When it comes to getting ready to go to college online, it’s recommended that you get in touch with your academic supervisor and look at the tech requirements. Here’s a quick look at those things and a few more things to do to prepare.
Tech Requirements
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for an online college that offers AACSB online MBA no GMAT or anything else, you should search your online program’s website or contact tech support for the school to make sure that your software and hardware meet the requirements. This should be done about a week before your classes begin. In general, you’ll need at least a desktop or laptop computer, a minimum of two web browsers, and a high-speed internet connection.
Get Familiar with the School
If you want to get the most from college, you’ll need to be familiar with it first. Just because you’ll be getting your degree online, that doesn’t mean that you won’t have opportunities in which you can interact with the other students. You can even find online groups on social media that are comprised of people from a variety of different online schools that will give you insight into what life as an online student is like.
If Possible, Visit the Campus
If you choose to take classes online and you live in close proximity to the actual campus. You might want to make a point to visit it. This will allow you to gauge what the culture is like, meet professors, and build a connection. Even if you’re an online-only student, you can go up for football games, homecoming parades, and even take part in alumni events.
Contact Advisors
Many colleges that offer online programs also provide their students with an academic or enrollment advisor to assist them with registering for courses and to answer any questions students might have regarding the college or curriculum. One good thing to ask about would be what the weekly time requirements might be. You might also want to get information regarding student involvement in school activities and online student orientation.
Orientation
Some degree programs that are offered online require their new students to attend virtual orientations so that they can acclimatize themselves to the environment online. They might learn how to connect with support services as well as how to navigate their classes online. Other programs might require an in-person campus visit where their students can participate in activities regarding team building, a variety of types of sessions, and for them to network with staff and other students.
Get a Self-Introduction Ready
Most online programs will require their students to introduce themselves at one point or another, whether it’s on social media or within the classroom setting online. You should prepare a short speech that covers your background along with your goals for college and beyond. Having one of these handy can also be of assistance when you’re enrolling or applying.
Finally, create a weekly plan for yourself. When you’re pursuing a degree online, knowing how to manage your time is crucial. It’s recommended that you dedicate a few hours each day to your coursework. You can use a digital planner that’s synced with your Gmail account or even just an old-fashioned physical calendar. You might find that you’re using Microsoft Outlook quite a bit more than usual when it comes to this, or any number of other planners/calendar type apps and programs. There are quite a few to choose from and your professors can help you choose one that might work well for you.
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