Accelerated online degree courses are a boon for working professionals and homemakers who want to gain further education in a subject but don’t have the time or resources to pursue a regular full-time college program.
However, not everyone who signs up for an online degree course is able to complete it successfully. This is largely because students often don’t take the time to understand what it takes to excel at self-paced learning and the strategies they’ll need to avoid going off track.
If you’re considering enrolling for an accelerated bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree, the following tips will help you get the best out of your learning experience.
Understand what it takes before you begin
Online education is very different from classroom learning. First of all, you have to be self-motivated and committed to the program. You need to understand that while you will have dedicated instructors, you can’t simply park all your doubts and walk up to them for help 24×7. You need to learn to work independently and solve problems on your own.
In addition, owing to family/work commitments and other responsibilities, there is the risk of missing out on your submission deadlines, so you need to plan and execute a schedule that leaves you enough time and energy to study and do your coursework.
Studying for an accredited degree from the comfort of your home undoubtedly requires tremendous discipline. You need to learn to say no to a lot of things and prioritize your learning over nonessential activities. Above all, you need to be good at time management and capable of learning through reading and researching.
Cultivate these qualities before enrolling for online education.
Create a dedicated study corner in your home
Having a quiet place to study and to complete assignments will play a very important role in helping you focus and keeping you from procrastinating. Dedicating a corner of your living space to your learning and coursework is important so that you can study consistently in a distraction-free environment.
If there is no such space at home, find a local coffee shop or the library where you can go to study every day or thrice a week. Of course, you’ll need a laptop and good internet connectivity wherever you choose to study.
Do check out https://www.mydegreeguide.com for more tips and up-to-date information about accelerated online graduate and postgraduate degree programs in a range of streams and subjects.
Be open to community learning and group discussions
Learning in isolation can wear out even the most motivated students after a while. With online accelerated degree programs, you have the advantage of student communities and online study groups where learners from all over the world come to discuss assignments, research work and personal challenges with self-paced learning.
To make the most of this unique opportunity to observe global perspectives, make the effort to connect with your course mates and faculty members. Focus on making meaningful relationships with classmates that share your passion for the subject.
