Friday, June 10, 2016

Weekly Wrap Up- June 10th

Today is Friday, but in my mind it's more like Fri-YAY! 

During the summer, the online campus will close at 12pm Noon on Fridays. 

We hope you are all enjoying your classes so far this term and it is hard to believe that we are already near the end of week 2! Remember to check your grades regularly, as well as the feedback from your professors in your gradebook. If you are struggling with a subject, take advantage of FREE tutoring from tutor.com! The link is located in your course near the syllabus.

At this point in the term it is too late to drop a course, but you can withdraw. To do so, email your professor directly and he/she will process your request. It is always a good idea to talk to someone in financial aid before you withdraw, because your aid could possibly be effected! 

Contact your advisor today to register for the fall 1 term! Don't miss out on securing the classes you need! 

Enjoy your weekend and stay cool out there! 

Friday, June 3, 2016

Weekly Wrap Up- June 3rd

Happy Friday GMC students! 

It is the beginning of June and we are almost done with the first week of the summer term (and almost halfway through 2016!!)! I hope you all have had a great start to the term and that you enjoy it! 

Today is the last day to drop classes. After today, you will no longer be able to drop classes, only withdrawal. So, if you need to withdrawal, please send a request to your professor from your student account (after today). 

In a few weeks, the online campus will be hosting a summit for Move On When Ready, our dual enrollment program for high school students. The Move on When Ready Summit is designed for high school principals and guidance counselors to learn more about our dual enrollment program through the Online Campus.  The conference will provide insight to admissions requirements, academic policies, classroom design, plus several more topics.  Invitees will have several opportunities to interact with each other and collegiate departments in order to collaborate on best practice. We look forward to meeting with these administrators and counselors to discuss the success of our program!

We wish you the best of luck as the summer term gets underway, remember, you  have ten hours of free tutoring at your disposal and many other resources! 


Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Why major in communication?

Next to the decision to go to school, the single biggest choice you'll face is choosing your major.  As a college student, you’ll inevitably be asked what your major is roughly 1,873 times.  This question is almost always followed by: “What will you do with a degree in that?”

Well, if you’re a communication major, you could easily fill an hour listing career options.  The truth is, you’ll find communication majors working in every industry.

Among the most widely known communication related fields are journalism, film and video production, public relations, advertising and marketing. These fields host positions such as: social media specialist, marketing communications manager, public relations strategist, communication coordinator, script writer, and public information specialist—to name a few.

We encounter media and communication messages daily—it can’t be avoided. As a society, we rely heavily on seeking and receiving information.  An education in the construction and dissemination of effective messages will provide you with a skillset that can be applied in almost any profession, many of which carry the ability to influence the world.

A communication degree allows you to develop the skills needed to write and speak well, manage multiple communication contexts (including public, interpersonal, and online), and to construct effective persuasive messages. Focusing on communication arms you with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver a clear message, using multiple platforms, to a variety of audiences. 
Maybe you aren't sure which career is perfect for you, but you know you want to get a job when you complete your degree and you want to have options. And--a decent salary wouldn't hurt either! A degree in communication has a longer list of options than many other degrees as well as a higher than average median salary.

If that wasn't enough, communication skills are most often cited among the top skills sought by employers.  All employers are looking for someone that can write and speak effectively, as well as listen and critically analyze information.

Successful communication is critical in all industries—and most facets of life.

Next to communication skills, employers are looking for interpersonal, leadership, and teamwork skills. Each of these is impacted by your ability to communicate.  If you are able to connect with people, especially in an interview, employers are going to want you on their team. 

An earlier blog post cited celebrities with English degrees. Well, rest assured, with a degree in communication, you'll be among good company. David Letterman, Stephen Colbert, Spike Lee, Oprah Winfrey, Matthew McConaughey—they all studied communication.


Friday, May 27, 2016

Weekly Wrap Up- May 27th

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! To me, this holiday seems to kick off summer; it's warm outside, we spend time on the lake, and there is inevitably, at least one cookout. Now, I know summer doesn't officially start for another month, but here in Georgia, it is already getting hot out there!

Not only is this weekend a three day holiday, but it also kicks off the start of the summer term. For those of you who are registered, Week 1 will start this Sunday!

During Week 1, it is of the utmost importance that you complete the Participation and Academic Honesty Verification assignment by no later than Thursday! Your professors will be taking attendance and completion of this assignment will count as your being, "present," in the online courses.

Next week, you can add classes and/or make changes to your schedule on Monday and Tuesday ONLY! However, you can drop classes until NOON on Friday June 3rd. Be sure to get in your classes, participate, and let us know A.S.A.P. if any changes need to be made.

Enjoy your long weekend and relax before the term really takes off! Best of luck to you all as you begin your summer term.


Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Graduating? Think Transfer Agreements

With graduation quickly approacing, many of you may be thinking, "What next?" It can be overwhelming to try and decide what your next move will be after earing an associate degree with GMC. However, GMC has worked hard to develop transfer agreements with over 40 four-year insitutions in the state of Georgia and the South East.

What does that mean exactly? Basically, it means that we have an agreement with another instituion that will guarantee your admission into that school.  The agreements outline the exact requirements necessary to transfer into the four-year institution ensuring that students are able to better plan their coursework and work toward their education goals.

Read more about our articulation agreements here.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

GMC-Online 2016 Outstanding Graduate Award

Each year, Georgia Military College honors one outstanding graduate from each of its campuses across the state. This also includes the online learning campus.  For 2016, the GMC-Online Learning Campus Outstanding Graduate is Teagan Southern.  
We alerted Teagan of this honor, and asked her to tell us a little about herself.  Her response was heartfelt.  We will let her introduce herself to you in her own words!  Congratulations, Teagan!

From student, Teagan Southern:
"My name is Teagan Southern. I am 30 years old and I am one quarter away from graduating with a double major in Criminal Justice and Social Work from Georgia Military College.

When I was told I was nominated and needed to write a little bit about myself, I honestly cried a little. Where most people graduate high school and immediately go to college, I didn't have that luxury. I started working immediately, basically just working to pay bills. At the age of 28 I figured out a driving force of my heart was working with children. At this time I was lucky enough to fall in love with a man that lived in Augusta, Georgia so I moved and immediately started school at GMC-Augusta on campus. I took a full workload every quarter and don't regret it even with a full-time job. After three quarters on campus we found out we were moving to Connecticut. I was devastated with the idea of not finishing but as it turns out Georgia Military College has an online campus.  I then continued my degree online, which after a year in CT, we moved again to Texas and GMC online campus came with me.

After two years this summer I will be graduating with a double major and then using my associates to transfer my credits to TWU to get my bachelor’s degree in Child Life Specialist. After putting my scholastic dreams on hold for 10 years, I will be using the skills gained in my classes to work with children and their families to better themselves and their situations. This is what my heart and mind has been working for and wanting for quite some time and if it wasn't for Georgia Military College and their flexibility, their quarter system, they're amazing staff who is always there to answer my constant questions, my on-campus counselor and my online counselor Mark along with the financial aid they offer, I don't think I would've been able to do it. Georgia Military College truly is a family experience! You have a group of people backing you who truly want you to succeed and they will go above and beyond to make sure that you do. Thank you Georgia Military College for making me feel like I could succeed when many people didn't think I would be able to."


Monday, May 23, 2016

What Careers Are Out There For English Majors?


“What are you going to do with a degree in English? What sort of job are you going to get? Are you going to be a teacher?”

 

Even though I had heard all these questions before, they were constantly on my mind during the final semesters of my bachelor’s program in English. They may have crossed your mind, too. I’m here to tell you: that’s normal! In fact, these questions probably should be on your mind, since you’ve been working so hard for your degree and want to put it into action. But how do we put an English degree into action?

 

Many people assume—we all know the phrase about what “assume” makes us, don’t we?—that students who major in English are limited in their career options. They hear “English major” and think “teacher.” That’s simply not the case! While teaching English can be very rewarding, it isn’t for everyone—and it certainly isn’t the only career option for students pursuing degrees in English.

 

We, as English majors, spend much of our time reading, writing, and thinking about texts, which gives us a very special skillset. We are highly attentive to minute details. We are very strong at communicating. We know how to edit and revise quickly and effectively. Most of all, because our work as English majors includes so many different styles of writing and thinking, we are able to stay flexible and adapt to any situation that arises.

 

Our skills prepare us for careers in any number of fields! I have personally worked in management positions in: hospitality, contracting, food service, and higher education. Although each of my positions has been different, the skills I developed as an English major have been useful in every single one of them.

 

Each of these positions has required effective communication: reading and analyzing materials for accuracy, giving employees clear instructions and feedback, and thinking quickly and logically—the same skills one develops as an English major.

 

Even in positions that aren’t writing or English-based, the skills you develop as an English major are still useful. Whether you’re drafting a cover letter for a job application or you’ve been on the job for 25 years, writing and thinking clearly and efficiently will always help you.

 

Life is short. Don’t spend it on a job you don’t like. Maybe you’ll find something you love right away, or maybe you’ll explore several different career fields, as I did. Working in different fields helped me understand what I wanted to pursue. In the end, I realized that I enjoyed writing, research, and helping others, so I decided on the academic route, teaching English at the collegiate level. (I guess that after all this time, my answer to “Are you going to be a teacher?” is “Yes.” Go figure!)

 

What can you do with an English major? You could ask Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court Justice, who was an English major. So were Steven Spielberg, Emma Watson, and Conan O’Brien. Some English majors have gone on to be professional writers, editors, and publishers. Some have become leaders of companies across various industries. Some work in the public sector, aiming to improve the lives of others. Some are lawyers, some work in advertising, and some, like Sally Ride, are astronauts. Any career you can think of usually has at least one famous English major.

 

And, of course, some become teachers.

 

Whatever your personal preferences and goals—always keep those in mind—an English major can help open the door for you.

 

Take a look at the following pages to see a few more examples on the possibilities that exist and may await you!

 


 


 


 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Young, English Instructor