It’s September and the school year has just begun.
If you’re an adult who is returning to college, you know that today’s hyper-competitive marketplace demands cutting edge skills and up-to-date knowledge to remain valuable to employers. A record number of adults who are returning to college to learn new skills or finish a degree choose to enroll in an online degree program in business, nursing, healthcare, or education. If you find yourself facing the exciting prospect of returning to school, here are some tips that will make your first few days a little smoother.
Tip #1: Call your academic advisor. Most colleges will assign you an academic advisor to help you navigate the enrollment process. Whether faculty or staff, this person is a wealth of knowledge about what to expect in your first course. Be sure to ask questions such as, “How do I get my books?” “How do I access my online course?” and “Who do I call when I need help?”
Tip #2: Ask about textbooks. If you’ve shopped for textbooks lately, you probably experienced sticker shock. With the advent of low cost e-books, physical textbooks have become more and more expensive. Some colleges, such as the one I work for, will offer to stock, order, and ship these to you for one package rate. This is a great benefit for working professionals who don’t have time to constantly shop the online marketplace for bargains. Other colleges require the student to obtain the books on his/her own. Be sure to understand what’s expected of you before the first day of class.
Tip #3: Invest in a new laptop. Since you’ll be spending 2-4 years in school to finish your degree, this is a great opportunity to invest in a new computer to help you write, create, and navigate your way through your courses. Your academic advisor can help you determine what technology is best for you in your program. Most colleges will post the technology requirements for your program on their webpages for your convenience.
Tip #4: Know your learning style, THEN pick your program. Its important to match your choice of degree program (online versus on campus) with your particular learning style. Some adults prefer to have a classroom-based experience with a professor on-site and the association of other students. Still other adults flourish within an online classroom because of the convenience to study and complete assignments outside of a rigid classroom schedule. Knowing which style best fits your ability will dramatically increase your satisfaction in the long run.
Tip #5: Set up a routine. Studying and completing assignments works best when you set up a routine schedule. Whether you study alone or with others, having a set time to complete readings, write papers, or engage the online classroom is beneficial. Realize that you may need to adjust this from time to time during your program. That’s OK. Be diligent in this and you’ll reap a reward when the course is over.