Making The Dean's List

One of the greatest achievements a college student can accomplish is making the dean's list. The dean's list is a roster of students who have reached the highest academic rank for the semester. Usually, a student must be enrolled for at least part time and must have a GPA of at least 3.5 to make the list. Online bachelor degree programs have dean's lists just like regular campus programs and the lists are often posted on the Internet after each semester. It is a nice way for the school to recognize its hardest working students, and for online students to receive the same recognition as in-class students working toward the same goal.

Save Money Through Distance Learning

One of the many benefits of obtaining an online bachelor degree is the money you will save by taking classes over the Internet. Not driving to school means no more gas money wasted, parking fees, or eating out. Thousands of dollars a year can be saved this way, especially if you live far from your college of choice. Even better is the time saved by cutting out the commute. You can use that spare time by studying or even taking additional courses to ensure an earlier graduation.

Applying For Financial Aid Online

Financial aid is available for most online students enrolled in a recognized and accredited school. You should apply for financial assistance in advance of your school year beginning, and applications can be done online. A FAFSA, or free application for federal student aid, is the form that all students must fill out in order to qualify for federal, state, or institutional aid. It is to be completed each year that you are enrolled in college and wish to be assisted. For completing an online FAFSA form, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov. There you will be given a PIN number to sign on with each time you visit the site. Be sure to print off any pertinent documents for your records, as they may be needed for reference in the future.

Look Into Scholarships

Most online universities offer financial aid, including scholarships. Scholarships are available to a wide range of students, and as a student you can qualify for more than one scholarship.

Like grants, scholarships offer financial assistance without the requirement of repayment. It's a good idea to rsearch the types of scholarships available - many students are unaware of the various scholarships awarded each year to deserving students. Contact your university's financial aid counselor and ask him or her for online bachelors degree scholarship reference material. Next, go to your local library and ask the help desk for the same information. Start applying as soon as you can, preferably several months before enrolling in school. Pay attention to deadlines and be sure to contact a financial aid counselor if you need help filling out any forms.

Self-motivation for online students

It's so easy to get distracted and lose sight of your goals in the day-to-day craziness of life. Use a simple visualization exercise to get yourself in the frame of mind for online study. Sit at your desk and close you eyes. Breathe deeply and easily. Now picture yourself in a cap and gown with a diploma in your hand. Or imagine yourself in your ideal job. If those goals are too far away for you, imagine how relieved and proud you will feel when that big research paper is done. Add details to your visualization. What color is the tassle on your cap? What does the stamp look like on the envelope with your paper in it? Concentrate on your visualization for a few minutes until you're feeling calm and ready to begin working.

Internet writing for online students

If you've grown up with computers, cell phones and instant messaging you may have gotten in the habit of using "Netspeak" in your internet writing. Do you substitute "U" for the word "you?" Do you use a lot of acronyms like YMMV and IMHO? If so, you might want to make a few changes in your Internet writing when you take an online course. Using proper spelling and grammar may take a little more typing time, but it builds an image of you as a serious student. You never know what kind of professional contacts you may make in the online classroom. Also, students from all over the world participate in online courses and they may not understand what you're trying to say.

Financial aid for online students

No matter when you decide to start an online degree program, be sure to apply for Federal Financial Aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Even if the application deadline has passed, your application will still be processed and loan proceeds disbursed to you if you qualify. So even if you have to pay your tuition out-of-pocket, you can be reimbursed once your financial aid is approved. The FAFSA is available online or in the financial aid office of your university.

Freewriting

Try writing as the words pop into your mind. It may not make sense at first, but you will soon see how your thoughts guide your writing. Remember, though, this is just for fun.

Brainstorming

Pick a topic you want to write about and write it in the center of an 8.5 X 11 piece of paper. Draw a circle around it. Now, as quickly as you can, write every word you think of when you think about your topic.

Robotic Proofreading

When checking your work for errors, read-one-word-at-a-time-like-you-were-a-robot. You will find this will help you discover both spelling and punctuation problems.

Backward reading.

Start with the last word of your piece and read it backward, real slow and choppy. This helps you find words that you might want to change because you will be paying very close attention to each word as you read the sentences backwards.

Topical Writing

Once you choose a topic, see how many words you can think of about that topic that all start with the same letter. This helps continuity and flow.

Personal Journal Writing

Write like you talk. Here is the one place you can get away with it. Write those things you wouldn't say out loud (even if you erase them later). This is a great de-stresser.

True stories

Everyone has a story to tell, and if you write down enough of your own, somebody will glean from your experience way after you're gone.

Writer's Block

Everyone gets it, but what do you do? I call it "crazy-write". I let my fingers go all over the keyboard until my screen looks like a bunch of scrambled words. Then I try to make as many words as I can out of my mess. It distracts you long enough to get you mind back on writing. Other writing games are just as effective.

Technical Support

If technical difficulties arise during your online class or exam, immediately call your school's tech support department. Technical support for online courses is available through several channels:

- Call a toll free number

- Email a helpdesk

- Refer to a troubleshooting guide.



If at any time your technical problems prevent you from making a deadline or finishing an assignment, contact your professor as well as technical support.