First of all, is the class simply too hard for you and you need to switch out or go down a level? This could be a simple solution of speaking with your advisor or teacher in helping discover what it is you need. Maybe Spanish is not the foreign language for you but Latin is a much better fit. Maybe Advanced Algebra is too difficult for you now and you need to drop down to the average level math class. Whatever you discern, either through your own self-exploration or with the help of professionals, it’s vital you surpass the damaging desire to cheat and avoid this act as best as possible.

If you are caught cheating there can be grave consequences. Trust first and foremost is lost between your teacher and likely your peers. Classmates may have studied very hard or worked long hours on a paper that you brazenly cheated on to get by. You will have a suspicious quality until you are able to proof yourself and show you are an honest student once again. Another consequence is failing the class and in some school, the punishment may be even more severe and irrevocable.

Catching someone cheating is a tricky situation and it’s hard to reach a decision on what to do. If someone is cheating off your paper or exam you will probably feel betrayed and want to turn in the cheater. If it is a friend and you are allowing the cheat, be very mindful you are an accomplice and will likely face the same punishment as the one cheating. Don’t be fooled in thinking you are an innocent bystander. If you naively witness someone cheating off someone else, then comes the tough choice of reporting it or not. The decision is up to you although you could confront both parties and let them know what you saw, leaving it in their hands to confess or let it go.

The first place to start is figuring out what kind of impact the failing grade will have on your academic record. It it’s the only course you’ve ever done really poorly in, then it shouldn’t be too hard to bounce back. If you’ve been struggling the whole semester you may find yourself on academic probation. You’ll also need to see how failing the course will affect your graduation and which classes you can take the next semester– the impact might be bigger than you think. It won’t be fun, but you can’t help yourself to deal with the situation until you know the full extent of the repercussions you’ll be facing.

You’ll also need to find out if your grade will affect any financial aid you have. Many scholarships and grants are conditional, requiring students to maintain a certain GPA in order to qualify. Again, if you’ve only had this one major slip up you’re likely to be just fine. If your semester as a whole has been less than stellar then you may also need to start researching alternative ways to pay for your education.

Once you’ve figured out what your grade means in terms of finances and academics, you’ll need to face the music and tell your parents about your grade. It might not be pretty, but they may be able to help you ensure that you don’t fail another course. Plus, if you’re already down in the dumps about getting a poor grade it can help to have someone to talk to and to give support.

Once all the drama from the situation has calmed down, take a breather and figure out how not to fail any classes next semester. If you weren’t studying enough, didn’t write a good paper or just didn’t grasp the material, make plans to ensure that you don’t simply repeat your mistakes the next time around. More importantly, stop beating yourself up. Your life isn’t over if you failed just one class. Learn from the experience and move on, smarter and better than ever before.

Failing a class is never the ideal situation– especially if it’s a required course– but it doesn’t have to completely ruin your college experience. With a little work you can figure out how to handle it and make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

Start out by deciding who will do what in your group from the get go. That way there will be no questions about responsibilities and what is expected from each member of the group. If you feel like you might be a little more responsible than some of the other members of the group, don’t be afraid to take charge and delegate the work yourself. On the flip side, if you know you’re not good at being a leader, let someone else take the reins.

You’ll also want to make sure that you don’t make anyone in your group feel left out or that their ideas and opinions don’t matter. Try to make your group work a democracy, and take a vote on issues that seem to be points of contention between group members. When people from different backgrounds are working together there are bound to be differences, so just work with them the best that you can.

To avoid someone in the group not doing their share of the work, agree to meet ahead of time to showcase and talk about the part of the project each person did. This will help motivate people to get their work done a little bit ahead of time and let others give feedback before you’re all in class turning in the work.

Of course, sometimes problems do arise. If you do get stuck working with someone who simply didn’t do the work and made the rest of your group look bad, talk to your professor. It might seem mean or backhanded, but there is no reason to take the fall for someone who didn’t have enough respect for the other group members to do their share. See if you can each be graded individually on your contributions rather than as a whole.

Group work does offer a chance to learn from and get to know your classmates but it can also have some big drawbacks when it comes to dividing up and doing the work equally. Planning ahead, taking responsibility and speaking up for yourself can help turn your group work disaster into a manageable situation.

1. iPads: iPads have replaced Kindles as the preferred hand-held gadget, but it’s not just about novelty. iPads have proven to be effective learning devices that allow students to interact with their lessons and teachers to constantly stream and direct students toward constantly updated information. As teacher-designed applications become the norm, iPad (and other Apple devices) will also foster customized learning so that educators can tailor their lessons to their class’ performance and potential. Other benefits of the iPad in elementary education: more social interaction during learning, better mobility, focused learning, and special needs accommodation.
2. Ebooks: Even some libraries are starting to offer ebooks alongside the card catalogs, and Arnold Schwarzenegger recently pledged to use more ebooks to combat the loss in funding for California schools. Textbooks will be easily updated in electronic form, which is much cheaper for school districts, and some ebooks and digital texts can be accessed as apps for iPhones and other devices.
3. Innovative funding programs: Despite harsh budget cuts across the country, parents and teachers are fighting to keep technology a stable, progressive learning tool in schools. One middle school in Pollock Pines, CA, has organized a task force to find alternative sources of funding for technology programs and supplies, and other schools are being inspired to create innovative funding programs, too. As the trend continues, schools will be less reliant on governments and public funds, and can benefit from other sources of technology "income." This system could lead to unfair and unbalanced budgets, if lower-income schools can’t pull together the same resources.
4. Training teachers to become online educators: High schoolers are experimenting with online learning, and the trend is becoming so popular, it’s starting to filter down to elementary and middle schools, too. As a result, teachers need training in online education so that they can transfer their classroom management skills to online environments, effectively communicating lessons and evaluating student performance.
5. Interactive whiteboards: Teachers with projection screens (or just a clean whiteboard) can connect their computer so that their desktop is displayed in front of the classroom, like a chalkboard. When teachers visit interactive websites or software programs — particularly ones with touch-key or touch-based features, students can all at once interact with the lesson or game, without needing their own computers.
6. Virtual reality: Virtual reality isn’t just an after-school game for kids who like computers. SecondLife and other VR sites and platforms offer immense learning opportunities in real-life skills, and can even introduce students to other classrooms who "play" in the same space. This North Carolina elementary class wanted to experiment with math, science and art lessons through virtual reality, and they actually designed their own virtual labs.
7. Blackboard and online communities: Online education platforms like Blackboard have been used by college professors for years, but they’re now being used more frequently in elementary and secondary classrooms, too. These communities allow for connection between teachers, parents and students, during the school day and after hours. Grades, assignments, supplemental readings, games, chats and all types of resources can be shared easily this way, fueling multi-way communication and collaboration.
8. Mobile technology: These days, iPods, cell phones and smart phones, iPads, and other mobile devices are quickly becoming sought-after educational tools, even in elementary classrooms. They can be used for research, one-to-one computing, e-mailing assignments, sharing information, taking pictures for projects and research, and using drawing tools, as Keller, TX, teacher Matt Cook has demonstrated. He’s worked with Verizon Wireless and other corporate sponsors to give phones to his fifth graders.
9. Podcasting: Podcasts are great tools for elementary teachers, because they’re free and give students instant access to multimedia learning experiences from all over the world. From current events to language lessons with pronunciation assistance to science research to literature discussions to interviews with industry experts, podcasts enrich lessons in ways that help students understand the real-life implications of what they’re learning. A great alternative to showing slideshows and even movies, podcasts can stir up class discussion and even inspire classrooms to create their own podcast.
10. Moodle: Moodle is gaining traction in classrooms at all levels for its streamlined organization features. Teachers and administrators can easily communicate and design courses, and students can manage their own e-mail accounts, assignments, and more. Other great features include multimedia playlists and capabilities, RSS feeds, grading and assignment rubrics, ePortfolios, and personalized certificates.

When applying to a job it is important to read through the details of the job description and application process thoroughly. You must be cognizant of deadlines and aware of every piece of information that is required within that deadline period before submitting any paperwork. This may require phone calls to produce past evaluations or contact information, but staying on top of these details is crucial in order to prove your organizational skills from the onset of being considered. Remember, you are making an impression before you are even called in for an interview. Make sure your information is reflective of the kind of employee you would be for that company. If they receive a packet of information that is missing required documents, sent to the wrong department or received past the due date, your chances can be significantly reduced for getting called to interview. Follow application instructions explicitly and do so in an orderly, accurate and time-sensitive fashion, it will help tremendously when the employer is evaluating potential candidates.

The same set of organizational skills applies for getting into college. There is a lot of paperwork involved and important deadlines to adhere to. There are references to submit, transcripts to request, essays to write, and that is just for one school. Each application may have a different process and unique set of standards, which must be followed and executed precisely. College admissions will scrutinize candidate applications as their first step in weeding out which they think will be a valuable asset to their campus and which application packets were sub par and reflective of what could be a poor student. It would be very unfortunate to not be considered for the college of your dreams because you failed to read the directions carefully and missed a vital piece of the process. You may be a stellar student on paper but if you can not demonstrate strong organizational skills from the inception of applying, you may not be a good fit for a school you otherwise thought you were a shoe-in.

Never underestimate the importance of being organized and illustrate this crucial skill as much as possible, it will only benefit your future as an employee or a student.

What is going to replace this seemingly normal and conventional means of attending school? The computer. High schools will become more and more Internet-based, offering classes online and expecting students to "attend" these courses from the comforts of their own home. There is also the idea of completing these online courses at the high school in computer labs, but the idea is there will be fewer students and structure in the school itself and more "virtual learning" taking place outside the school and online.

What does this mean for parents’ comfort level of having their child home during the day while they are at work, the actual space of these schools not being needed? These are all significant and valid unknowns that have not seemed to be defined or explained within the information provided thus far on this technology-based concept. The idea is still in the developmental stages in many states although there are some schools that have implemented this concept quite successfully. It’s difficult to imagine that the presence of a high school could soon become a empty building with an empty parking lot and homes throughout the community could be filled with students glued to a computer screen, listening to lectures and taking exams. The classes in which would still take place would be Physical Education, some special needs classrooms, Art (?), Music, and who knows what else would fit the criteria of going to school.

Art class might evolve into graphic design only and sculpture and painting will be activities of the past. It’s also difficult to imagine what will happen to these buildings, all the extra space and staff if they are not seamlessly transferred to some online teaching. Naturally everything comes down to money which is what seems to be the driving force behind this idea too but without knowing the full scope of how all these details will be worked out, there seems to be lots of gaping holes that would waste a lot of money.

Even with that idealized image of falling in love with your soul mate in mind, the college environment has always been a liberal setting. Parties last long into the night where students are plied with alcohol and inhibitions are seemingly erased. With the advent of exotic Spring Break getaways and themed parties now the rage, the long-term relationship seems to stand less of a chance of survival in college. This is not limited to just the "party" schools where campuses have over 20,000 students. Even the smaller schools have caught onto this emerging lifestyle.

The one-night stand is perfect for the student who does not want to get into a committed relationship that takes a lot of time and effort. The term, "friends with benefits," has become a common piece of the college student’s vernacular. This describes a situation where you may periodically hook up with a friend without the work that a full-fledged relationship requires. Individuals can go days or weeks without talking to one of these "friends" and then they can have a "late-night booty call" or hook up at a party. This is not to say that this is the ideal way to quench one’s sexual desires.

It may seem easier than the relationship based on trust and commitment, but it is not without its own problems. Hooking up with someone to whom you are not committed brings up the issue of safe sex. Individuals who "play the field" are more likely to have multiple sexual partners. This increases the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. It’s simple math, really. The more people you with whom you are sexually engaged, the higher the risk of being with someone who has an STD. Without sounding too preachy, students engaging in this behavior should always use protection. There are also psychological issues that arise in these situations. If you go from one person to another, you are missing out on the experience of being in a committed relationship. When you get to a point in your life where you want to settle down, you will likely go through some growing pains as you embark on a more traditional relationship.

1. Twilight: Certainly you’ve been unable to escape hearing about this vampire love series. Although some fans are casual readers, others have embraced the series into obsession, becoming "Twifans" or "Fanpires." As a whole, the Twilight series has sold more than 100 million copies around the world, and Twilight was the best selling book of the year in 2008. In its first day of release, the Twilight DVD sold more than 3 million copies, with huge crowds at midnight release parties. Twilight has been a large presence at many conventions, including ComicCon, and one completely devoted to Twilight, TwiCon.
2. Harry Potter: Before there was Twilight, there was Harry Potter, the young adult series written by J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and his friends learn to become expert wizards, and fans young and old have strongly embraced its culture. In fact, it’s even been considered that Harry Potter has spawned a lifelong love of books for readers young and old, converting nonreaders into those who will clear their schedules in order to sit down with the newest release. The series has met incredible success, with more than 400 million copies sold and every one of its six movies so far nearing a worldwide gross of $1 billion each. Rabid fans of the series have even created their own works, with almost 500,000 different pieces of fan fiction available online.
3. The Secret: If you believe this book will improve your life, it just might. At least, that’s what author Rhonda Byrne wants you to think. After being featured on Oprah, this self-help book that insists positive thinking can bring on incredible life changing results hit the New York Times bestseller list and went on the make a movie that was for a time the #1 DVD on Amazon. The book had many readers frenzied into a spiritual cult, insisting that through the Law of Attraction, they could achieve almost anything, including extreme weight loss and even beating cancer. Overall, The Secret has sold more than 19 million copies since 2006.
4. Lord of the Rings: Although published between 1954-1955, The Lord of the Rings has enjoyed an enduring fan following, as well as a new revival in fans due to The Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies directed by Peter Jackson. These books have had many influences on popular culture, including the language of Elvish, an expansion in the genre of fantasy fiction and the inspiration of filmmakers such as George Lucas. "LOTR" fans have been known to get tattoos inspired by the series as well as create fan art. Over the years, sales of these books have topped 150 million. The Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies reached a box office revenue close to $3 billion.
5. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: This franchise has enjoyed success in many different forms, including books, radio broadcast, TV, computer games, comic book adaptations, and even a large production movie. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy inspired "Hitch-Hikeriana," a variety of merchandising and spinoff items related to the series, especially towels. It has been an international phenomenon, enjoyed in the UK, US, Canada, Germany, Israel, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. Every year on May 25th, fans of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy celebrate Towel Day to honor the late author Douglas Adams.
6. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of fantasy novels written for children. It’s been adapted to the radio, stage, TV, and even movies. The classic works sold more than 120 million copies, and have been printed in 41 languages. Authors including Neil Gaiman and Katherine Paterson have been influenced by the works, as well as the graphic novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and popular TV shows like LOST and Family Guy. There is also a Saturday Night Live digital short, Lazy Sunday, that focuses on going to see Chronicles of Narnia in the movie theaters. Two movies have been released so far, and their worldwide box office gross has topped $1 billion.
7. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: In this series, a young boy learns that he is the son of Poseidon, and discovers the world of Greek mythology. The series began in 2005, and has recently released a movie of the first book, The Lightning Thief, which opened with more than $31 million in the box office its first weekend, the highest for a fantasy film outside of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Narnia. This same book has sold more than $1.2 million copies in hardcover and paperback. Percy Jackson has found fans young and old, with these fans going on to purchase the video game based on The Lightning Thief as well as a DVD that released to almost $14 million in revenue its first week.
8. The Da Vinci Code: Written by bestselling author Dan Brown, the Da Vinci Code offers a thrilling look into the legend of the Holy Grail as well as Mary Magdalene in Christianity. Although critics have not received the book well, fans certainly have. Fans in the UK have gone on their own Da Vinci Code-style treasure hunts, with one pair causing damage to the stonework of a 14th century church in search of the Holy Grail. The book has sold over 80 million copies and been translated into 44 different languages, the bestselling English language novel of the 21st century. The Da Vinci Code film in 2006 earned more than $230 million worldwide in its opening weekend, at the time the third most profitable opening weekend in film history.
9. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: Late author Stieg Larsson’s novel has become a posthumous bestseller with an large fan base. It was released to great popularity in Larsson’s native Sweden, and soon took over many European countries, eventually reaching a frenzy in the United States as well. The trilogy has topped more than 27 million copies worldwide, and its small-release film has reached a box office payday of nearly $10 million just in the US. Fans love The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo so much that a tour has been spawned in Stockholm, taking fans to important locations in Stieg Larsson’s book.
10. Sookie Stackhouse: Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels haven’t quite reached a Twilight frenzy, but the books that started True Blood have a rabid collection of fans, commonly referred to as "Fangbangers." The Fangbangers often descend upon the towns of Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana in search of the fictional Bon Temps, Louisiana that True Blood is set in. These novels went on to create the True Blood drama series that has enjoyed fandom and critical acclaim, including a Golden Globe and Emmy. In its third season, True Blood is now HBO’s most watched series since The Sopranos.

Community colleges can be a great transition before applying to bigger, better schools you may not be ready for financially or academically. Community colleges are much more affordable, yet offer similar courses and can prepare a student for college life at a more difficult institution in the future. Many people opt for community colleges if they have obligations at home that might keep them from going away and such circumstances may only be temporary, so it’s a great way to bridge the gap before you are ready to apply to your "wish list" of schools. Community colleges do not offer housing, so it’s imperative that you choose one that is within commuting distance or you have someone with whom you can stay.

Going to school part-time (evening classes) while working full-time is also an option to explore if money is an issue. You can search colleges that offer classes at unconventional times such as nights and weekends. This is a great way of attending the college you want to attend, but not in the regular setting of being a day-time student. Your day-time hours can then be used for earning an income that may be used to pay for the classes or saved for possibly attending full-time in the future. Whatever the case, there is an option out there for you, just be diligent in exploring your options, knowing your needs, trusting your instincts and not being pressured by what everyone else is doing. There are many college options that are still a brilliant alternative and will offer just as much benefit as going away to a 4-year school.

Make sure you visit your high school guidance counselor to discuss these alternative options and ask for as much information as you can on colleges that offer night/weekend classes as well as community colleges. Ask if there are any recent graduates you could contact who are taking a less conventional route and see if you could speak with them about their experience. Talk to your parents about what’s best for the family and make sure they know what you want to do, but are also aware of the sacrifices you are willing to make if you have to.

Get discount bus tickets. If your city or town has buses, chances are they have a student discount. Talk to your school or the bus company directly to find out what they have to offer you, and get around on the cheap. You might even find that they have free tickets for college students!

Many colleges offer shuttles to get around campus. These are especially helpful if you ride the bus to get to school, or if you live in dorms that are far from where your classes are. Check out your college’s shuttle service to find out where they go and the hours that they run so that you can take full advantage of it.

A great way to get around fast for almost no money is biking. You should be able to find bike racks all over your college campus, and many college-friendly towns and cities will have them as well. You can take bikes on most buses, and on top of all that, you’ll get great exercise from this form of transportation. Just be sure to invest in a great bike lock to make sure that no one takes off with your ride.

For times when you really need a car, or you have to travel long distances, ride sharing is a great solution. Talk to your friends and classmates who have cars and find out if they are willing to share a ride with you. Check out bulletin boards to see if someone is driving the way you need to go for long trips. You can even look in to car sharing services that allow you to rent cars hourly or daily for errands and more.

If you absolutely can’t live without a car, you can still make it work. Buy a reliable older car to save money rather than investing in a great new one-you can do that when you’re out of college and you’ve got a job. Rely on cheaper transportation whenever possible to save on gas. If you don’t use it much, try to find off-campus parking that you won’t need to buy a permit for.

Getting around in college can be easy and cheap, especially if you live on campus. Try these ideas to see how much money you can save on college transportation.