#college101

How to manage your time in an online degree program

It can be tough when you are making the decision to come back to school.  As much as you want to go, it feels like there is so much standing in your way.  Even after you have made the decision to enroll in classes and get going on your degree, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out how to fit all of your coursework into your already overflowing life responsibility. 

Anytime you are feeling overwhelmed, the best thing you can do for yourself is break down those huge goals into smaller pieces.  As yourself, “What can I do today to help me reach my goal?” “What can I do in the next 20-30 minutes?” 

For some folks, one of the nerve-wracking things about an online degree is the lack of structure.  When there is no standing appointment each week to come to class and check in with your instructors in person, when it feels detached because you never see your classmate’s faces, sometimes you start to feel very detached from your program.  Suddenly, you’re not sure if you are missing something, and it feels like something will slip through the cracks at any moment.

We know the feeling.  

Below is a to-do list to help keep you on target toward pursuing your goals:

Before you start:

Add all assignment due dates to your personal schedule from the syllabus for each class from Blackboard

Bookmark the student portal, mySLU in your browser, and get familiar with the applications

Order your books for your classes

Daily:

Email: Check & respond to emails 

Blackboard: Review due dates for class assignments/tests/quizzes/projects & make sure your work is up to date in each class for the next few days

Weekly:

Blackboard: make sure your personal schedule is matched up with the class syllabus for each class 

Payment Suite: ensure that your bill payment is up to date

Future Terms (3-ish weeks before start date):

Banner Self-Service: update contact information, review your enrollment for upcoming term(s)

Apply for scholarships

Contact your academic adviser and confirm your enrollment

Order books for future classes

Why to be a part of research?

Every college student needs a planner. You think you can remember everything but you will forget something here or there. Some do bullet journals, I could not. They are great and cute, but I did not have time and when I did, I did not keep up with it. It was just too much for me. But if you want to do a bullet journal, DO IT! If not, just make sure you have a planner, if its super nice or simple. I prefer Erin condren, you can style it how you want, its personalized and it has enough room to keep track of everything. It also comes with stickers!! But like I said, just get a planner.