Going to college in the second decade of the 21st century is a truly unique undertaking. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the way we teach and learn. Higher education in particular bore the brunt of much of that change. Now, attending an online college is more practical and accepted than ever before. An online degree is just as valuable as one earned from a traditional brick-and-mortar school. Just make sure your online school is accredited. Whether you’re earning a bachelor’s degree for the first time or supplementing a current degree with something new, online college is an accessible, affordable, option that gets right to the point without requiring a move, campus residence, or additional extracurricular activities. Here are a few tips for completing your degree online.
Choose the Right Degree for You
The first step to getting started with online college is choosing a school and degree program. As with most things, it begins with research. Decide what you want to do and begin looking at careers that fit. Interested in business or accounting? Marketing? Journalism? Criminal Justice? Whatever the case may be, there’s likely an online bachelor’s degree available for the particular field. Also, decide what kind of time commitment you’re going to be able to make, especially when it comes to your intended discipline. Consider potential careers, your overall goals, and your own interests prior to locking in a degree decision.
Hone Your Time Management Skills
Online college separates itself from the traditional model in a number of ways. Aside from its remote nature and unique structure, getting a degree online requires honing and development of your time management skills. Many online courses are structured in a way to be more flexible and allow for self-paced instruction. That also means the burden of completing the course falls predominantly on the student. The key to success in this area is managing time effectively. It all comes down to planning and scheduling. Create your work plan around your job schedule, family obligations, and other aspects of your life. A calendar or study schedule can help. Even if you’re only dedicating an hour or two per day to your studies, you’ll be able to succeed by making good use of your time. Finally, setting some goals and taking advantage of spare time and smartphones to do work on the go might also be a good way to get ahead.
Communicate with Faculty
You might not think about getting in touch or getting to know your instructors/faculty while taking online courses. Since the majority of your interactions occur through discussions, learning software, and pre-recorded lectures, it might seem like you don’t need to talk to anyone at all. But there are inherent benefits to communicating and getting to know the faculty.
Communicating with faculty contributes to an overall sense of community. It can also lead to swift resolutions for academic issues and provide a speedy route for answering any questions relevant to your degree. Mostly, doing so provides an additional resource for your studies. Having quick access to your professor via email, phone, or instant messaging is a boon for struggling students or better understanding your courses. Some of them might also maintain virtual office hours and be available for phone/teleconferencing appointments whenever students need them.
Take Advantage of Student Resources
At traditional colleges, student resources are intended to help students succeed in their studies. Similarly, online colleges offer their own version of student services/student resources. The quality of teaching at your school is vital, but having access to quality student services is just as essential (possibly more so). Advising is the best way to determine what classes you need and create an action plan for each semester. Tutoring services give students a bit of extra help in various subjects. Writing Help and other writing services are incredibly useful for those long papers, discussions, and essays many classes will undoubtedly require. Career Services can help you tweak your resume and prepare you for careers within your field. Some schools also offer health services, conflict resolution, and an online school library. Just like a normal library, an online one supplies essential access to journal articles, ebooks, and other pertinent research materials. Taking advantage of robust student services as you pursue an online education will eventually position you for academic success and a headache-free college experience.
Dedicate a Study Space in Your Home
As we mentioned above, time management and self-paced work are a significant part of getting a degree online. Flexibility is fantastic, but being able to actually complete your work within a reasonable time frame hinges on creating your own workspace. Having a particular, dedicated space helps you focus, keeps the world around you quiet, and gives you an opportunity to get away from the outside world and immerse yourself in your studies. You’ll need to ensure you have access to a computer, the school’s learning management software, and a decent internet connection. After that, think about setting up a specific space within your home dedicated to working on your schoolwork. Alternatively, a coffee shop, library, café, or other cozy public space with an internet connection can work wonders as well. As long as your surroundings are comfortable and lend themselves well to completing your work, you’ll be knocking your classes out rapidly and have your degree in no time at all.
