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.