there are some basics to remember.

Inform every one. That's simple but don't forget. Tell everyone you know you are now at another school. If you are using your current school's e-mail system you probably need to forward you new email to your contact list. Schools don't usually provide e-mail forwarding.

Find out when the transfer student orientation is on your new campus. Even if you think you know everything you will probably need to be there for your new campus id photo.

Get the transcript request and fees in. This is crucial. Your new school or whichever school needs your information needs your transcripts. And this all costs money. So make sure the fees are in along with the transfer requests.

Find out from your new school if you will need a hand-carried transcript for the student orientation. Not to burden you with agonizing details but this will mean you will, in fact, need a transcript copy from your old school to carry to your new school.

How about housing? Do you have a place? Well. You'll need one. So get on it.

Permits etc. Can you bring your car? Will you need it? Find out now. If you do bring your car you will no doubt need at least one parking permit.

There are, as always on Planet College, numerous details to transferring. Start now and get it done.

It takes more than talent.

Shocking isn't it? When you think about it. But. Do think about it. You, like most students on Planet College, are really not that talented. At just about anything you do you could probably rate yourself as average. Out there, somewhere, there are great talents and even good ones. Stories of success are often tales of someone who unearthed a personal genius for something and went to the top. But they aren't about you and probably aren't going to be. You have one set of skills and they are pretty average.
But.
It ain't what you got it is what you do with it.
You have used your skills to get you where you are. Right now that is probably over all passing most of your courses most of the time. This steady, unspectacular application is in fact the most worthwhile thing you possess.

No. You are not a genius. You are not that talented at anything. But you are persistent. Finally it is your persistence which will get you your degree. Persistence is the real basic talent. And you've shown that. Keep on pushing.

It's May. Do you know where your next final is?

By now as a Planet College veteran you are aware of some of the quirks of student life. One on- going quirk is the location of the finals for your classes. Finals for many courses are not actually examinations. Often they are monologues, recitals, demonstration or the presentation of a group project. Still many courses have traditional finals. Finals for many classes are often not held in the same classroom location where the lectures, demonstrations or labs have occurred. Commonly for example, finals for many general education or lower division courses are held in large lecture halls or campus auditoriums. Some finals may be held in alternate locations not on campus. One one campus, for example, the final for an upper division Creative Writing course is held in a local Mexican Restaurant. The reason is the professor likes the guacamole. Your campus, too, has a variety of venues for the administration of finals. Right now it is important to make sure you know where the final for each of your classes will be held. Check the syllabus, check with the TA or instructor. Check everywhere you can. You wouldn't want to miss your final.