Completing an online degree is not as easy as many think, and that’s if you were to commit to it full-time. It takes time to adjust to a remote learning environment, just as many have found it has taken time to adjust to a remote working environment. They both offer their own challenges and difficulties, and putting them together can be a real test if you are not prepared.
If you aren’t working remotely, but are instead in an essential position and still need to contend with a commute and the physical exhaustion of a long day, it can be even harder, but not impossible. Nurses and other healthcare staff, for example, will find it very difficult to also dedicate their time to a degree, but with this guide, you’ll be able to successfully accomplish your every goal very easily.
Tips to Help You Choose the Right Online Degree for Your Career
The right online degree will make all the difference, especially if you need to progress your career. Choose the wrong degree, however, and you will have an expensive bit of paper that does absolutely nothing for your career. You can always change out or drop out before you graduate from a degree that doesn’t suit you, yes, but by using these tips, you’ll know what to look for the first time around:
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It fulfills any requirements from your licensing board
This is possibly one of the most important requirements and is more applicable if, for example, you are a nurse. To progress your career, you need both the formal qualification (the degree) and the license. To earn the license, you will need a degree that is recognized by your state. This is very easy to do; you just simply need to look at the requirements for the state exam and line them up with the degree you are looking at. Alternatively, you can speak with a student advisor to double-check this way.
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It teaches you skills in subjects you are unfamiliar with
The second way to help you choose the right degree for your career is by ensuring that it covers topics that will allow you to expand your current career set. In our example of nursing, this won’t be an MSN, but rather a DNP in a non-medical or healthcare topic. There are online DNP leadership programs, for example, that are designed to take highly qualified nurses and turn them into business leaders. The topics you will learn cover everything from human resources to financing – topics that most nurses do not often naturally know about, and therefore would benefit greatly from a DNP degree.
When looking to expand your career in this method, always be sure to choose an executive leadership degree, ideally with your industry or scope as a focus.
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It has the right accolades
A well-regarded degree is a great place to start, especially if it is ranked highly by its alumni community. You don’t need to go to the best-rated university, but you do need your degree to offer a high standard of quality and resources.
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It has the right resources
Resources are everything when it comes to online education. After all, you are missing out on the campus and all of its on-site resources. You need to have similar digital equivalents to help you. Student success coaches, a thriving mentorship program, and even just an active alumni community can all do wonders to help you with your degree and career goals.
How to Succeed During Your Online Degree
How to successfully work on your degree while working, however, is another story entirely. Choosing the right degree means that all your effort pays off, but it will still take effort. That is why these tips are essential, especially if you work in shifts like nurses do or are otherwise dealing with long or odd hours as part of your career:
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Improve Your Health
You can do a lot when you are physically fit and mentally well. You will have naturally more energy, and without anything holding you back, you can put your all into your career and into your degree. This is best done before you enroll and begin your degree, as the big changes you may need to make will take time to adjust. If your goal is to exercise more to improve energy levels and health, for example, it’s going to take a while before your workouts stop hurting and start helping.
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Get Friends, Family, and Coworkers to Help
You are not in this alone. Ask for help, and you’ll be amazed at how much people will respond, from friends and family to even your own coworkers. They can help by simply studying their own degree next to you, or perhaps they can visit you and help you prepare healthy lunches for the week. There is a fine line between relying on friends, however, and taking advantage of them, so work with what they offer. Just remember to let them know that you could use their help.
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Build a Routine You Can Stick With
Routines are great for energy management. Start today to not just build a healthier routine, but also one that incorporates a study period into your day. By doing this before you actually begin, you will be able to ease into working and studying again without strain.
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Learn Best for You
Everyone learns slightly differently but learning how you absorb and understand information best is essential. Good tips to keep in mind is that memory recollection is a powerful tool. Rather than just make notes, write questions you need to know the answers to. Keep that sheet of questions on hand and review it often. You will need to go back to your notes to find the answer in some cases, but over time this is the most effective way to retain information.
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Keep Tabs on Your Mental and Physical Health
You have to put yourself first. While we may be able to push through hard times in many instances, this is not something that can be done again and again. Keep tabs on your physical and mental health, and have a plan in place if you start to notice the signs of burnout.
You can succeed in completing an online degree; you simply need the right support and to be in the best of health.
