Chapter 13

Secrets for Success (Chapter 13)

There are a number of ways to make your online master’s degree education a success. Below you’ll find a list, though not exhaustive, of tips to help improve your experience. See which tips work best for you and incorporate them into your study routine.

Study Tips:

• Ask for Help

  As a graduate student, you hold more responsibility for your education experience than you did as an undergraduate student. This does not mean, however, that you have to go it alone. Part of your responsibility as a master’s degree candidate is to ask for help when you need it. Universities and individual departments can provide help and advice on all manner of things; you just have to ask.

• Learning Style

  Discover what kind of learner you are and develop your study strategies accordingly. A list of some different styles of learning can be found below. It is by no means thorough, but can give you an idea of where to start.

  The type of learner you are is an important factor in how you will do in an online master’s degree program. The three most common types of learners are:

  1. Visual learners – A visual learner is someone who learns through seeing things. They usually need to study in quiet, need to think about lectures before understanding them, and can study well with the help of visual aids (such as outlines, flash cards, and color-coded words).
  2. Auditory learners – An auditory learner is someone who learns by hearing things. They tend to read slowly, follow spoken directions well, and can easily explain ideas and concepts.
  3. Kinesthetic learners – A kinesthetic learner is someone who learns by doing things. They often have trouble sitting still for long periods of time, enjoy sports, and can study while listening to music.

  You can be any or all of these types of learners, but if you find it hard to decide, think back to the kinds of courses in which you did well in the past.

• Engage and Participate

  Engage with your classmates and professors and participate in as many aspects of your online learning experience as you can. This can reduce feeling isolated and overwhelmed. Login to your courses often (this is sometimes a requirement) and take the time to read the comments your classmates and professors make. When you fully participate in discussions and group projects, you will benefit from the perspectives and experiences of those around you and vice versa.

• Note-taking

  Be critical when taking notes from lectures and from readings. Determine whether what you are writing down is relevant, credible, and important; this will help cut down on the amount of notes you take and force you to focus on understanding what you are hearing and reading. Use key words, pictures and diagrams. Make flashcards, either by hand or online using a service like Flash Card Exchange to help you review.

• Reading

  Before you begin, preview the entire assignment (pages, due date) and determine what your professor wants you to get out of the reading. Figure out what you already know about the subject (it’s usually a lot more than you think), and skim over the parts with which you are familiar. Set a time limit for yourself, and move your eyes faster to read more quickly. Look for essential words and take notes on the reading.

• Time Management

  Schedule fixed blocks of time first, but remember to allow for flexibility. This is particularly important for online master’s degree programs, as it will be your responsibility to give yourself structure. It is also important if your online program has both synchronous and asynchronous components to it. Avoid long study sessions by setting clear start and stop times. Prioritize your tasks before you schedule them. Be realistic about your expectations and always plan for the unexpected.

• Stress Management

  Attending graduate school can be tough. Add on to school the responsibilities of work and family (particularly if you’re returning to school after years of being away), and life can become stressful. Get organized, and keep your school things together in one, easily accessible place. If you can, carve out a study nook for yourself where nothing but studying occurs. Set goals and make lists, including all of the things, big and small, that you need to do in order to accomplish your goals. Familiarize yourself with the format of your online courses, and the software you’ll use most often. Bookmark commonly used school webpages on your computer. Staying organized is key to keeping your stress levels low. Leave time for mistakes and make time for fun.

Balancing Act: School, Family, and Work:

At first glance, balancing school, family, and work can seem like an overwhelming task. But if you make use of your time management and stress management skills, you can find a balance in your life. Let those around you know that you’re going back to school and ask for help when you need it. If you study at home, set up rules for your family as to when it’s okay to interrupt you and when it’s not. Get a head start on school assignments when possible; it can make a huge difference at the end of the term or if an unexpected work or home project pops up. Time is usually blocked off for work and school, but make sure you do the same to spend time with your family.

Networking:

No matter your discipline, networking is a key element of graduate school. It can help you in your areas of research, in finding funding opportunities, and in landing future jobs. Networking often seems like an awkward way of asking people you don’t know for favors. It isn’t that. Networking is really just speaking to people you know or want to know about what you’re doing and what your future interests are. Be polite, make eye contact, and be yourself. Your professors and classmates are good people to start with since you’re all studying within the same field and working together on a regular basis. As you become more comfortable with the practice of networking, you’ll easily expand your base.

Comprehensive Exams:

Comprehensive exams are written, oral, or sometimes both, exams given to test your knowledge on a broad array of topics within your field of study. Some, but not all, master’s degree programs administer comprehensive exams. In some cases, you must pass your comprehensive exams prior to writing your thesis or dissertation. In other instances, your comprehensive exams are all that stand between you and graduation. Check with your school and department to see if you have comprehensive exams and if so, what they will cover.

Because comprehensive exams are, well, comprehensive, their questions will cover a wide range of topics. In order to prepare for these exams you should look at old exams, if they’re available; speak with students who have already taken their comprehensive exams; consult with your professors or your advisor as to where you should focus; locate and gather the materials you need to study; and organize your schedule so that you can study.