Taking the first steps of deciding to go back to college online can seem intimidating enough, but when it comes to knowing where even to start, it can feel impossible. Learning to balance family, work, and school is no easy task, yet adapting proactive tools to make your academic journey successful requires the right support and strategies.
SDSU Global Campus offers an array of online Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Advanced Certificate Programs designed to meet the needs of today’s working professionals. Whether you’re finishing your degree, transitioning careers, or pursuing a lifelong goal, these practical tips will help you stay motivated, organized, and confident throughout your online learning journey.
What are 10 Tips for Going Back to College Online?
Going back to college online can be a rewarding but challenging step in one’s life. There are some helpful tips that can help making going back to college online more successful, such as finding your true passion, building and sticking to a schedule, setting aside a dedicated space to study, and connecting with your instructors and fellow students to stay more engaged.
1) Find Your “Why?”
Finding your motivation is key to long-term success. Whether you are finally earning that promotion, transitioning into a career you love, or becoming a role model to your family, the idea that getting a degree is possible at any age, finding your motivation for going back to school is crucial to staying on track when challenges arise.
Once you have found your motivation, creating both short-term and long-term goals helps you along your journey. Breaking classes down into manageable pieces helps prevent becoming overwhelmed with a daunting schedule. Starting by keeping goals to complete weekly assignments, sticking to the designated study schedule, or semester goals. Completing clear goals makes your achievements measurable and keeps you motivated on your journey to success.
2) Build a Schedule that Works for You
Structuring your schedule while learning online is crucial for success. When classes are online, completing assignments and studying can almost feel optional, but creating a regular schedule that works for you keeps you on track.
Whether fitting class in after work, on the weekends or even on the go at your kid’s soccer practice, finding a consistent schedule that works with you is crucial to your academic development. The flexibility of online learning makes the classroom available to you, anytime and anywhere. Use this to your advantage to keep a consistent schedule that keeps you productive on your path to success.
3) Have a Designated Study Space
Creating a designated study space significantly improves the ability to focus and cognitive performance. When balancing going back to school with having a family or a full-time job, it becomes essential to have a space to block out distractions to remain fully present with the work at hand. Fewer distractions yield better performance and faster completion times.
4) Practice Efficient Time Management
Practicing strong time management skills creates successful online students. Using planners, digital calendars, or assignment tracking tools helps keep you on top of your schedule, assignments and deadlines. When balancing a jam-packed schedule, making the most of your time is essential to ensure you stay on track and reduce stress.
5) Connect with Peers and Instructors
Attending school virtually can often feel isolating, and it can be easy to get lost. The reality is, you are never alone in your academic journey. In every virtual classroom, there are peers in the same position, looking to collaborate and network with classmates.
Reaching out may seem intimidating in an online environment, but creating a community and support system encourages accountability, provides a safe space for asking questions, and celebrates mutual success in your academic journey. Broadening your network by cultivating connections with peers and instructors can unlock a world of new opportunities with experts in your field.
6) Take Breaks
By budgeting, designating study breaks into your schedule can significantly improve productivity, cognitive retention, reduce burnout, and fatigue. It is recommended to take a 5-10 minute break per hour of studying, or when you feel your focus and performance declining. Instead of using your break to check your phone or switching to another digital task, try stretching, grabbing a snack, and moving your body to increase blood flow.
7) Budget Accordingly
Finishing your degree is an investment towards your future and dreams; it’s crucial to proactively plan accordingly for it. SDSU Global Campus offers a variety of scholarship and financial aid options available to students to make going back to school achievable and affordable. Creating budgets to account for your tuition payments reduces stress during your academic journey and makes a proactive plan towards your success.
8) Ask For Help
Communication is vital during virtual learning.
No one will know you’re struggling if you don’t ask for help. Whether struggling to fully grasp a concept or in a roadblock while completing an assignment, instructors and peers are your greatest support system during your academic journey. Proactively engaging in productive conversations with instructors and peers is crucial for professional and academic development.
“Don’t struggle in silence. Reach out as soon as you feel stuck, stay consistent with your study habits, and remember that every challenge is part of the learning process. The students who succeed are the ones who ask questions, stay engaged, and keep going even when the work feels tough.” Magda Tsintsadze, Computer Engineering SDSU Global Campus instructor, said.
9) Use Available Resources
Support is one of the biggest advantages of going back to school with SDSU Global Campus.
From application help to the day you graduate, you have access to a team dedicated to your success, including:
- Student Success Advisors
- Admission Advisors
- Outreach Representatives
- Career and academic support services
These resources are designed to help you navigate challenges throughout your academic journey with SDSU Global Campus, stay on track, and finish strong.
10) Take Care of Yourself
Going back to school online is no easy task, especially if you’re juggling a full-time job, a family, social life, and whatever life throws your way. Taking care of yourself is essential to succeeding in all aspects of your life. In order to get everything done, the first thing taken care of is always ourselves. Make an effort to notice how your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being are being impacted. Give yourself grace for accomplishing all that you do. Remember, everyone has bumps in the road, and remembering why you started can make all the difference in getting back up.
Thinking of Going Back to College Online? Download Our Free Guide
If you or someone you know is considering going back to college online, download “Unfinished Business: The Working Adult’s Guide to Earning Your Degree Online.” The guide is full of helpful information and tips that can make the process of going back to college online smoother. Download your free guide today!
Why SDSU Global Campus?
SDSU Global Campus makes going back to college online flexible, accessible and achievable with online degree programs tailored for working adults. With expert instructors, a supportive community, and a variety of resources available to guide your success every step of the way, pursuing higher education to make your dreams possible is within reach.
