Preparation for Graduation

It's December and a lot of students will graduate this month. Unfortunately, there may be a few who think they will graduate but won't. Not graduating may be attributed to factors that may include owing the school money, not earning enough credits or failure of a class,etc. To help avoid situations like this do a self assessment on yourself.

A self assessment includes many things related to your education. First, make sure you have a copy of the SSCC Student Catalog and Handbook for the semester that you started school. This will tell you the requirements and number of hours required for your particular degree. Refer back to this when choosing your classes. Second, visit the Counseling for more help. Third, periodically check your transcript to make sure all the classes you have taken and paid for have are listed. Fourth, go by the business office to see if you have may have any outstanding balances. Fifth, make copies of EVERYTHING for yourself.

PLEASE, do your self assessment before the semester you think you are going to graduate. Just yesterday, I did my second graduation clearance for a young man that thought his tuition had been paid - it wasn't. I also did a clearance for a student who had to come back to school because the school had no record of a degree she already earned.She did a double major and luckily she had the copy of one of the diplomas although the school had no record of it. Unfortunately, she never received the second diploma and there was no record of that either. Don't let either of these situations be you.

Remember, during the semester in which you plan to graduate apply for graduation and get your clearance form signed by the appropriate offices!