DENIED

So its that time again, when I'm sending out denial letters for graduation. So far I have three, and I'm waiting a few days before sending out some more (giving them a chance to explain the discrepancies). This is the WORST part of my job, but it happens all the time.

Its the end of your last semester and you're so excited. Your family all gathers, gifts in hand, as you walk across that stage. Maybe you have a job offer, maybe you are going straight into grad school in a few months. It's an exciting time.

Until

I send you a letter that basically says "Well, you walked and you THOUGHT you graduated, but you didn't and here's why"

I cannot stress to you how important it is to make sure you have completed all of the coursework you need before applying to graduate. Even more important is passing those final classes. The people in my job at other departments and even other schools are not usually as nice as I am. I go the extra mile, doing your final grad checks AS SOON as I have the list (around the 3rd week of classes) and then EMAILING you about any discrepancies so you have the entire semester to fix it before I do final clearances after grades are posted. If you're a music major at FSU, you're in luck because I will do this for you until for some reason I don't work here anymore. However, if you're in a different dept or school, it is up to you to know up until the final day of finals week that you have done what you needed to do.

I don't want any of you to get these letters I am sending out. If you're at FSU and need a grad check that you can't get from your dept, ask me. I will never mind doing that for you.

A productive summer

Summer is painted as a relaxing carefree time of year when students can get as lazy and spontaneous as they want and have nothing to get in the way. While this is true, and it is usually an enormous amount of fun, there are better ways to spend the summer without losing any fun.

You can study abroad, take dance lessons, join a summer sports team, volunteer, and even earn a big chunk of money working. Some major perks of summer are the job opportunities like earning thousands of dollars as a camp counselor or lifeguard. Imagine spending every day in the summer sun, getting tan, and getting PAID.

I'm a dancer, this is no secret. many of the girls on my team spent their summers relaxing, taking a break, or going on various vacations. I'm sure they had a great time, but in reality they really missed out. Some of us have been taking class all summer, spending 3-5 days a week taking class and training for the upcoming competition season. Not only are we going to have a significant advantage when classes and rehearsals begin again in the Fall (imagine trying to stretch and do leaps after not stretching for 3 months ><), but we have maintained and even improved our techniques throughout the summer. Plus, those of us that were in class this summer will be performing more pieces than the others simply because we were there to learn them. A significant advantage over all.

The same applies to college. Just like muscles and tendons, the brain needs to stretch to stay in shape. By taking summer classes (even and especially in alternative formats such as transient coursework [taking class at a different college near home for the summer] and study abroad), students can ensure that they stay focused and prepared for the coming semester while getting ahead in their coursework. You'll not only do better in your classes, you'll graduate sooner in the end. Win + Win = Win.

So think about it when next summer rolls around. You could go home and party every night, and if that's your thing, that's fine. But if you think that could get boring after a few weeks, and I certainly do, try to fill your summer with adventures and learning experiences that will build lasting memories and give you a head start on the coming fall term.

CHANGE is afoot

They say not all change is bad, and I have to agree with them on some points and blankly at them on others.

The economy sucks, we all know this. The question of the year is HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT ME AS A COLLEGE STUDENT????

Bright futures scholarships (for Florida residents) are a major part of this change. Universities throughout the State of Florida are doing everything they can to ensure a smooth transition and complete understand of these changes as they occur.

The general rules to avoid extra costs (and these can be huge depending on your scholarship) are:

1. Do not drop classes after the 4th day of class (end of drop/add period) unless its a medical or personal emergency or you WILL have to pay back part of the tuition for the course to Bright Futures
---Even though the money never actually hit your hands, your class was paid for by Bright futures directly to the university.

***Sometimes, stuff hits the fan, your homework and tests haven't been up to par, and you need to drop a class in order to save your GPA. This is a decision you must make. You must decide if your GPA is worth paying back over $100 per credit in order to keep a D or F off your record.

2. Make sure your schedule is decided on before the 4th day. Adding classes MAY eventually also incur a fee, so make sure you have your stuff straight by the end of Drop Add (MUSIC MAJORS PLEASE TAKE CARE OF REGISTERING FOR LESSONS!!!!)

3. Some teachers are as unreliable about some things as students. DO NOT assume that just because you didn't show up the first day that your teacher dropped you from the class, even though they're supposed to. Don't be lazy, just go drop yourself. It takes 2 seconds and then you KNOW you won't get charged for a class you have to drop later or end up with a mysterious F.

Please ask me any and all questions about these and other changes. I am available to you here and on Facebook. I WANT to help you. Please take me up on it.

It's YOUR time

It's not about how fast or slow you finish your degree. It's about the experience and knowledge you gain in the process.

Most undergraduates take between 4 and 5 years to complete their degree, making it NORMAL for students to be on the 5 year plan. It's okay, especially if you're filling the experience with amazing courses, internships, clubs, and the general fun of being an undergrad student.

I took 4.5 years to complete my bachelors, and my fiance took 7.5. We both ended up with Bachelor of Arts degrees, and no one cares how long they took. The end result was years of study and a degree to back it up. When employers see your degree, they never ask how long you were in school. They just see your qualifications. And if your resume boasts 7.5 years of study, jobs, internships, and club/community involvement, you've even got a leg up on the poor sap who rushed through their degree in 3 years and missed out on all the EXPERIENCE they could have had.

My PhD is going to take 4 years (5 total, since I completed one year already int he interim), when they usually take 3 maximum. I don't mind this at all though, because I get to have the opportunities to continue writing for the FSView, write/edit for the Southeast Review (Lit Journal), meet and work with distinguished professors on my own research, and really put my heart and soul into my dissertation. I'd rather be there for 5 years and get all of that then just take class and be done in 3 years.

I hate to quote a pop star, but Miley Cyrus's new song is right: it IS about the climb.

Roommates and Pets

Freedom is a large part of going away to college, and this freedom should indeed be celebrated. There's no more curfew, no more parental nagging (at least in person), and no more "because I said so". However, this doesn't mean that life suddenly becomes a free for all either. In going away to college and being on your own, there are new responsibilities that come up and they must be handled in a mature way or things will start to fall apart.

For starters, just because tour parents paid for your dorm and meal plan doesn't mean that life is suddenly 100% carefree. Aside from the obvious responsibility you have to get your own homework and studying done, chances are you have a roommate or three. Having roommates is a responsibility in and of itself, and if you want to keep yourself from being alienated or having a bad reputation for being messy, annoying, or just unsanitary, you want to make sure you take responsibility where you need to.

In a dorm, cleaning is the number one responsibility shared between roommates. Just because there is no one to force you to "do your chores" doesn't mean that there aren't chores to be done. Clean/organized rooms promote good concentration, so in order to keep yourself and your roommates in good focus, keep your side of the room as neat as you can. Realistically, there will be days when you're too tired to do anything but dump your clothes on the floor and pass out, but just don't make it a habit and you'll be fine.

In an apartment, things get even trickier. In addition to shared chores (like keeping dishes clean so the apt doesn't get bugs and taking out the trash), there are bills to pay. Splitting bills like electric and cable, with roommates save money, but be careful how you split them.

True Story: I lived in an apartment with 2 other girls. I am rather skinny, so I don't like the air blasting or I get freezing cold. However, my roommates kept the air down at 69 degrees nearly constantly, causing me to have to wear a sweater all the time in my own house. I didn't like it, but I didn't want to make them uncomfortable. However, when the bill came, problems came with it. They demanded an equal split of the outrageous $350 bill, and I refused. I did not contribute even close to 1/3 of the energy useage. However, in the end, in order to keep the peace, I paid...and this was how it was every month. I got the short end of that deal, so from my experience, my advice is to discuss energy useage before the first bill arrives. That way, you are somewhat covered to back up your “But I only contributed this much” argument. I wish I’da had that.

Another thing about responsibility: Just because you’re on your own, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to overextend your freedom. What do I mean by this? PETS. It is usually not, I repeat, NOT a good idea for college students to get pets, and I say this as a college student who owns 3 cats. It takes a lot of time, energy, and money to own pets, and chances are, your parents aren’t going to help you with these adorable responsibilities.

If you really want a pet that badly, here are some tips:

Do not get a puppy. I know they’re cute and cuddly, but their poo isn’t. Most puppies, especially those bought at a puppy store, are not housetrained. It takes considerable time and energy to housetrain a puppy, and if you don’t have the time to give, or the money to pay someone to do it for you, all you’ll end up with is a minefield of feces to clean up everyday when you get home from class. And if you have roommates, this is a serious deal-breaker.


Keeping dogs in tiny student apartments is unsanitary for you and your roommates, and it’s not fair to the dogs who need room to run around. If you can’t wake up every morning at 6am with a smile on your face to walk your dog, and spend at least 3 hours a day playing with them outside or in a large room, you should not get a dog.

Cats are easier, but you still have to make sure they are fed and loved, and with a full class schedule, possible work schedule, and the free time you like to spend at the clubs and catching a movie with some friends, they can turn into a burden more than a cute little companion. It shouldn’t be that way. Animals, caged or otherwise need attention more than anything, and if you don’t’ have the time or energy to give them, it’s not fair to them to buy them in the first place.

Not to mention your roommates. ABOVE ALL ELSE, make sure your roommates are ok with your pet purchase before hand!!!! More than that, make sure you are respectful of your roommates space and health at all times. If your roommies are allergic to animals, don’t get one or wait until you are living alone. Make sure you keep all litterboxes and cages clean and stink-free, and if your pet has an accident, clean it immediately. If you are gone all day and your pet isn’t, make sure the dog or cat is confined to an area where your roommates won’t have to deal with any messes. The kitchen is NOT a good place to keep pets that may defacate or urinate on the floor. That is in fact the worst place.

True story: Those same roommates I lived with bought two puppies right before I moved in, promising me they would house train them. I agreed, which was dumb on my part, because they insisted on training them themselves, and I should have known it would be harder than they realized. There is nothing more aggravating than to wake up at 7:30am on a Sunday morning because the dogs won’t stop barking at something, head to the kitchen for a bowl of cereal and find the kitchen covered in dog messes. Oh and on the way to the kitchen, you happened to notice that one of the dogs pooed on your elliptical machine. Nice. Oh and when I complained about living in unsanitary conditions like that, and having to clean up the messes they left after going to work cause I didn’t want my cat to step in it or even eat it (ew), I was basically shrugged off, called a B*tch, and told that my headache was Karma. Nice. Very Nice.

It doesn’t need to be like this. Having a pet may seem like fun, but they aren’t any fun when you’re constantly cleaning up after them, stressing about waking up early to take them for walks, and making enemies with your roommates as a result.

Responsibility is a part of life at every stage, but just because you are on your own doesn’t mean you should begin racking up responsibilities. Pets are great and apartments are fun, but make sure you know what you’re getting into before you ruin friendships and the carpets underneath them.

Sorry it has been so long, all. I am now back from my internship with renewed verve and focus on the important things in life: school, writing, dance, and music. To each his own, those are just what's important to me.

That's something that's extremely important for students to figure out during their first year of college. Everyone has different values, desires, beliefs, and the like, and its important to know what yours are in order to grow and learn as well as respect those of others. College, more than anything, is a time of exploration: exploration of the world around oneself as well as their role in that world. What defines you in your world?

Part of this process begins with choosing a college. First of all, the setting is a crucial factor to determining whether it is the best place for you to explore yourself. For example, if your religion is a major part of your journey, it may not be ideal to choose a college in an area that centers around one belief system that does not jive with yours. Also student who prides themselves on their study habits and prefers quiet nights will not feel very comfortable and able to be themselves on the campus of a top five party school.

College isn't only about academics, no matter what your parents try to tell you. College is a major venture in life that defines us all as adults, separating us from childhood. My advice here is to use the time as best you can and explore anything and everything that is of interest. Get involved in clubs, play sports, party with different crowds, become a part of Greek life. Do what you need to do to feel happy, and become the person you will be for the rest of your life. Oh and while you're at it, don't forget to finish your homework. lol

Don't pay to be bored

There is one thing I stress above all when it comes to being a college student:
LOVE WHAT YOU STUDY!

There is nothing worse than paying in precious money and time for a course that may satisfy degree requirements, but bores students to the point that they can't wait to forget everything they're "learning". Chances are, there are more interesting classes to take that satisfy especially liberal arts requirements. Classes like World's Great Shipwrecks and Japanese Film and Culture are interesting to many people and they satisfy humanities requirements.

Some classes can be more interesting in specific locations than in others. For example, taking a meteorology course in Florida during hurricane season would be fascinating and exciting as the class is able to learn about hurricanes while tracking them in real time. On the other hand, that same course may not be as riveting in Seattle, where the weather is much more constant.

There is no way around taking major-specific coursework. If your degree requires discrete mathematics, you must take discrete mathematics; there's no sugar coating that. However, if the majority of courses in your major are a snoozefest for you, something you should seriously consider is a change of major. I'm not saying that you should drop your major just because you don't want to take one class on the economy of Korea, but if you dread even half of what the major requires, it's time to rethink your goals. The courses you take in your major are there because they are a big part of the field outside of college.

The point is simply to take courses that interest you. Spend your time studying what you love. Don't waste your years and your dollars writing papers about people, places, or things you care nothing about. Don't be afraid to major in something that interests you for fear that you may not make any money with it. Most employers and graduate schools care more about who you are and how well you do as an undergrad than what your major is.

In fact, it is sometimes more beneficial to choose a major based on personal interests as opposed to what is related to your future occupation. Law schools get thousands of applicants every year, and the vst majority of them are from business or political science undergraduates. Medical schools are bombarded with applications from biology and chemistry majors. Whata re these schools really looking for? Diversity and special interests. Law schools want to read an essay from a theatre major who felt that studying theatre and acting was the best way for him to become comfortable and skilled at public speaking and criminal defense. Medical schools long to see an application from a history major who decided to turn her interests from historical preservation to the developments of medicine throughout civilzation.
They want you to be true to YOU and study what you love THEN apply it to the field or research.

I'm a good example of this: Bachelor or Arts in Music, Master of Science in Math Education, and entering a PhD program for Higher Education and a certificate in editing and publishing - journalism. Never give up the opportunity to enjoy your education just because you think someone will like your degree better. PS, I really do love math.