Do I Still Have To Pay The Money Back?

Dana is a student worker on campus who is working part time in the financial aid office this term, mostly answering calls from students. Most of those calls are about money, as you might guess, specifically; Where is it.? Where is my money? That is what most students want to know.

Dana is used to these calls by now and due to having been trained for this position has learned the procedure for informing the student if or when their money will be released.  While searching the student's record she can further determine if the student is lacking anything in their file which could be causing a delay. After a few weeks Dana has gotten used to these calls and, being a student her self, she appreciates the concerns of the caller.

But, Dana was not entirely prepared for the call that came to her one afternoon recently. The caller was a student who had received a letter informing her she had been dis-enrolled by the university due to failing grades.  At Dana's school dis-enrolled means kicked out. The student now had one thing on her mind.  She asked Dana, " Do I still have to pay the money back?"  By this the student meant the loans she had received to pay for her schooling while she had been attending.  After checking the record Dana's reply was, "Yes."  Yes, that caller ,who had completed three semesters, did owe the money.

This incident illustrates one basic, simple and critical factor about your higher education. Whether you complete your schooling or not, if you have accepted loans for college you will have to pay those loans back. You will.  They are loans and loans must be repaid.

Quit, kicked out, didn't go back, just forgot about it. For whatever reason you cease to attend college you will be responsible for your school loans until you have paid them back.

If college attendance has become no longer possible ,before you leave, stop by the financial aid office on your campus. Have the worker ( it probably won't be Dana) go over your file with you. Learn for your elf, first hand, how much you actually owe.  There are now in place, Planet College can assure your, tools to manage your debt while you become financially stable. But ignoring it or pretending it's OK is not one of them.  It is NOT  OK. They won't go away until you pay, so sooner or later you got to do something.  Make it sooner.

Studying Abroad? Get your Gillman On.

Planet College has endorsed and encouraged studying abroad for students since this site was founded.  Planet College is always eager to share resources for students to allow them to pursue overseas studies. If you are an undergraduate foreign language major who has been considering studying abroad but has found the cost prohibitive there may be help. As noted in the posts linked above The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, is a scholarship intended to assist students from the USA who are studying a foreign language and wish to further their studies in another country outside of the United States.  According to their site the requirements are fairly simple.  To be eligible you must be enrolled in higher education in the USA. You must be studying one of the languages listed on their site and also you must have received a Pell Grant.   Applications are still available for Spring, 2014, and will be, according to their site, until October 1, 2013. The complete deadline list is here.  Give their site a look. You could end up studying overseas for hardly more money than you are paying to study in the USA. Pretty Cool.

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.