Online College Survival Guide

Going to an online college is more difficult that you may think.  It’s not easier because you don’t have to sit in a classroom, and pay attention; you still have to pay attention, and do your work in order to get a passing grade.  Going for your Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree online is not much different than going for a degree in a tradition school setting.  A college survival guide is really unnecessary, but here are some tips that will make things easier for you in the long run as you attend an online college.

Stay Organized

Staying organized is extremely important if you want to do well in college.  First, you should have any and all materials you may need for your courses such as academic books, notebooks, writing utensils, flashcards, a computer and Internet access, etc.  Make sure you stay organized with all of your materials too – keep your notes from different classes in separate notebooks or sections, and keep your materials all together neatly for easy access.  Secondly, create to-do lists and establish both long-term and short-term goals for yourself.  By doing this, you will be able to see your objectives written down; making it more mandatory than if you just store it in your head.  With written down goals and tasks, and a set deadline, you will work more diligently and complete your work on time.

Avoid Procrastination

It’s very easy to slack of when taking online classes, especially with Internet access.  Normally, in addition to doing homework and researching, students also spend time browsing Facebook, Twitter, and checking email.  It happens so often because having another window doesn’t seem like a huge deal, but then you end up looking at some website and it leads to another website and before you know it, an hour of time has passed where you could have been doing homework.  This procrastination can come from television, miscellaneous noises, and family and friends; and normally this distraction is welcomed, but pushing back everything until last minute brings on stress and sloppy work.  A great idea would be to start your work early in the week and continue to work on it a little everyday.  When your work is finished early and you aren’t scrambling last minute to piece everything together, you will feel more accomplished and at ease.

Study!

No one likes to study, but the truth is as students, studying is everything.  If you want to follow your dreams and pursue your career goals, going to school, studying, and making the grade are all very important.

  • When to Study:  It’s important to settle on when you have time to study according to your schedule.  Then, you must consider when during the day you’re most attentive, because you need to be able to concentrate and focus when studying.  Lastly, realizing whether you learn better when studying a few hours at a time with few breaks in between, or if you benefit more for studying all at once with little or no breaks, will help you discover when is the best time for you to study.
  • Where to Study: It’s important to find a location with good lighting, a comfortable temperature that is also quiet and will allow you to concentrate.  A less social environment with little distractions is the best place for most people; in addition, studying alone is sometimes the best way to learn.  Some people learn better when studying with a group, that way you are able to discuss with other classmates, and assist each other.
  • Reading: Reading your textbook and understanding the material will make it easier when it comes to having to remember facts or theories.  For words you aren’t familiar with, having a dictionary and/or a thesaurus on hand is a great idea.  Many students also don’t take the time to take notes; writing out notes while reading is extremely effective.  Some people prefer highlighting the book, but in most instances, you’ll just skim what you’ve highlighted.  Writing out the information gives for better recollection when it comes time for online exams.
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