Student Issues / Attending College

Should You Declare Academic Bankruptcy?

Americans who have made bad financial decisions can begin fixing their poor financial history by declaring bankruptcy.

• However, for community college students, did you know that a similar process exists for bad grades?
• A semester riddled with poor grades can be wiped clean with academic bankruptcy.
• While an academic bankruptcy will not magically disappear from your records in seven years as a financial bankruptcy does, there are many advantages to undergoing the process.
• However, there are also some definite negatives to making this decision.

Canva generated this picture of a student at his laptop.

Pros of Academic Bankruptcy

Although academic bankruptcy may sound like a novel term, it may help raise your community college GPA.

• When you declare educational bankruptcy, you essentially erase the grades of one entire semester or quarter.
• If you’ve gotten good grades during your first two semesters in community college and then had one lousy semester due to medical, family, or other issues, that one bad semester can completely ruin your GPA.
• By declaring that one semester bankrupt, the grades that you received will not be calculated as part of your overall GPA.
• This can be a good strategy to repair and boost your cumulative GPA.

If you have lost your financial aid eligibility because of a cumulative GPA that does not meet the minimum requirements, then declaring academic bankruptcy may help you regain your financial

Today’s competitive job environment dictates that professionals understand and apply business etiquette guidelines. Business etiquette involves a variety of topics, such as how to engage in professional business conversations, create strong business relationships, and host/attend a formal business dining event.

Whether community colleges provide students with formal classroom instruction or if community colleges offer smaller-scale workshops on business etiquette, nearly all students can utilize the resources from these venues to improve their overall business conduct and effectiveness. Business etiquette courses at your local community college can be an incredibly valuable asset to your future career.

What is Business Etiquette?

Business etiquette is the accepted conduct one must acknowledge when striving to create strong business networks and relationships. As The Warren Reporter explains in “Warren Community College Offers Course in Business Etiquette,” adhering to the proper business etiquette guidelines can provide individuals with an incredible competitive edge. Specifically, if students or recent community college graduates are seeking out employment while applying for jobs, The Warren Reporter asserts, “It's essential to say the right things and act appropriately in these situations… It's crucial that you make the right impression to both your employer and your clients in order to keep it.” As the job market is becoming increasingly competitive in tough economic times, most experts assert that these professional business-related skills are becoming an increasingly important priority when employers are choosing potential candidates for a job opening.

Oftentimes, as The Warren Reporter further

Whether you are new to campus or simply looking to broaden your social network, your community college’s sports teams are an excellent way to meet friends and get healthy.

Nearly all community colleges offer students team sports and casual athletic venues to have fun and interact with fellow students. Regardless of your athleticism, all community college students can equally enjoy leisurely athletic opportunities by joining social teams at local community colleges.

How to Participate in Community College Sports Teams, Clubs, and Groups

While students who have earned athletic scholarships certainly possess a unique set of skills and physical talents, the general student population attending community college generally seeks out sports as a way to relax, meet new friends, and have fun.

Most commonly, community colleges provide students with clubs or intramural sports. “Intramural” teams are common offerings at community colleges that provide students with more casual and leisurely interactions. As “intramural” is derived from the Latin word for “wall” (muris), intramural sports generally allow any interested participants to engage in the “mural” or variety of school offerings.

To find out about these social and casual opportunities at local community colleges, students can simply seek out information from their Student Services / Student Activities Centers. If these specialized offices or services are not available, a student can always meet with their campus advisor to find out more details about potential opportunities. Oftentimes, community colleges have full-time professionals monitoring, organizing, and advertising for these groups and

While joining any community college club can help boost your chances of employment after graduation, students participating in debate clubs tend to possess even greater hiring odds!

A community college’s debate club teaches members how to research, articulate arguments, and clarify ideas. Subsequently, individuals actively engaging in debate club activities are often more prepared to speak clearly during interviews, demonstrate a professional presence, and clearly explain concepts and abilities. Indeed, there are many reasons why debating in college can lead to you debating all the job offers on the table post-graduation!

Matthew Lynch, writing in The Advocate, states: "Research, reasoning, and even public speaking skills are just a few of the many benefits that come with learning to be a good debater. From planning your argument – even if it’s one you disagree with – to choosing your words with care, debating can prepare you to take on any challenge life may present to you.

Debating is, by no means, the same thing as engaging in a full-blown argument. Instead, you will have to prepare a compelling, concise argument, which will gain support and backing, rather than simply attacking your opponent blindly."

Networking with the Professional Community

While each community college’s debate club may focus on its unique topics, most debate clubs strive to boost students’ investigations of community and social issues.

For example, Gulf Coast Community College (GCCC), located in Panama City, Florida, is one of the many community colleges providing students

With only two years spent on campus, community college students often find that graduation is upon them before they have taken advantage of all the valuable opportunities available!

To make the most of your community college experience, consider volunteering with community college groups and organizations. Volunteerism can help boost your experience, your resume, and your professional network while providing you with an array of additional perks.

Build Your Resume

Most community college students and graduates are aware of the highly competitive tensions in the job market. To ensure that your resume stands out from the rest, boost your credentials by including various volunteerism activities. Volunteering lets employers know that you care about your community and work well in teams. Also your volunteerism experiences can also provide employers with more insight into your interests, as groups that are devoted to environmental, regional, or other specific causes can say quite a deal about your character.

Include your various volunteerism activities on your resume to show more about yourself as a personable applicant. Include these activities to show how you have gained valuable work experience. For example, if you were the leader of your volunteerism group, explain how this experience has better prepared you for the career in which you are applying. Leadership and involvement are key attributes that can help boost an application and resume.

This video from the Times Higher Education discusses the benefits of student volunteerism.