Study Groups

Around this time in the term interest in school seriously flags. The day to day grind takes its toll and thoughts of holidays and especially money for holiday fun become paramount. When this state of mind begins to take over it is time for serious students on Planet College to find a study group. Study groups usually meet regularly often in the library or residence halls. Some are dedicated to one subject, Organic Chemistry or American History for example. Others are organized for just generally any subject the student wants to pursue.

Study groups can be really useful for average student's whose general interest, energy and attention begins to ebb at this time of year. If you are not already a member of such a group you can easily find one. If you are exceptionally ambitious you can start your own. All you need is a regularly scheduled time and place and one or two other students who really want to finish this term with passing grades.

The subject you pick could be the subject you are doing the least well in. For most students on Planet College there is on class every term which becomes particularly difficult. This is the subject you need to bear down on. It is probably too late to drop and you don't need another D or F. So take all of your materials so far and find or start a study group.

Stick with it. Your time this term can not be replaced. Use it well, join or start a study group.

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

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.