Term Reminder: Easy A

Several semesters back Planet College posted an entry titled Easy A.
That entry is here.  Often when planning a term schedule students seek a course which will guarantee them a high grade with little effort.  The entry noted the term 'easy', as in Easy A, is often a seductive illusion. If you are still looking to add and trying to find an 'easy' course, read the entry. If your schedule for this term is set and you have included an 'easy' course click on the link anyway. You might learn something. And that would be good.

Welcome Back. Here's The Deal.

Returning to campus is now a familiar exercise for you and most other students you know on Planet College. By now you are familiar with all the 'deals' available to students on or around your campus. Special deals, real deals, pizza deals the list is long. And by now you are totally familiar with what 'deals' actually mean to you, an average student on Planet College.

 If you are not familiar or have lost track here is what a deal means. Some business, some organization, or some individual wants your money. They do. So they offer a 'deal'. A deal is simply an exchange. Pizza, books, a car, a phone, a fitness membership in exchange for your money.  Overall this tradition, offering 'deals' to college students is fair and equitable. You're hungry. They have pizza. Take the deal. You get pizza, they get your money. Simple and expedient. That is a basic deal.

Now that you've been around Planet College you have probably learned some deals are better than others. The basic measurement of any deal, your satisfaction with the exchange, has told you whether the 'deal' really was a good deal for you. And the key is 'for you'.  With precious little time to stop and reflect if every deal is worth it it is common practice among students to just keep steppin', go with the flow, miss a few, make a few and life goes on.

Here is a Planet College suggestion. This term take a look at one 'deal', just one, you are involved in. Just one. Your fitness membership, phone plan, roommate deal pick one. Stop and reflect. Pause for just a few minutes and consider the question, "Is this the best deal for me." Just that. Ask your self that. Your reply if honestly considered, will tell you a few things about you, how you feel and how you may have changed. Changed, since this 'deal' seemed like a good idea.

If your answer is dissatisfaction you have probably grown, not only as a student but also as a person. Planet College offers many, many opportunities for experiences to stimulate your growth not only as a student but also as a person.  With the term approaching the typical full roar of activities, interests and involvements it is quite possibly too late to change any deal you may have signed up for. If you have found some 'deal' in your school life which no longer works your wisest course for this term is probably to go along. Time moves fast on Planet College. Note to yourself, " Next term, I'm making a change."  And next term, do it.

When Things Change Go Check Your fafsa.

 Planet College has frequently emphasized keeping your fafsa up to date. Those posts can be seen here.  This is another fafsa reminder.

The start of a school year brings many pressing subjects to the mind of students on Planet College.  Housing, work and class schedule are pre-eminent among the things which need to be attended to as classes start.  One thing which may have a direct bearing on each of these factors is your financial aid award. If you received your award letter  agreed signed and returned it to your school then the financial aid it represent is probably in place.

But what if things have changed for you financially?  Specifically, what if some help you were counting on has not come through.  Have changes in your personal financial aid picture left you unnecessarily stretched.  Planet College has always emphasized the importance of asking for help when you need it. And if your are short of funds then you need help.  Help almost always starts with you. What are you doing to help  yourself?

First thing is make an appointment to discuss your situation with a counselor in your schools financial aid office.  Then go on line and change your fafsa to more accurately reflect your current situation. Your fafsa, the document which provides the basic information upon which your school determines your need was no doubt filed much earlier this year. During the intervening months much could have happened to affect your financial status.  Many students depend on family for support but what if changes have reduced or eliminated that support? Changing the facts as you can see them is the first step to getting the help you need to complete this coming school year successfully.

While students often don't realize that they can amend their fafsa to more accurately reflect their actual financial picture now you know.  So, when you need help ask. But first help the helpers help you. If it is appropriate change your fafsa now.

Unpaid Internship Update

Planet College  has reported several times on the dilemma of students who take unpaid internships hoping these positions will lead them to a career, often in arts-related industries like fashion and motion picture production.  Those posts are here.

Recently on an entertainment business related radio program, The Business, the host, journalist Kim Masters, interviewed Eric Glatt, a former intern, who sued Fox Studios over his experience as an unpaid intern on the film The Black Swan, an Oscar winning motion picture. The interview with Eric Glatt can be heard here. Mr. Glatt, at least thus far, has won his lawsuit.  He has since expanded his activities in this field to include other areas where interns are recruited, unpaid and, he believes, exploited.  His most recent statements are here.

Planet College endorses Mr. Glatt's actions to assure that students who are recruited as interns are treated fairly and paid when required. As the new term looms and anxious students actively seek positions which will advance their careers Planet College once again advises students to think carefully before accepting any 'unpaid' position. You have valuable skills and talents and deserve to be fairly compensated for your work.

Before We Start.

Classes wont be back in regular session for a few weeks yet. You might still be finishing up a summer course or working the extra hours or the extra job or jobs you need to be prepared for Fall. Planet College regularly reminds students of the basics of finishing the requirements. Due to the busyness of everyday life on Planet College students often find this reminder useful. So here we go for the next term.

First of all, attend. Don't miss class. Students who graduate attend class regularly. The one sure path to your degree is attend your courses.

Second. Have a grade goal for each class.  By now you understand the value of goals and a grade goal helps you focus. Remember a grade of C is a passing grade. You can, depending on your major, finish and graduate without ever achieving a grade higher than a C.  This can help take the pressure off.

Stop occasionally and look around at where you are, both on campus and in your life. Are you where you want to be? Probably not yet. But are you on your way? Probably yes.

Third, got a problem? Ask for help. Class problem, money problems, roommate problems, even legal problems, there is probably a resource on or near campus which can provide some assistance. All you have to do is locate them, they are there, and ask. Just say, " I need some help."

There once again are the basic which can significantly assist through college and back to earth with a real job.

I Want To Be A Fireman.

Remember that way back when, a long long time ago?  When someone asked you "What do you want to be when you grow up?" What did you say?  A standard answer and still surprisingly common is "Fireman." Not surprising. They get to fly through traffic lights in bright red loud trucks and wear pretty cool helmets.  Impressive, especially for a young child.

Along the way things have changed, lots of things. You have grown up and now are aware of more choices available.  This is common and useful. Still, if you look back, back to those answers you may have given about you and your life when you were very young there may be some characteristics which are still basically true. Fireman, for example, get a lot of recognition.  The are recognized as helpers protecting individuals and the community from danger. Heroes in a word.

What about your choices now? Fireman may not be on the list of your ambitions but it is likely that your intentions for your life still contain some basic values you had experienced about yourself when you were very small. While then you were not capable of articulating your urges as values now you can.

So this is an essential question Planet College is presenting for your examination. Do you still want to be a fireman?  Maybe not, but, more basically are your choices, career and personal, reflecting your values?  Are they?  If your answer is "Yes" then you are qualified to pass self-awarness with a grade of A.  If you are not sure or don't know it might be time for a little studying. A brief self reflection which scans your current practices and habits, friends and work life, classes you enjoy and never miss, will quickly show how close or far from your basic values you are currently.

If, even more basically, you don't know what your basic values are it is time to find out. And you can. It wont take long at all. Just ask yourself, "What in my life means the most to me?" There. There it will be. Is it family, money, recognition, achievement, friendship, loyalty, humor or any one of a myriad of qualities?  Go ahead. Ask your self. And listen carefully to your answer. What ever it is. That will be the basis for your choices for most of your life.

And, most importantly, if you still want to be a fireman, there is still time.

Help May Be Closer Than You Think

Advancing toward  career goals while trying to stay current or even awake while completing college courses is a challenge most students face daily.  In this busy often frenzied milieu any kind of help is always welcomed.  Sometimes with a bit of diligence a student can assist themselves handily and make a worthwhile gain.  All it takes is asking for some help and often all that takes is finding the right person to ask.

Amy learned this through a tip from a friend, another student, followed through, and got some real help for her work search. Amy had been working on campus in the bookstore but was nearing the end of her third year and felt it was time to move on to a job in 'the real world' whatever that might be. Amy was explaining to another student, her friend Becky, that she had gone to the career center on campus to get some interviewing tips and a resume critique. These are part of the services that are available, along with job leads, at the center located in the student activities building near the center of campus. Amy complained that the center is staffed mostly by students like herself who don't really know much more about resumes or interview techniques than she does.  Becky listened and then told Amy about another resource on campus she knew of that might be helpful.

Becky's mom worked on campus as a secretary in the Geography Department.  She had been interviewed and subsequently hired several years before through the university's human resources department located in the school's administration building.  Becky suggested that Amy go to that office and make an appointment with one of the staff members who works there.  Becky thought that a worker, one who regularly reviews applications and interviews candidates for school positions, might have some practical knowledge and useful tips which could aid Amy's job search.

Amy thought it was worth a try.  She went to the human resources office in the administration building and requested to see an interviewer.  When Amy explained she was not really applying for a job she was just looking for some practical advice, the receptionist said she would see what she could do.  While Amy waited,  the receptionist used the phone and in a few minutes told Amy she would have a regular appointment and an interview with one of the professionals who staffed the office.

A few days later Amy returned for the appointment. The staff worker greeted her, showed her to an office and began a brief interviewing session as though she were there for a real job.  After  completing the interview and reviewing Amy's resume the worker spent a few minutes explaining some of the basics of job seeking and interviewing. She told Amy always know what exact job you are applying for and always know something about the company, at least what they do. She also told Amy to arrive a few minutes early, dress like you are ready to go to work that day and smile when speaking with the interviewer.  Amy also got some useful tips about her resume. The main thing the interviewer emphasized is the company wants to know what you can do for them. Most interviewers understand that college students and recent graduates often do not have a great deal of business or work experience.  What students lack in experience they usually make up for in enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

This was a valuable experience for Amy. She put the advice to good use and followed through. A few months later she was hired as a part-time  assistant in the events planning office of a municipal center near where she lives. This is a big step for Amy and she has been learning a lot and enjoying the experience while she finishes the requirements for her graduation.

If you are a little overwhelmed with the whole job-seeking, career planning, what-am-I-going-to-do- after-graduation dilemma maybe a visit to the hiring office, the real hiring office, on your campus could help clarify your next move. Worth a try, yes?