Three Reasons the College Catalog is Your Friend

Three Reasons the College Catalog is Your Friend

By Linda Pogue

When going to college, it is important to get a copy of the college catalog, even if it is only an electronic copy, of the college catalog that is current when you begin classes. If the only copy you can get is an electronic copy, at the very least, save it to your hard drive. It is a good idea to make a backup on another drive and maybe even print it out. There are several reasons for this.

1. Your degree program's specific requirements will be listed. One idea is to put a pencil mark beside each class as you complete it. This will give you a visual record of what you have accomplished and what you still need to take.
2. Degree program specific requirements change often. If your degree requirements change while you are continuously enrolled in the program, the college should honor the original contract(i.e. catalog) from when you enrolled. Sometimes, this means you will take a substitution course for a course that is no longer offered in your degree program, but it will make completing your degree a stationary target, as opposed to a moving target that can't be accomplished.
3. You can plan ahead. By checking out which courses you have to take, then making a list and noting which courses have pre-requisites and co-requisites, you can plan your schedule. Most college catalogs will also tell when courses will be offered, such as Fall of even years. This lets you know that if you don't take the pre-requisite by spring of the odd year preceeding the course you need, you won't be able to take it until the fall two years later. If you are confused (and it is easy to get confused about this), be sure to see your academic advisor early, rather than late.

Keep you college catalog the entire time you are in college, because it is a legal contract with the school detailing what you have to do to graduate. You catalog is your friend, because you not only have degree specific information, you have contact information such as addresses and phone numbers, and information about each instructor, too. It's not a bad idea to have two copies, one to carry with you, and one to keep at home. Reading the college catalog tells you about college expectations of student conduct, as well as general information about the college itself.

If you have not yet enrolled in college, be sure to obtain and read through the college catalog before signing up. The catalog will tell you what is expected of you as a student, what courses you can CLEP, how many courses you can transfer into the college toward your degree program, the academic policy to follow if you disagree with a grade, and much, much more. College catalogs should be required reading for all serious college students.

The Adult College Student's Don't Do List

The Adult College Student's Don't Do List

By Linda Aragoni

Out-of-school adults are entering college in increasing numbers. If you are one of those students, knowing what not to do can make the difference between between flunking out and graduating. Here are four tips to help you make the most of your college experience. 1. Don't expect college to be like high school. Unlike high school teachers, college instructors won't break the work into daily assignments for you. They expect you to read the syllabus and plan your work to meet the class deadlines. In many classes, your semester grade may depend on one or two assignments. College instructors rarely give a separate grade for homework and class participation, so your course grade will likely be based solely on test grades and papers.

2. Don't expect college to be like your workplace.

Your employer probably hired you because of your aptitude for your job, told you how the job must be done, and trained you to do it. At least for the first week, someone probably checked daily to see how you were getting along and whether you had questions.

In college, your instructors will assume you have skills such as time management, study skills, and academic writing. If you do not have those skills, may find yourself plunged into situations for which you have little or no preparation. You may be a whiz at bookkeeping, for example, but find yourself enrolled in English, history, and sociology.

3. Don't take on too much.

If you have been out of school a few years, you many find it best to ease into a college program by taking just a single course. For starters, take a course in which you have some expertise or interest. That will help learn your way around and gain confidence. Be careful, however, that your grade in the course will not depend heavily on skills you don't have. If your grade in an art course will depend on a term paper and you need remedial writing, don't take the art course until you have dealt with your writing skills deficit.

Then, when you are familiar with the college environment, take a single course in which you expect to have some difficulty. In this way, you will not only have time to adjust to college, but also get one tough class out of the way.

4. Don't hesitate to seek help.

If you see you are having difficulty with an academic subject, make an appointment to see your instructor right away. If you have problems that affect you in more than one class, such as a learning disorder, check the college catalog or ask your advisor to refer you to someone who can help.

If your problem is not academic, you may still be able to get help on campus. Most colleges can direct you to employment services, academic aid, health services, and counseling for personal problems.

With realistic expectations and a willingness to ask for help you'll be off to a good start on your college degree.

A former college writing instructor who taught adult students in online classes for five years, Linda Aragoni helps teachers do a better job teaching expository writing to students at her website, You-Can-Teach-Writing.com. She continues to support students embarking on college careers with essay help in an on-site forum. Copyright 2010, Linda G. Aragoni. You may reprint this article provided the whole text, the author's name, the links, and this copyright notice remain intact.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Aragoni

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The Adult College Student's Don't Do List

The Adult College Student's Don't Do List

A Guest Post By Linda Aragoni

Out-of-school adults are entering college in increasing numbers. If you are one of those students, knowing what not to do can make the difference between between flunking out and graduating.

Here are four tips to help you make the most of your college experience.

1. Don't expect college to be like high school.

Unlike high school teachers, college instructors won't break the work into daily assignments for you. They expect you to read the syllabus and plan your work to meet the class deadlines.

In many classes, your semester grade may depend on one or two assignments. College instructors rarely give a separate grade for homework and class participation, so your course grade will likely be based solely on test grades and papers.

2. Don't expect college to be like your workplace.

Your employer probably hired you because of your aptitude for your job, told you how the job must be done, and trained you to do it. At least for the first week, someone probably checked daily to see how you were getting along and whether you had questions.

In college, your instructors will assume you have skills such as time management, study skills, and academic writing. If you do not have those skills, may find yourself plunged into situations for which you have little or no preparation. You may be a whiz at bookkeeping, for example, but find yourself enrolled in English, history, and sociology.

3. Don't take on too much.

If you have been out of school a few years, you many find it best to ease into a college program by taking just a single course. For starters, take a course in which you have some expertise or interest. That will help learn your way around and gain confidence. Be careful, however, that your grade in the course will not depend heavily on skills you don't have. If your grade in an art course will depend on a term paper and you need remedial writing, don't take the art course until you have dealt with your writing skills deficit.

Then, when you are familiar with the college environment, take a single course in which you expect to have some difficulty. In this way, you will not only have time to adjust to college, but also get one tough class out of the way.

4. Don't hesitate to seek help.

If you see you are having difficulty with an academic subject, make an appointment to see your instructor right away. If you have problems that affect you in more than one class, such as a learning disorder, check the college catalog or ask your advisor to refer you to someone who can help.

If your problem is not academic, you may still be able to get help on campus. Most colleges can direct you to employment services, academic aid, health services, and counseling for personal problems.

With realistic expectations and a willingness to ask for help you'll be off to a good start on your college degree.

A former college writing instructor who taught adult students in online classes for five years, Linda Aragoni helps teachers do a better job teaching expository writing to students at her website, You-Can-Teach-Writing.com. She continues to support students embarking on college careers with essay help in an on-site forum. Copyright 2010, Linda G. Aragoni. You may reprint this article provided the whole text, the author's name, the links, and this copyright notice remain intact.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Aragoni


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