{"id":3355,"date":"2015-11-23T11:00:33","date_gmt":"2015-11-23T17:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/?p=3355"},"modified":"2015-11-23T08:47:09","modified_gmt":"2015-11-23T14:47:09","slug":"tips-for-success-in-an-online-degree-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/tips-for-success-in-an-online-degree-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Capella Students and Graduates Share Their Advice for Future Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What does it take to earn an online degree? According to Capella University students and alumni, it is a combination of three things: persistence, organization, and a strong support system.<\/p>\n<p>A request was sent out on Capella\u2019s social media channels: What one piece of advice would you give to new students?\u00a0 In their own words, here are a few of the 120 student and alumni responses, with tips and words of inspiration.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Persistence<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cRemain engaged. There is always a book, a video, a teacher, a teaching assistant, a fellow learner, a faculty member, etc. that are willing to help and can help. Don&#8217;t ever feel like you are alone in your learning. Stay engaged and stay positive! The time will pass but an education lasts your entire lifetime.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>&#8220;If you never start, you will never finish. By continuing your education you are taking positive, life changing steps.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cIt takes commitment! Log in and study every day, or at least regularly. Then, enjoy the breaks between class terms.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cDon&#8217;t give up. Regardless of how tough things may be for you right now it will get better.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cRemain focused with the end in mind and don&#8217;t take yourself too serious. Have fun in the learning process.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4>Organization<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201c<\/em><em>Develop good <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/3-practical-time-management-tips\/\"><em>time management<\/em><\/a><em> skills. It makes the process a lot simpler and frees up time for self-care!\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cComplete assignments one day early, if possible. Then, begin the next week&#8217;s studies a day early.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cEmbrace your program. Learn the material, use it, master it, and then pat yourself on the back.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cTime management is your very best friend. Write out a schedule if need be, but manage your time wisely.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cFind a way to balance work, home, and school without putting too much pressure on yourself.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Strong Support System<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cKeep lines of communication open with your professors and advisors and ask questions when unclear about class or university requirements. Set a weekly schedule for discussion posts, research, and classwork and STICK to it as much as possible.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cAttend the first <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/what-is-doctoral-colloquium\/\"><em>residency<\/em><\/a><em> as soon as possible. Meet the instructors and your classmates. <\/em><em>Step outside your comfort zone. Pick a journal that is aligned with your major and read it religiously.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cRemember that being an online learner doesn&#8217;t mean you can&#8217;t use the phone to establish relationships with fellow learners, and especially your professors!\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cStay focused and enlist the support of friends and family on your journey!\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cAppreciate your family\/support system and say thank you often.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>View all the responses on <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CapellaU\/status\/639923385300971520\"><em>Twitter<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CapellaUniversity\/posts\/10155991985655641\"><em>Facebook<\/em><\/a><em>, and <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/edu\/school-single-activity?activityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6045689236391284736\"><em>LinkedIn<\/em><\/a><em>. Learn more about Capella\u2019s <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.capella.edu\/\"><em>online degree programs<\/em><\/a><em>. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>No one knows more about what it takes to get an online degree than someone who has been through it. Capella University students and alumni share their tips for new students.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":3376,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24],"tags":[25,26],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3355"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3355"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3411,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3355\/revisions\/3411"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}