Not familiar with grade-grubbing? I'm sure you've seen it in action. Just think back to the last time one of your professors returned a graded assignment. After class, you probably noticed a handful of students circling vulture-like around the teacher with their papers in hand -- these are grade-grubbers. Some have legitimate complaints, but most are just looking for a handout, a retest, an extension, extra credit, or anything else that might raise their grade.

Grade-grubbers breakdown into three main types:

1. The Criers
The criers consist almost exclusively of attractive females. They create a trifecta of good looks, tears, and sob-stories that many (mostly male) professors can't turn down. They have tales of dead relatives, huge workloads, and a myriad of other excuses meant to explain their poor performance. They try to make the teachers feel incredibly guilty by whining about how they might lose their scholarships or not get into grad school.

2. The Ghost Grade-Grubbers
These are the grade-grubbers you never see. They usually conduct their begging via email and use many of the same techniques as the criers, but they are too intimidated to do their groveling in person. This group usually has less success than the criers, as it is easier for a professor to turn someone down in an email, however a great many of them are actually getting extra credit and other grade-boosting accommodations.

3. The Nitpickers
Without fail, the nitpickers will find something on every single assignment graded incorrectly. Every week you see them debating their answers and you wonder how the teacher could mess up exclusively on their papers. Usually their arguments are weak such as "well, that's how you explained it in class," or "your question didn't make sense." Most of the time they are able to argue their way to a few more points (mostly because the teacher just wants them to go away).

If you witness this behavior long enough, you may start to wonder if you should do some grade-grubbing of your own, after all, it seems to be working for others. And it doesn't seem fair for someone else to get the same grade as you when they've obviously gotten special treatment.
However, begging for grades does have some negative repercussions. Many teachers have a hard time telling students no, but they don't have any problem griping about these same students to other professors. Thus, word quickly spreads about which students are notorious grubbers.

This label can come back to bite you in the butt when you are looking for recommendations or when you actually have a legitimate excuse and no one believes you (like the boy who cried wolf).

Not to mention you will tick a lot of your classmates off if the teacher is constantly doing you favors.

And if you annoy your teachers and your fellow students -- who's left to talk to?

Bottom line: Nobody likes a grade-grubber. Stop thinking your special and just do your work and study like everybody else.
 

A couple of posts ago I discussed the types of professors you will likely meet in college. I realize I was typecasting teachers of certain majors, and if I want to be fair, I should also talk about some of the students found on campus. So, in response, I've created this list:

Characteristics of People in Popular Majors

1. Psychology Majors

Ironically, most psychology majors seem half crazy themselves. They spend so much time thinking about feelings and emotions that a lot of them get "stuck in their own heads." Beware of dating someone of this major because they always seem to want to practice their newly learned Freudian skills and will analyze you and your relationship to utter exhaustion.

2. History Majors

History majors are great to have around on trivia night at the bar, but they also have a way of making you feel incredibly stupid. Once they have reached their senior year, you can forget about trying to debate anything with them because they always end up saying something like, "Well, if you know your history then you'd know that …" And, of course, you can't argue back because you really don't remember that much from history class.

3. Political Science Majors

Those in political science are notorious arguers (I suppose, it goes with the territory). They are always the first ones to challenge the professor during a class discussion, and they get great satisfaction from proving anyone else wrong. History majors may unwittingly make you feel stupid, but political science majors go out of their way to make you look dumb.

4. Philosophy Majors

Philosophy majors spend most of their time thinking about stuff (except what type of job they hope to get with a philosophy degree). They are very intelligent, but much of their smarts go to waste since most people outside of their major have no idea what they are talking about.

5. Music Majors

Students in this major are some of the most pretentious people you will find on campus. In high school they were band geeks, but go to college and all of the sudden they are gifted musicians. They think of themselves as artists and as being the most talented major in the college.

6. Business and Economics Majors

Like their professors, these people think  they've got life all figured out. They consider their major to be the only one of value, and they have no problem letting you know. For them, money truly is the great motivator and anything that doesn't lead to it is a waste of time.

7. Art Majors

Art majors consider themselves as part of a counterculture and thrive off being non-conformists (although, paradoxically, they all seem to dress and act alike). Also strange about this group is that many of them come from rich and privileged backgrounds. I suppose they have the freedom to explore their whims in college since they have daddy's money to fall back on.

8. Pre-Med Majors

You know they exist, but you rarely see them because they are usually holed up somewhere in the library studying. They tend to stick to their own kind since most other students don't deem a night of quizzing each other with flashcards as a good time.

9. Computer Science Majors

Computer science majors are unabashedly geeky since they know that their nerdiness is likely going to lead to a great job or that they will be the next great software developer. They may have a hard time getting dates in college, but once they graduate and start making the big bucks, they can have their pick of women (sadly, I don't think it works quite the same for female computer science majors).

10. Natural Science Majors

You can easily recognize a natural science major (biology, botany, geology, etc.) as they always look as though they are dressed for the field -- all-terrain shoes, cargo shorts, some sort of eco t-shirt, and a ponytail (both the men and women). If they need to dress down, they trade their all-terrain shoes in for Birkenstocks.

11. Education and Nursing Majors

Although these are different fields of study, these two groups tend to harbor students of the same personality. They always seem to be complaining about the difficulty of their classes even though their curriculum is much less rigorous than most other majors. And for people who are supposed to be the caretakers and role models of society, they can party and drink anyone under the table.

Is there a stereotype that I've missed? If so, let me know in the comment section below.

Halloween is less than a week away -- do you have your costume yet? And don't tell me that you aren't going to dress up, because as a college student it is your duty to attend a Halloween party, and you can't show up to a Halloween party without a costume.

Sure, there are plenty of places where you can buy an entire readymade costume, but what's the fun in that? In my opinion, costumes should be homemade. Using your creativity and rummaging materials from around your house is all part of the festivities.

When I was a kid I always made my own costumes; I don't think buying one ever crossed my mind. Of course, I don't know how creative I really was since I dressed up as a bum for about eight years in a row. This, by the way, is the easiest costume ever: Dad's baggy clothes, dirty face, and a rope for a belt -- done. But, even if the bum costume wasn't creative, I always put it together myself and usually got ready about twenty minutes before going trick or treating.

As an adult, I still think the basic Halloween costume rules apply:

• Make it yourself
• Buy as few materials as possible (try to use stuff from around your house)
• Keep it fun (sorry, all you sexy pirates and vampiresses. Since when did Halloween become an excuse to dress like a hoochie?

If you're having trouble thinking of an idea, here are some of the more original costumes that I have found on the internet. Several of them are shown with kids wearing them, but I think they will work just as well for adults.

Bedbug

Tiny insects crawling all over you, almost impossible to get rid of, huge extermination fees… is there anything scarier than bed bugs? I don't think so.

Pop Culture Person

Well, the Octomom isn't in the news much these days, but I love costumes that poke fun at celebrities or pop culture in general. If you're going to go this route, try and think of someone who's made a lot of headlines lately (otherwise you'll have to explain who you are all night).

Paper Doll

It seems relatively simple to make and is something I haven't seen before. Plus, if you just can't let Halloween pass without showing a little skin, you can wear something skimpy behind the cutout.

Three-Headed

Ok, this was originally a dog costume -- but it is cool! It's probably not the easiest thing to make, but if you're talented, I'm sure you could rework it for a human. Come on all you art majors… put your skills to the test.

YouTube Video

Could you imagine someone making a video of the guy in his video costume … kind of trippy. I love how he only rated himself 1.5 stars -- too funny.

College Theme

If you want to stick with a college theme, you could dress up as one of your professors, as a police officer busting up a frat party, or as something really frightening like an examination booklet or the dreaded empty resume template (mostly scary for seniors about to graduate).

Hope these ideas have sparked your imagination. Share your costume ideas in the comment section below.

On my last post I discussed how you can get more information about your professor before enrolling in his or her class. So, I thought I would continue with that theme and fill you in on some of the typical professors found on every campus. If you stay in college long enough, you are bound to have a class with one of these characters:

The Overextended

In their defense, college professors are burdened with more responsibilities than ever. Not only do they have to teach several classes with possibly a few hundred students, they’re also expected to conduct research, publish books and articles, sit on committees, attend school events, serve as student advisors, and more. However, the ones who suffer (besides the stressed out professors) are the students.

The overextended professor usually arrives to class in a whirlwind and running about five minutes late. Their hair is disheveled as is their briefcase and class notes. You’re never quite sure if they actually planned their lesson or if they’re just thinking it up on the spot. They have a tendency to lose your papers and issue assignments that they never bother to collect. The only benefit to this kind of teacher is that you can usually turn in assignments late and suffer no repercussions.

The Quintessential Nerd

You might have thought they only existed in movies and cartoons, but if you take enough science classes you will come across the quintessential nerdy professor. You will recognize him by his incredibly thick glasses, which apparently don’t improve his vision since he can’t see anything that isn’t within two inches of his face. He usually tells jokes that you don’t understand and is known to ramble about topics that are way over your head.

If you have a pretty sound knowledge of the subject before starting the class, you might be able to keep up with this professor. Otherwise, you will likely spend the semester wondering what in the world he is talking about.

The Economics Professor

Usually you can’t stereotype instructors that teach the same subject, but every economics professor that I have met has a similar personality. Economics is a core requirement for many majors, so it is likely that you will have to deal with one of these guys.

They believe that they have the world figured out and that most questions have a definite cut-and-dry answer. They almost always wear a tie and generally look as though they work at a bank. Their lessons are incredibly uncreative and it is likely that they will use the same overhead projection sheets that they have used for the past 15 years. Perhaps the best way to understand them is to think of a philosophy professor and then envision the exact polar opposite.

The Genius

Every major has a few professors that consider themselves geniuses. In truth, many of them are quite brilliant and seem to know a little (or a lot) about everything. However, their intelligence has swollen their egos and they seem to thrive off of toying with young student minds.

Typically, they enjoy debating and let you blabber on, batting you around like a cat with a mouse, until they come in for the strike and display your ignorance to the entire class. Sarcasm is their modus operandi, and heaven forbid you walk into class late. Skipping the class is probably preferable to coming in late (unless you enjoy a verbal lashing). That said, you can actually learn a lot from one of these geniuses if you are able to get on their good side.

The Wannabe Buddy

There are always those professors who think that working on campus keeps them forever young. They friend all of their students on Facebook and are constantly arranging out of class “study groups” which usually meet at a bar. They try to chat you up between classes, ask you for rides across campus, and are always making references to pop culture and rock and roll.

If you get friendly with one of these professors then you can pretty much get away with anything in class. They are the first ones to curve your grade or tell you the answers to the test the day before you are to take it. However, if you are the type that simply likes to go to class, take some notes, and get out then you will probably find this professor annoying.

There are several other types of professors, but these are the five that stand out most in my mind, and I have come across them in regular and online courses. Can you think of a “type” of professor that I haven’t mentioned? If so, let me know in the comment section below.

With it being well into the fall semester, undoubtedly you have at least one course that leaves you shaking your head and asking yourself, "why did I choose this class?" Sometimes it is the subject or the time of day, but usually it's the professor that is making you miserable.

The problem is that you generally don't know anything about the professor before enrolling in his/her class. By the time you realize that they are dull, or nitpicky, or just too demanding the cut-off day for dropping classes has already passed.

If only there was a way to get information about your teachers before signing up for their courses…

What's that you say? There is a way to get the low-down on your professors before subjecting yourself to weekly torture sessions under their tutelage, and the name of the website is ratemyprofessor.com?

Yes, it's true. Some inventive person came up with a website where students can post real reviews and comments about their current and past teachers. Forget about those teacher surveys that the college makes you fill out at the end of the semester -- who really knows where those go anyway? This is the real deal, and a place where you can get legitimate info on just about any professor.

If you've never used the site before, once you do, you will most likely waste a good couple of hours looking up every teacher that you can think of. Sometimes you won't find who you are looking for, but if they have been in education for a while, chances are that they will turn up. You can find professors on there from the smallest community college all the way up to those at the best universities.

I realize that I must sound like a salesman for the website, but I'm really not, I just happen to think it's pretty cool. I appreciate the fact that it puts a little power back into the hands of the students. You have to spend all semester kissing butt and following procedures that it feels great to finally speak your mind. Not to say that people just use it as a forum for complaints. Actually, most of the reviews are fairly written.

Give it a try. It will definitely change the way that you register for classes in the future.

I realize I have been doing a lot complaining during the last few blogs, but I've been in kind of a George Carlin type of mood lately and I just can't help it. So, you're just going to have to deal with it for a while.

Here is my complaint for today:

It's Friday, and I'm happy that the weekend is here, but I  can't stand all of the clichés that go along with it. You know what I'm talking about… everyone saying things like "we made it to the weekend" or "what are you drinking tonight?" or the absolute worst…"TGIF."

Yes, it's the weekend; we'll have another one at the end of next week -- get over it.

I hate to give a commercial free advertisement, but this is the mentality that I am talking about.

The commercial is funny, but in real life -- not so much.

However, this got me thinking about some of the other really annoying clichés that we hear all the time at work and at school. Here are some that I consider the most annoying. See if you agree.

1. "It's Monday"

Another weekday cliché, this one can actually be said several ways but the conversation usually goes something like this:

Person 1: "Hey, how are you this morning?"

Person 2: (with a sigh) "It's Monday."

Is that the best you've got person 2? Stop trying to be cute, we've seen the whole crappy Monday morning routine before and it's just plain old.

2. "Hi, how are you?"

Everybody seems to say this to every person that they encounter… even I say this… but, I am absolutely sick of it. No one cares how the other person is doing; they only ask out of habit. Most people don't even wait for an answer. People even say this to perfect strangers as if the other individual would actually divulge what is going on in their life to someone that they don't know.

Can we not think of a different greeting? How about a simple "hello," or maybe we should  start telling people how we really are and then they will quit asking.

3. "Get 'er dun"

When did everyone become Larry the Cable Guy and how did a redneck colloquialism make it into common vocabulary? I even hear professors say this after issuing assignments.  It's simply weird to hear someone who has a Ph.D. in chemistry or a masters in psychology say something so trite. Are they trying to be "down with the people?" … I don't get it.

4. "Have a good one"

I'm not sure, but I think this saying crawled out of the recesses of redneckdom as well. When people say this I always want to respond with, "have a good what?!" Why not  replace the word "one" with what you really mean (day, night, week, etc). I think people believe that it sounds friendlier, but it is WAY overused.

5. "It is what it is"

What does that even mean? How does this help anyone? To me, it sounds like something that you say when you've run out of things to say.

All that said, my tip for the day is -- be unique. Don't use tiresome sayings that aren't clever anymore (if they ever were). You will seem more genuine and will evoke a lot less eye rolling.

Have a good … … weekend.

You know you've done it … you're walking across campus and you see someone walking towards you from about fifty yards away. You don't know this person and you uncomfortably realize that the two of you are going to have to come face to face as you pass each other. For a brief instant you consider your options; you can make eye contact and offer some type of recognition, you can simply look down at the ground and ignore the person, or you can whip out your cell phone and pretend like you need to make or receive a text at THAT very moment. Most likely, you will choose option number three.

If you spend any time people watching on campus then you will see this scenario play out over and over again. However, the question remains, why do we do this? Is it so difficult to smile and offer a brief hello, or at the very least, a nod of acknowledgment?

Now, I don't have a degree in psychology, but the more I thought about it and observed the other students on campus, I realized that the awkward part of these encounters isn't the moment you pass, but the ten or fifteen yards before that when you are within sight and speaking distance, and you aren't sure when to make eye contact or offer a greeting. If you do it too early, then you are forced to stare at the person far too long. Alternatively, if you wait until they are right beside you, then you have nowhere to gaze your eyes in the meantime. You can't look down at the ground or you will appear socially inept, you can't stare relentlessly straight ahead without looking like a possessed person on a mission, so it seems the best option for many of us is to look at our cell phones and pretend like we are incredibly busy.

However, I fear that our cell phones are becoming a social crutch. I recently read an article that said one in eight  people  use their cell phones as a means of avoiding  social situations; with many actually faking phone calls to evade talking to others. Now that the cat is out of the bag and we are all wise to this ploy, I say that it is time to end this practice.

To fight this trend and to prevent us all from becoming socially incompetent, I challenge you to put your cell phones away as you walk across campus. Undoubtedly, it is going to be difficult when you are approaching that first stranger and you feel the itch to pull out your cell phone and affix your eyes to its comforting screen. Just know that each time you fight the urge it will become easier and easier. Eventually, we may all be able to pass one another in stride, look confidently at each other at just the right moment, and offer a friendly, "hello."

Today, I have created a quick list of who I consider to be the 10 most annoying people in class. If you recognize any of your own habits within this list, then please, stop doing these things -- you're really ticking us off.

1. The Foot Relaxer

Do you view that desk in front of you as a comfortable foot rest? You should know that your feet are not weightless and we can feel them resting on our chair legs and on our book basket. We do not appreciate the random jostling of our desks, which breaks our concentration and causes our pencils to roll onto the floor. Stop it!

2. The Close Sitter

Is the top of your desk within an inch of the person sitting in front of you? If so, BACK … IT… UP! We don't want to feel your breath on our necks or get our hair stuck in your notebook. It gives us the willies and forces us to lean forward like a hunchback.

3. The Dumb Question Asker

Teachers like to say that there are no dumb questions, but don't let them fool you, they do exist.  Most of them are a result of not listening. For example, asking when something is due when the professor said less than a minute ago that the assignment is due tomorrow. Word to the wise, if you have zoned out for any length of time, then save yourself some embarrassment and avoid annoying the rest of us by keeping your questions to yourself and asking a friend after class.

4. The Time Waster

No matter if we are taking classes at a traditional college or at one of the best online universities, we can't seem to rid ourselves of time wasters. Usually, these are the same people that are asking dumb questions. Do you ask for explanations about assignments when you clearly haven't read the directions that came with them? If so, shut-up and read. You are wasting our time and we would like to get on with our work.

5. The Talker

This isn't high school anymore and the constant talking is getting on our nerves. We paid for this class and we would like to hear the lesson. Not to mention, that it makes us feel really uncomfortable since you are being so obviously rude to the professor.

6. The One with No Book

Sure, we can share books this once… twice… three times… ok, now it is getting annoying. We need some elbow room and we like to read at our own pace. Buy a book, and bring it to class like the rest of us.

7. The Over-Eager Buddy

Yeah, we talk in class occasionally, and that's cool, but we are not looking for a new best friend. You don't need to walk us to our cars, or find us in the student center, or ask us what we are doing Friday night. A simple, "see ya next time" will suffice. Learn to take some social cues. If we want to form a friendship, then we will let you know.

9. The Sniffer

We're sorry that you have a cold, but would you mind sitting somewhere else? Your incessant sniffing is distracting and causing us to white knuckle our desks so that we don't reach around and strangle you. Sit in the far, far away corner, take some medication, or stay home.

10. The Over-Excited

We are all proud of you for getting an answer right, but you do not have to announce your victory to the class with a loud, "yeeesssssss!" The rest of us stopped doing that in middle school -- learn how to hold it in.

Being an adult is great. You can have your own money, make your own decisions, have guilt-free sex, and can stay up as late as you want. However, even with all of these added pleasures, there are certain childhood things that many adults still enjoy.

I recently came across a book entitled Rejuvenile, by Christopher Noxon, which examines this trend of adults taking an interest in juvenile things. It's an interesting read, but in my opinion, the main force driving this movement is society's general state of being overworked and stressed out. What better way is there to shake off the overbearing feelings of responsibility than to act like a kid?

College students may not have to deal with full time jobs or have the weight of supporting a family, but they endure plenty of stress with their exams, professors, relationships, lack of money, etc.  So, I say why not behave like a child every now and then if it makes you feel better? Most of it is harmless fun anyway (duh, kids do it).

If you need help remembering what childhood was like, here are five "kid" activities that are still fun for adults.

Watching Cartoons

Let's face it, many adult shows are complete downers. I mean, how many Law and Orders or crime scene investigator programs can you watch before you just get really depressed? Cartoons have a way of boosting your spirits and your imagination, and some of them are just plain funny (there are plenty of adults getting a good laugh over Spongebob). Adult cartoons can be entertaining, but to really embrace your inner child stick with the kid varieties.

Coloring Books

Breaking out the crayons and completely filling in a page in the coloring book can be very therapeutic. It takes very little mental energy and you can just enjoy the process. And guess what? You are really good at coloring now. It's so simple to stay in the lines and you can easily impress any children that happen to be around.

Board Games

We all know adults love games (who do you think is playing all of that World of Warcraft?) But, nothing brings you back to your childhood like an old-fashioned board game. No batteries or electricity needed -- simply sit down with some dice and maybe a spinner and let the fun begin.

Blocks / Legos

There is no greater satisfaction than spending a few hours creating something, showing it off to your friends, and then completely destroying it. The building process takes quite a bit of mental concentration, so it distracts your brain from your adult problems. Then, you get to let out all of your aggression by kicking the thing down.

Playground Games

Kick the Can, Tag, Red Light - Green Light, Dodgeball, Kickball, Squarefour -- do you remember those games? They don't take much skill, they get you running around, and they are fun for everyone. In fact, the popularity of these games has resulted in the formation of several adult leagues. Why not join one and make some other "childish" friends?

With a quick Google search you may be surprised by all of the sites and groups dedicated to kid activities. Some of the most interesting ones that I came across are the Skipping Evangelists, the Tag Institute, and the Ultimate Pajama Party group.

What are some favorite childhood activities that you still enjoy?

No one can graduate high school without getting pegged with some type of label: jock, nerd, band geek, sweet, ditzy, etc. Once you've been branded it becomes almost impossible to form a new identity. However, if you are sick of the status quo, fate does offer you one reprieve -- college. College is the perfect time for a rebirth of your personality and/or image. This is especially true if you attend a school in a different city from where you grew up since you will likely know few, if any, people. It is one of the rare times in life where you can be whoever you want since no one knows anything about you and you can make a first impression with everyone that you meet.

If you're going to tackle a reinvention, then you've got to have a plan; you can't just show up and expect things to be different. So, to help you get started, here is a list of some things you should do:

1. Get a New Look

Whether your old style used to be goth, preppy, sporty, or whatever, you have to look different if you want to be seen differently. Get a new wardrobe, change your hairstyle -- just make a change. We all know clothes can make us feel and act differently, so pick out clothes that reflect your personality. Just be careful about adding permanent enhancements such as tattoos or piercings which may hurt your future job prospects. This "edgy" look may work alright for artists or musicians, but it isn't exactly what you want if you are planning on being an elementary school teacher.

2. Commit

If you're going to do this, then you have to fully commit. You can't swagger into class one day with your cool, new persona, and then shuffle in the next day with your head down. If you do that, people will likely think that you are either manic or confused.

3. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

If you continue to do the same old stuff that you've always done, then you will undoubtedly become the same person. To be different, you have to different things. Try joining a club, or going to new types of activities, sit with people you wouldn't normally sit with, dance when you would have sat … basically, just mix it up.

4. Break Old Habits

This is the hardest step of all, because we all know that habits are hard to break. No matter if you want to be more social, more studious, or anything in between, if you are used to doing the opposite, then you are going to have to work hard to prevent falling into old patterns. One of the best ways to do this is to simply fake it until you make it. If you pretend you are a certain way long enough it eventually will come true.

Overall, you've got to look at life with new eyes. You can't think of yourself or others in the same way as before. Turn off all judgments towards yourself and other people and you will be surprised how much life can change.