Phrases become cliches in popular usage because they express some essential fact or situation concisely. "The devil is in the details" is a popular term which may be another way to say, "Always read the fine print."
When Josh, a film major, returned to campus this term he was surprised to learn he had a balance due, which meant he owed money, on his campus account. Early last spring Josh had completed his financial aid application as well as his registration for Fall and thought no more about it. One of the courses Josh enrolled in was an on-line course. It was offered through the department in which Josh was majoring and would be three upper division units. Josh figured with everything on line he could complete the course work on his own schedule. This could leave more time for other things like work, friends, well, other things.
Thoroughly confused and more than a little annoyed, Josh went to the Student Accounts office where he learned a large portion of his financial aid had been cancelled. After a fit of frenzied diligence Josh learned the on-line course he had enrolled in was not eligible for financial aid. Because this was an ineligible course Josh's financial aid dropped below the minimum units for full time aid.
What were Josh's choices right now? More important what would yours be. Get more time at work to start paying on the balance due? Do a late add on an eligible course? Call the Bank of Mom and Dad for another emergency loan?
The wisdom of hindsight points out that this situation could have been avoided had Josh read the fine print in his school's annual catalogue. Somewhere in there in fine print it says "Not all on-line courses" are eligible for financial aid. The on-line course Josh had signed up for was one of those ineligible courses.
If you, like Josh, did not or do not read or don't even know your school has a course catalogue then here is today's Planet College Headline. Your school does have a course catalogue. The catalogue contains the guidelines, requirements and essential information you need to know about courses, registration, eligibility and graduation. There is a lot of fine print and it reads like a legal document because it is a legal document. There are probably still some paper ones around the admin building but if you ask the librarian she can help you find it on line. It is there. It contains the rules and at some point you will need to know them. Not knowing can cost you. The cliche is a cliche because it is accurate. Don't be 'deviled' by the details.
Oh and Josh? He found a Professor he knows in his department who signed him up for three units of Special Studies and his financial aid was restored.
Welcome back, and good luck this term from Planet College.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Your Next Audition
The expanding horizon of opportunities Planet College presents offers classes, courses, lectures, people and events which stimulate your own development.
One such opportunity might be available through your school's Theater, Speech or Speech and Drama Department. Majors in these departments regularly practice preparing and presenting themselves for public performances. The preparation which goes into any such presentation could also be useful for your next interview so consider this.
As explained in the post of August 12 employers can now be very picky about waiting for the right candidate for any opening they have. In a sense an employer is 'auditioning' a candidate for this job. It thus make sense that job seekers who have had some experience presenting them selves, either on stage or giving a speech, have at least a slight advantage in an interview.
With this in mind it might be helpful to consider a course in your schools Speech, Drama or Theater Department. Lower division or introductory courses are commonly open to all enrolled students. If your schedule is full this term consider a course like this for next semester.
If you are unsure of the value of such a course try this. Schools often allow a student to audit courses. In this case it wouldn't be a full audit for the term. Simply find a likely course in the schedule and then track down the instructor. Ask her if you can 'audit' , that is sit in, for one or two sessions. If she agrees one or two sessions should be enough to give you a general sense of the course content, requirements and whether it could be helpful for you.
And remember the way the job market is you need all the help you can get. (Couldn't hurt your social life either.)
One such opportunity might be available through your school's Theater, Speech or Speech and Drama Department. Majors in these departments regularly practice preparing and presenting themselves for public performances. The preparation which goes into any such presentation could also be useful for your next interview so consider this.
As explained in the post of August 12 employers can now be very picky about waiting for the right candidate for any opening they have. In a sense an employer is 'auditioning' a candidate for this job. It thus make sense that job seekers who have had some experience presenting them selves, either on stage or giving a speech, have at least a slight advantage in an interview.
With this in mind it might be helpful to consider a course in your schools Speech, Drama or Theater Department. Lower division or introductory courses are commonly open to all enrolled students. If your schedule is full this term consider a course like this for next semester.
If you are unsure of the value of such a course try this. Schools often allow a student to audit courses. In this case it wouldn't be a full audit for the term. Simply find a likely course in the schedule and then track down the instructor. Ask her if you can 'audit' , that is sit in, for one or two sessions. If she agrees one or two sessions should be enough to give you a general sense of the course content, requirements and whether it could be helpful for you.
And remember the way the job market is you need all the help you can get. (Couldn't hurt your social life either.)
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Grad School Grad Rates.
If this coming school year pretty much figures to be your last, finally, you may be thinking in terms of a graduate program, Grad School.
Finding your way through the survival course that has been your time on Planet College may have strengthened your confidence in your abilities as a student. You are far from freshman confusion and sophomore bravado and now have a realistic basis to judge your abilities as a student.
If your college experience has prompted you to now consider graduate school there is one basic statistic you are well advised to research. That statistic is the graduation rate of the students admitted to any graduate program you may be considering. Graduate programs commonly admit more students than eventually graduate from the program. The components of this attrition aren't far different from the factors that have caused undergraduates, some you probably know, to leave school. Cost of attendance, inability to adjust to the demands of college, and even simply the need to get to work also influence graduate students. Same simple effect applies, fewer students graduate than are admitted.
You now know all it took to get admitted to your current school. These same procedures will definitely apply to a graduate school admission. Once again it is smart to visit the campus where the program you are considering is presented. Make time, do that and while you are there be sure and check with the program administrator or co-ordinator or who ever you can find who knows. Ask how many student's are admitted and ask how many usually graduate. It's important.
Finding your way through the survival course that has been your time on Planet College may have strengthened your confidence in your abilities as a student. You are far from freshman confusion and sophomore bravado and now have a realistic basis to judge your abilities as a student.
If your college experience has prompted you to now consider graduate school there is one basic statistic you are well advised to research. That statistic is the graduation rate of the students admitted to any graduate program you may be considering. Graduate programs commonly admit more students than eventually graduate from the program. The components of this attrition aren't far different from the factors that have caused undergraduates, some you probably know, to leave school. Cost of attendance, inability to adjust to the demands of college, and even simply the need to get to work also influence graduate students. Same simple effect applies, fewer students graduate than are admitted.
You now know all it took to get admitted to your current school. These same procedures will definitely apply to a graduate school admission. Once again it is smart to visit the campus where the program you are considering is presented. Make time, do that and while you are there be sure and check with the program administrator or co-ordinator or who ever you can find who knows. Ask how many student's are admitted and ask how many usually graduate. It's important.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Jobhunter's Special.
A friend of Planet College who operates her own educational placement service responded to our inquiry for help in the job market with the following e-mail about the current climate for job hunters.
And remember you, if you aren't now, will soon be a job hunter.
Hey William,
I might be able to be of more help if you decide to look outside your usual world for employment.
If you do I can think of a few general things that you might not have
considered.
One thing I can say, all around, is that things are getting more ccompetitive. Anything you can do to show you are actively involved with the field and are looking for ways to expand your skill set is a great thing. I can see how my own hiring practice has changed. Some of our employees that I hired 5 years ago would not even get an interview today.
On the flip side, I can also say that having a PhD can work against you these days. I think having an MA is actually perfect. Employers love MAs (myself included), because they can often do the work of a PhD for a lower price :-) PhD's are often just too expensive in today's tight market with
shrinking profits.
The other thing to be aware of this that right now many employers are looking for the absolute perfect candidate. What this means is that often times the employer may actually like you, but still not give you a job, because you are not perfect for the opening they have. I know am not the only employer who thinks like a casting director. With this you can know that a significant percentage of the time you don't get the job, it has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with the job opening, and the fact that employers are being super picky these days because they can.
As a result, one of the keys to success right now, is playing a numbers game. If you keep putting yourself out there, sooner or later you will be the right person for the part, and you will get the job. This is true now more than ever.
The other piece of it is attitude (I am sure you KNOW THIS!). Do your very best to keep a positive attitude in front of the employer. Ten minutes ago I just ended a job interview with an applicant because I could tell she was depressed. She kept saying how she had been out of work for 10 months. The first thing I imagine when an applicant says this to ME, IN AN INTERVIEW, is that he or she will say this to one of our clients. You can imagine this is the last thing I would want any instructor to say to any of our clients. My job is to provide solutions, not create them, by sending out troubled candidates.
The final piece is preparation. Study up on potential job interview questions. Many times I don't hire applicants because they cannot answer the questions I ask. Make sure to be ready for the tough ones like "Where could you improve?" and "Why should we hire you over someone else?" Also because employers are thinking like casting directors, you may need to answer very specific, very detailed questions about your experience. Be ready for this.
Maybe you know all this already, but I do hope it helps. I
Hope you find work soon!
This is an accurate comprehensive view of the marketplace for job candidates with degrees.
This letter could function as encouragement for students finding it hard to stay focused in school. Your diploma is a very important step to your earnings for the rest of your life. Stick with it.
And remember you, if you aren't now, will soon be a job hunter.
Hey William,
I might be able to be of more help if you decide to look outside your usual world for employment.
If you do I can think of a few general things that you might not have
considered.
One thing I can say, all around, is that things are getting more ccompetitive. Anything you can do to show you are actively involved with the field and are looking for ways to expand your skill set is a great thing. I can see how my own hiring practice has changed. Some of our employees that I hired 5 years ago would not even get an interview today.
On the flip side, I can also say that having a PhD can work against you these days. I think having an MA is actually perfect. Employers love MAs (myself included), because they can often do the work of a PhD for a lower price :-) PhD's are often just too expensive in today's tight market with
shrinking profits.
The other thing to be aware of this that right now many employers are looking for the absolute perfect candidate. What this means is that often times the employer may actually like you, but still not give you a job, because you are not perfect for the opening they have. I know am not the only employer who thinks like a casting director. With this you can know that a significant percentage of the time you don't get the job, it has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with the job opening, and the fact that employers are being super picky these days because they can.
As a result, one of the keys to success right now, is playing a numbers game. If you keep putting yourself out there, sooner or later you will be the right person for the part, and you will get the job. This is true now more than ever.
The other piece of it is attitude (I am sure you KNOW THIS!). Do your very best to keep a positive attitude in front of the employer. Ten minutes ago I just ended a job interview with an applicant because I could tell she was depressed. She kept saying how she had been out of work for 10 months. The first thing I imagine when an applicant says this to ME, IN AN INTERVIEW, is that he or she will say this to one of our clients. You can imagine this is the last thing I would want any instructor to say to any of our clients. My job is to provide solutions, not create them, by sending out troubled candidates.
The final piece is preparation. Study up on potential job interview questions. Many times I don't hire applicants because they cannot answer the questions I ask. Make sure to be ready for the tough ones like "Where could you improve?" and "Why should we hire you over someone else?" Also because employers are thinking like casting directors, you may need to answer very specific, very detailed questions about your experience. Be ready for this.
Maybe you know all this already, but I do hope it helps. I
Hope you find work soon!
This is an accurate comprehensive view of the marketplace for job candidates with degrees.
This letter could function as encouragement for students finding it hard to stay focused in school. Your diploma is a very important step to your earnings for the rest of your life. Stick with it.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Legally Speaking
As most law students could report the world of legal proceedings is a separate reality even more arcane and potentially confusing than the basic alternate reality we know as Planet College. While law students are working diligently to absorb and conquer the language, customs and procedures of The Legal World most average students could find this world intimidating to say the least.
Fortunately most Planet College regulars have little or nothing to do with The Legal World. Well, almost nothing. A careful look at much of your higher education will reveal that it is defined by legal obligations. These are spelled out in your annual registration packet, residence hall license and financial aid award letter. These documents provide protection for both you and your university.
But your legal involvement may not end there. Occasionally students become involved in legal proceedings not quite outside of, but, on the edge of the college environment. You may be all too familiar with some of these occasions. The most common student involved legal proceedings outside of parking tickets are substance use related or landlord/tenant matters, (as they are referred to in the legal world).
In either case or in any case if you are involved in any type of legal proceedings whatsoever it is wise, very, very wise to get help.
Legal assistance is not often available on campus but there may be some form of help in your town. One resource, The Legal Aid Society, provides legal services to individuals. Usually there are some basic requirements such as income and a phone call to this organization can establish your eligibility.
Some law schools also operate clinics, usually staffed by students who are supervised by professionals. The clinics often charge little or no fee for a consultation.
What ever the legal matter there is somewhere close some type of help for you. The Law takes itself very seriously and expects you to do the same. For this you will probably need help.
A Planet College word of caution. Students are acclimated to getting practically every type of help, information or assistance electronically. Legally, this type of assistance may qualify as 'opinion.' This type of opinion may be useful for discounts on movie tickets but it is not reliable 'legal aid'. The most reliable aid you may need legally is always gained in person, face-to-face, one-on-one, with a qualified professional.
Fortunately most Planet College regulars have little or nothing to do with The Legal World. Well, almost nothing. A careful look at much of your higher education will reveal that it is defined by legal obligations. These are spelled out in your annual registration packet, residence hall license and financial aid award letter. These documents provide protection for both you and your university.
But your legal involvement may not end there. Occasionally students become involved in legal proceedings not quite outside of, but, on the edge of the college environment. You may be all too familiar with some of these occasions. The most common student involved legal proceedings outside of parking tickets are substance use related or landlord/tenant matters, (as they are referred to in the legal world).
In either case or in any case if you are involved in any type of legal proceedings whatsoever it is wise, very, very wise to get help.
Legal assistance is not often available on campus but there may be some form of help in your town. One resource, The Legal Aid Society, provides legal services to individuals. Usually there are some basic requirements such as income and a phone call to this organization can establish your eligibility.
Some law schools also operate clinics, usually staffed by students who are supervised by professionals. The clinics often charge little or no fee for a consultation.
What ever the legal matter there is somewhere close some type of help for you. The Law takes itself very seriously and expects you to do the same. For this you will probably need help.
A Planet College word of caution. Students are acclimated to getting practically every type of help, information or assistance electronically. Legally, this type of assistance may qualify as 'opinion.' This type of opinion may be useful for discounts on movie tickets but it is not reliable 'legal aid'. The most reliable aid you may need legally is always gained in person, face-to-face, one-on-one, with a qualified professional.
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