Dear Lisa

*Dear Lisa,* *I have been struggling with my chemistry class, and lately, I haven't been going at all. If I get an F on my record, my parents will kill me. Is there anything I can do?* *Faye Ling* Dear Faye, First, go and talk to your Chemistry professor. If there is a possibility that you can catch up, he or she will tell you what you can do. If you cannot catch up to the class, or if you feel that Chem was a huge mistake that you refuse to make again, you can go to your Registrar's office and officially withdraw from the class. Keep in mind, there is a deadline for when you can do this, usually right after midterms. Also, you will still be responsible for paying for the course. If you are receiving Financial Aid (of ANY kind), see your Financial Aid Counselor to determine if withdrawing from the course will affect your eligibility for assistance next semester. Some programs and scholarships mandate that you complete a certain umber of credits each semester to "earn" your next disbursement. Good luck! Lisa *Dear Lisa,* *I want to go to grad school, but I don't think I can afford it. I'm only working part-time, and I heard that there is no financial aid for grad students. Is this true? My grades are okay, I have about a 3.2 GPA.* *Ivana Studhee* Dear Ivana, That is not exactly true. There is actually some (limited) state grant aid for graduate students, as well as student loans. Your best bet is to look into a graduate assistantship and private grant funding opportunities in your area of study. While many departmental assistantships are based on grades, interviews and who you know also plays a large part. If you have been active in your department, talk to your advisor and professors about where to apply, who to talk to, and recommendations. Also, the prime (read: better stipend) assistantships go EARLY. Observe the application deadlines and submit your complete applications as early as you can. Do as much research as you can, and contact the faculty members at the schools you are interested in attending to discuss the programs. (Do not ask them about the status of your application that's a question only Admissions will answer.) Happy hunting! Lisa _Lisa is the Assistant Director of Academic Advising at Trinity University in Washington, DC, the result of taking her own advice and taking a chance on her skills. She hopes to develop a strong relationship with Trinity and will continue to encourage students to plan to live their dreams._ delicious | digg | technorati
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