Earning my Bachelor’s Degree from Thomas Edison State University was a proud moment in my life. Completing your studies at Thomas Edison via a distance learning program requires hard work and long term dedication. Avoiding these five pitfalls will help you achieve your college goals without unnecessary hassle.
1.) Understand your financial aid package and remember the fees
Financial aid, grants, and the miscellaneous fees are a burden. While Thomas Edison does offer assistance, understanding your financial aid and what fees (i.e. late course enrollment, extensions, graduation) to expect is crucial. Use a notebook or set calendar reminders to make sure you submit your paperwork on time. No student wants there degree completion to be delayed due to unpaid fees.
I found this out the hard way. My Bachelor’s Degree was delayed by several months due to having to reapply for financial aid for a few days that went uncovered. Then, I had to scramble to pay the graduation fee. These unnecessary hardships were avoidable if I kept better track of my financial aid and upcoming fees.
2.) Balance your course load
Planning your course load is crucial to maintaining a manageable work life school balance. Talk to advisors and review course information before selecting your courses for the semester. Avoid taking two courses that are labor intensive when possible. Also, do not forget about upcoming personal events or holidays when deciding what courses to take. For example, during the Christmas semester, consider taking one course instead of the normal two courses. By planning your courses ahead, you can avoid overloading yourself and keep work, family, and college within balance.
3.) Maximize your time
Time management is essential to earning your degree. Dividing your time between assignments based upon their worth towards the course’s final grade is a good way to maximize your time spent studying. Avoid spending four hours on an assignment that counts for one percent of your grade when you have another assignment worth five percent. This way, you put the most effort into what assignments that matter most.
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4.) Do NOT fall behind
Arguably the most critical factor in determining success or failure at Thomas Edison is staying current on coursework. Falling behind at Thomas Edison means rushing through assignments and cramming for exams. Additionally, Thomas Edison penalizes students for completing coursework after its due date. Essentially, by falling behind, you will lower your final grade.
The key to staying ahead is to prioritize your work based upon due dates. You have already determined what assignments need the most attention. Now, work on them based upon their due date. This way, you avoid working on the paper due in two weeks when you have a math assignment due to two days.
5.) Ensure good Internet connection during exams
You have been chugging along finishing homework assignments, papers, and group projects all on schedule. One last task to complete: the final online exam. Half way through the exam, your wireless internet connection fails. Franticly, you try to log back in, but the exam is locked. All of a sudden, that comforting feeling begins to fade as you realize that your final exam is not complete.
Avoid connectivity issues by using a hard wired internet connection. In this scenario, you have to submit a help desk ticket and ask for the exam to be reset. The college can, should it deem necessary, refuse the request based upon the input they have from the incomplete exam.
For me, I was fortunate enough to have the exam reset. But, I had a limited window (two days) to complete the exam. If I had been unavailable during those days due to work or family, I would have been given a zero. The best way to avoid this scenario is to simply use a secure, wired internet connection.
Robert Morgan is a freelance author and engineer. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Nuclear Engineering Technologies from Thomas Edison State University in 2012. Robert also served nearly ten years in the U.S. Navy on submarines. Originally from East Berlin, Pennsylvania, Robert now resides in Rhode Island.