Classes hard to get? Be there for the final.

This term on Planet College is quite a bit different than it has been in anyone's memory. Many students, fewer courses, fewer classes. This means you may be waitlisting or other wise hoping to add some required courses. When you do get that hard won course look around the first day. The room may be packed. Every desk filled and some students who don't ordinarily sit on the floor will be sitting on the floor. This is not so untypical of any first day of a term. Now there is a lot more of it.

For your personal survival file, keep a mental snapshot of this scene. Pull it out, mentally of course, and refer to it during the term. Then look around the class as it exists. Notice the difference. By mid-term nobody will be leaning against the wall and hardly anyone will be sitting on the floor, unless they want to.

This snap shot is the key to your graduation. Courses, especially required courses, are now harder than ever to get. Getting is just the beginning. Staying is the secret. That is continuing to attend; show up and turn in your work.

Summer School Grades

If you've completed your summer school course or courses with a satisfactory grade or grades be grateful. It's probably a good idea to kick back a bit and enjoy what is left of summer. But seasoned veterans of Planet College know there is always at least one more thing to do. In the case of your summer school course the next thing to do is make sure your main campus gets the grade or grades you've received.

Many students take summer school courses at a campus other than their home college. If this has been true for you you may need to know that your home campus does not automatically get the results from your summer school campus. You have to do something to make that happen.

Basically you probably have to go to the administration office of your summer school and ask that a transcript of your grades be sent to your college. This office will require some information usually involved in a form. This sometimes involves a fee.

Because it is probably fairly critical that you get this grade to your home campus now would be a good time to make sure this gets done.

Your home campus probably needs this information as soon as possible. It may be critical for your Fall registration. You may need the transcript to be permitted into a restricted course. Or you may need it to maintain your financial aid package.

You may need it for all of the above reasons and more. Whatever. So take that next step toward graduation. Go make sure your home campus gets your summer school grades.

Then, have a good summer.

Mid-Term Grade Review Part One

At most colleges and universities mid-term grades have been posted by now. You should know pretty much where you stand grade-wise this term. If you attend a school which does not post mid-terms then you need to find out what your grades are so far. There is a simple way to do this. Ask. Ask the TA, ask the professor, ask the instructor, ask whomever is responsible for recording and entering your grade. For some large classes it may take some doing to track down the actual grader. But it will be worth.

If you've been around Planet College for a few semesters you know how easy it is to get out of touch. Skip a few class session, miss a couple of assignments, what the heck, it's Spring. Then comes finals, final grades and (maybe) once again probation or worse.

This term find out where you are now. Some times this can be accomplished simply by talking to the instructor after a class session. If this isn't possible get the office number, cell phone number, or e-mail of who ever is doing the grading. Ask for some time. Say, "I'd like to take a few minutes to go over my grades so far." Then go to the arranged meeting and find out how you are doing. Are you up to date. Are all of your assignments so far turned in and graded. Are you test scores acceptable so far. Do you have a reasonable chance at this point to pass this class? This is what you want to know right now.

Bear in mind that a grade of C is an acceptable grade for passing most college courses. If you had designs on a higher grade well, what are you doing to earn it?

If you have a full schedule you don't necessarily need to do this check-up for every course. But there is probably at least one course that you are a little iffy about. That is the one to check on.