A recent education study found 25% of all college students are taking at least one class online. The same study also reported a 17% jump in online enrollment. The popularity of distance learning college means more students are having to relearn how they approach classes. Gone are opportunities to chat face to face with a professor after class or trade notes with a classmate. Fortunately there are ways to help yourself succeed in long distance learning.
If you’re planning to attend college online you may need a class in self discipline first. While online learning offers students the flexibility of choosing where and when to study, that freedom can backfire. Many online college students work, have families or may even be serving in the military. These lifestyles come with distractions that can hurt study time. If you plan ahead, however, you can succeed at online learning.
If you are taking an online class, make sure you set goals for yourself. Know how long you want to take to complete your degree and how many classes will be required each year. Make sure you have enough financial aid to cover the time it will take to earn your degree. Keep up with class work so you don’t slip behind. Trying to catch up wastes time and your money.
Where you study is also important. If you can’t concentrate at home, try the library or a coffee shop. Having a specific place to go may help put you in the mood to study each day. Think of online college like a job. You have a place to go, a certain time to go to class and study. If you can stick to a routine, completing your goals will be easier.
What are you interested in? That’s a good question to ask yourself before you declare your major. If a topic interests you, you are more likely to enjoy studying. Taking a variety of classes early in your college career may help you determine what field interests you most. Remember this is your career, so don’t be influenced by family pressure, your current job or hiring trends.
When you attend school online, you don’t get to meet friends on campus or run into the professor after class, but there are ways to interact online. Most courses have chat rooms. Students can connect to discuss the class or set up a study group. It’s also a good idea to get in touch with your instructor by email or phone. That way when questions or problems arise, you have people to ask for help.
Try to involve your family and friends in your online college plan, especially if you live with them. Since you are not “away at college” people can forget you need time to go to class and study. Share your schedule with your family and friends so they know when to give you time to study.
One of the most attractive features of your online education is the flexibility. You get to choose what, where, and when to study. However, succeeding at college degrees means making sure that freedom works in your favor and not against you. Taking these steps to ensure your success means obtaining the best online degree for you in the manner that works in your situation. The decision to get your college degree could be a life changing move for you and your family. You may find an abundance of new information about on line degree programs on the internet.
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