C cruise

This next term will have the usual set of challenges and surprises, just as they all have had so far for you on Planet College. At the onset of a new term it is wise to once again asses your progress and decide what your goals are if you have goals. If you don't well set some. One useful set of goals is grade goals. Students on Planet College have used grade goals to set standards for themselves, their actions and behaviors effectively for a long time.

A grade goal is simple. Here's a class. What grade to you expect to receive?

If you have not been in the habit of setting grade goals here are some Planet College guide lines. First pick one class, just one, but make it one which looks difficult, maybe the one you have had to drop a couple of times and are trying again this term.  Maybe the major pre-requisite which seems unusually challenging. Which ever class you pick, this is the class you will set a grade goal for. Now, your goal? Make it a grade of C. (*)Yes. A C. An average grade, a grade of C.  Students unfamiliar with grade goal setting often react puzzeled if not outright negatively at this suggestion.  No wonder. Most students who attend college are generally expecting more of themselves and their lives than 'average' anything. But by now you have seen that often things just don't turn out that way. So, a grade of C is realistic and doable.

Now that you have the class and the goal there are just a couple of additional acts that are necessary to follow through. First attend every class, never miss a class meeting. Second, meet with the instructor two or three times during the term to inquire personally about your progress. Finally, - and this is serious- find out exactly where the final will be held. Yes. Because, maybe you have had this experience, the final examination for some classes are not held in the usual meeting place. And you don't want to miss the final. That is it. Attend class, get the book and materials for sure, take the final. nothing more to it. This term, put your self on a C cruise and pass that class.

(*) Planet College has endorsed a grade of C as a means to finish college since this site opened. While it is true that most average students can finish and graduate with out ever getting a grade above a C there are sometimes requirements, especially pre-reqs. for some majors that require at least a "B" in order to be admitted to the major. Before attempting this type of pre-requisite class please ask at the department office if there are 'grade' requirements for the major you are seeking to enter. Could be important.

FAFSA Time.

First things first for a new calendar year. Your fafsa. Time to do your fafsa for next school year. That is 2013-2014.  Yes it is that time and the sooner the better.  Many schools base their awards on a priority system.  That is, the sooner your school, or which ever school you will be attending, gets your information, the sooner they can get to work on your award package. Right now, before everything gets real busy, and it always does, get on line, put in your username, put in your pin and start updating your fafsa.  You may not have every thing you need, for example, your 2012 employers may not have sent your W-4s, your 2012 earnings reports. Still, you can start now and update the information as it comes in. On Planet College, there is no time like now to take that next important step.

Maintaining Your Brand.

 In keeping with this out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new time of year,  Planet College offers this.

"Brand" is the common term now for most every product or service available in this consumer economy. Companies work earnestly to maintain, protect and improve their computer's, automobile's or soft drink's, i.e. their "Brand's" image, (the commonly held public perception of the product or service the brand represents.) Corporations are careful, vigilant and even jealous of how their brand or more exactly brand's image is used.  This vigilance is eminently practical. They likely have spent millions establishing and maintaining this image and will spend just as much to protect it.

You too are a brand and your image also deserves care.  Electronic communication, available now for years to students on Planet College, invites the distribution of images of you.  You have likely responded to this opportunity with images of your student life.  With a major part of college life at least supposedly dedicated to partying and other such pursuits it is not surprising that evidence of this behavior has found its way on to the internet. While useful for connection with other revelers some students, especially those approaching graduation  - and by that Planet College means getting serious about looking for work beyond valet parking for tips-  have found this evidence to be inhibiting to their job search.  Employment screeners, the workers who initially review applications and resumes, are often younger, newer members of the hiring staff and not too far past college themselves. So, they know all the same sites you do.  Their excuse for searching these cites maybe expediency, it may be security but for whatever reason, if your favorite social media page features a photo of you painted to look like that gekko with the annoying accent that sells insurance inhaling six beer bongs at the same time, - well - they may think twice before calling you in for an interview.

Planet College is aware that there are some enterprising individuals who offer to 'scrub' your internet history of such images and references. Well, OK, there's that. It certainly is worthwhile considering especially if you are approaching graduation. Alternatively, it is certainly possible, that you, in one of your increasingly frequent sober moments might accomplish the same thing yourself.

So, there you go, out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new,  give it some thought.  

Hey, Could You Watch My Stuff?

You're probably out of Finals by now and maybe even off campus for a while. If  not and you are still in Finals this is a Planet College reminder about "your stuff".  During finals students basically occupy the library24/7.  Sleeping bags, microwaves and tiny tvs clutter some of the areas usually reserved for students actually studying.  College librarians, tolerant and patient people that they are, usually over look this behavior during finals week despite the neatly lettered signs which clearly prohibit 'squatting".

If you have been or are a finals week squatter you have no doubt asked some other student or had another student ask you, "Hey would you watch my stuff?"  This while they or you run to the rest room for the break that consuming buckets of coffee demands.

Here's the warning.  It is about your stuff.  College campuses attract large amounts of people, usually young but not always  students.  Some of these non-students, aware that students are friendly and tolerant,  congregate on campuses for the opportunities that a large group of tolerant young people present. They are not on campus to learn. They are on campus to steal.

So when you find that rest room run is irresistible and you are tempted to ask anyone with a back pack, "Hey, could you watch my stuff?" make sure you actually know them.  Rest room runs at 3 a.m. are not the best opportunity for clear thinking -BUT- that is just when students are vulnerable and career thieves know this.  Even if they've been hanging around for a while, if you really don't know them ask someone you know to watch your stuff. Or at least grab the most valuable stuff you have, i.e. keys, room and car, phone and wallet or what ever with bank cards and cash. These easily transportable objects or the most likely to be stolen in your absence. 

Good luck on finals from Planet College.

Loan Review

This time of year Planet College usually presents a short reminder about student finances. You can read a couple here and here.

Here's this year's.

In case, you forgot, the money you get, if you get money for school, is mostly comprised of loans. Loans have to be re-paid.  The lender wants the money back.  Just that simple.  Loans must be re-paid.

Just recently Bloomberg, a financial reporting publication, featured a story about a congressional representative from Wisconsin and his proposal concerning student loan re-payment. You can read the story here.

This story is indicative of several factors which have a direct bearing on any typical student's future. First the proposal is from a congressman, a duly elected representative.  This means his proposal, should it make its way through the various committees and votes and procedures necessary to become a law will have just that.  The force of law.

 Secondly,  this law could possibly directly affect your paycheck. Not exactly your ability to earn but your actual paycheck, the means by which you receive what you've earned. All experienced working students on Planet College know, the only thing that really, really counts is what is in your paycheck.

This representative has proposed a direct withholding system for student loan payback.  You've experienced withholding since you've been earning paychecks.

The pros and cons, ins and outs, rights and wrongs and such of this proposal Planet College has not opinion about.  But Planet College does care about accurate information being available to students who can then make informed decisions.

So, when you have time, read the story, think it over and then, possibly, take an action. What ever you decide, it is important because it is your money.

Just sayin' .

The Turkey Trap

It is almost time for a welcome break from Planet College. It is also time to remind students of the looming danger called The Turkey Trap.

Polly's story explains it well.

Polly heard the pilot announce 'Please fasten your seat belt as we approach for a landing.” and awoke from her reverie.  It had been a restful Thanksgiving break. She had arrived home Tuesday evening after an eventful freshman semester. She visited with her family, ate too much turkey and went on a snooze cruise. Saw friends, got caught up and now, as her return flight approached the airport,the cabin lights came on and another light went on in Polly's head. It was accompanied by an announcement that said, ”Oh my God, I've got a paper due for my ten o'clock class and I haven't even started it!"

Polly had fallen for The Turkey Trap.  Since colleges started giving students breaks students mistakenly had assigned these times to get “caught up.”  “Oh, I'll just do it over break” is a common mis-conception students have applied to work due later in the term.   Don't fall for it.  You will not do anything over break. Don't fall for The Turkey Trap.  When you get an assignment start on it right away. Finish it in as timely a fashion as possible. Over break pig out, kick back, visit your sister. Bounce your new little niece on your knee and just generally forget about school. Period.  That's what breaks are for.  Don't fall for the Turkey Trap. If you haven't even started the paper before break, you won't do it over break.

It Is Your Time, Use It Well.

While most of the other students rushed for the exits after the morning calculus class James was enrolled in, James usually waited in his seat. The exit doors always took a few minutes to clear out and there was really nothing to be gained by James pressing through with all of the other bodies. While waiting James noticed something. The board at the front of the lecture hall was covered with the day's work. James realized that having nothing to do and no place to be for two hours until his next class, he could just as easily start the assigned homework. And he did.  Since that time James has developed the habit of completing the calculus assignments right after the calculus class. What better time? The assignment is on the board and the work is in full view and his text is right there too. This practice has allowed James to free up time elsewhere, time he might have spent later on his calculus assignments.

Score one for James.

Observations like this and the resulting behaviors only come from practice. Showing up daily and using your time to the best of your ability.  You have probably had or have periods during your class day when it seem you had "Nothing to do."  A closer look may show this time can be used effectively for projects, assignments or reviewing current work.

Being aware is the first step toward working effectively on Planet College.  If you have not graduated yet you can figure that there is always something you can do, another step on the road to graduation.