You want to go back to school, but don鈥檛 have time to spend in a classroom every day. You want to learn on your time and you know you have the drive to do it. Sounds like online learning might be for you! 黑料不打烊 Enrollment Services Representative Shaniqua Lewis not only helps students start their online education, she鈥檚 an online student herself! 鈥淚 chose online so I can schedule school around my other daily tasks. I also enjoy going at my own pace and going to class in the comfort of my own home in my pajamas,鈥� she said. 
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Here are Shaniqua鈥檚 top 5 tips on how to succeed as an online student.
Time Management
To succeed as an online student you need to be an independent learner. There won鈥檛 be an instructor in front of you every day making sure you complete your assignments. It鈥檚 up to you to keep track of what鈥檚 due and when. Your online instructors will be there to support you along the way, but learning online means you need to motivate yourself. Shaniqua recommends setting aside 10 to 15 hours a week for your school work. If you plan ahead, you鈥檒l be able to stay on track.
Tech and Log-In Requirements
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If you鈥檙e learning at home, you鈥檒l need the tools to do it. To be a successful online student you need to have computer and internet access. It鈥檚 up to you where you choose to work 鈥� whether it鈥檚 at home or in a public library. You can use a desktop or laptop computer, whichever you prefer and as long as your internet speed is fast enough for you to log in and do your work, you鈥檙e good to go! Now just because you aren鈥檛 required to go to class doesn鈥檛 mean you don鈥檛 have to show up, regularly. You have to log in three days a week to respond to your discussion questions. There isn鈥檛 a time limit, but you鈥檝e got to get it done. You also need to log in to submit your homework assignment. It鈥檚 a way to keep you accountable and make sure you鈥檙e keeping up.
Be Proactive
You鈥檙e the boss here, and it鈥檚 up to you to succeed. Shaniqua says the best way to do that is to get your assignments done early rather than waiting until the day they鈥檙e due. Hey, life happens! You never know if you鈥檒l get sick or your internet stops working. If you get in the habit of finishing your work early, you won鈥檛 have to worry about last minute hiccups. Another way to make sure you鈥檙e on point is to connect with your instructors. You鈥檒l have their phone numbers and email addresses, so use them! It鈥檚 important to reach out if you need help with assignments or have any questions. Remember, they鈥檙e the best resource you have. Even though you won鈥檛 see your instructors every day in the classroom, know they鈥檙e here for you. Your instructors aren鈥檛 your only resource. You鈥檝e got a whole team to help you succeed! On top of your instructor you have your online student support advisor, online tutoring and face-to-face tutoring on campus. You can also for help, and there are live class sessions available for students who need that interaction with an instructor.
Create a Schedule
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You鈥檒l know in advance what鈥檚 due when, and it鈥檚 up to you to create a schedule to get your work done. Creating a daily schedule will help you stay on track. 鈥淚f you work, make sure you create some time at least every other day to log into class to do your discussions and assignments. If you plan out your schedule in advance, you鈥檒l be able to see what鈥檚 coming and plan life around your classwork,鈥� Shaniqua said.
Set Personal Goals
Not that kind! You know why you鈥檝e decided to go to school, and it鈥檚 important to keep your eye on the ball (figuratively). You want to start your career, and to get there you need to complete your education. That鈥檚 the big goal. Make sure you have little ones too, like getting an 鈥淎鈥� on this week鈥檚 assignment or finishing your essay by Tuesday. Setting goals for yourself will help you stay on track. Having options on how to get your education is awesome, but choosing online means you鈥檙e ready to do the work. You鈥檝e got a great support system in place to help you succeed. If you鈥檙e ready to take the next step visit 黑料不打烊 today! 黑料不打烊 offers online certificate programs in Medical Administrative Assistant and Medical Billing & Coding and an online Health Studies Program for alumni who have their certificate and want their Associates degree.
