How to Survive Grad School Online
In December 2019, Michelle Hunt strode into the Cajundome clad in a black cap and gown, smiling and waving as her family cheered from their seats. Within the hour, Michelle was holding her Master of Business Administration degree from the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.
That night, Michelle became the first person in her family to earn a graduate degree. She says while the coursework was all her own effort, the whole family worked to get her across the commencement stage.
杏吧专区淚t was a family effort from my husband to my kids, my parents, relatives. After graduation, we had dinner and I said, 杏吧专区楢 part of this degree belongs to everyone in the room because everyone helped me,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 she says.
Michelle completed her degree while working full time as a UL Lafayette online student enrollment specialist. Her role enables her to work with potential students to identify the best online degree program for their goals.
Having completed her master杏吧专区檚 degree online, Michelle has some insight into what it takes to be successful as an online student.
She recently shared some of what she learned in the course of earning her degree.
Include your people
Michelle says preparing to earn her degree meant getting everyone on board. She and her husband brought together their blended family before she started her courses to set expectations.
杏吧专区淎t any given time we have five kids in our household; I杏吧专区檓 杏吧专区榤om杏吧专区 to some and 杏吧专区楽hell杏吧专区 to others. We said this is what we杏吧专区檙e going to need from everybody: you杏吧专区檙e going to do your own laundry, we杏吧专区檙e going to have chores,杏吧专区 she says.
杏吧专区淚 think it was exciting for my kids to watch me walk because everything I was doing, they were a part of that. It was the tangible outcome of what we were all working towards.杏吧专区
Establish a schedule
From appointment and afterschool activities to meals to coursework, everyone in the Hunt household knew the kitchen whiteboard held the family game plan.
Michelle says she managed her course calendar with her family calendar so she could balance being available to her children with being accountable for her studies.
杏吧专区淲hen I was getting assignments, I needed to see what was going on that week because that would tell me when I was going to do what. If the kids have something important on Wednesday and Thursday, I knew I was going to complete my assignment Monday,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t was very integrated into my life.杏吧专区
Know your learning style
Everyone has a distinct learning style 杏吧专区 some learn better by listening, others by reading, others by doing. Knowing your learning style can improve your effectiveness in grad school.
Michelle describes herself as a 杏吧专区減en-and-paper gal.杏吧专区 Because MBA online uses online open educational resources and textbooks, she says she made adjustments for her learning style.
杏吧专区淚f there were materials I felt I needed because I wanted to write on them or highlight, I would go to the public library and I杏吧专区檇 print them,杏吧专区 she says.
Set realistic goals
Graduate students are typically juggling a lot of responsibilities, putting them at risk of burnout.
Michelle says she nearly found herself there at the end of her first semester and learned she needed to set more realistic goals.
杏吧专区淒on杏吧专区檛 undermine your abilities, but you have to pace yourself,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淏e realistic about how many courses you can take and what you can achieve at home and in your coursework.杏吧专区
Michelle says she also had to be realistic about the time she needed to commit to her coursework.
杏吧专区淚 had to have mini-come-to-Jesus conversations with myself,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚f other people were going to be helping me, I had to do my part. I had to tell myself: 杏吧专区業f you say you杏吧专区檙e going to study when the kids go to bed, you杏吧专区檙e going to study. Turn off Netflix, open the laptop, and do it.杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
Get your timing right
Michelle says those considering a graduate degree have to answer two questions: whether they want to enroll in grad school and whether it杏吧专区檚 the right time.
She says she knew she wanted to earn a master杏吧专区檚 degree before she completed her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in 2012, but it wasn杏吧专区檛 the right time.
杏吧专区淚t became a back-burner thing once I started having kids and other responsibilities. When I saw UL Lafayette had an online program, I thought this would be perfect for me 杏吧专区 working, wife, mom times five. So I said if I杏吧专区檓 going to do it, this is the right time to do it and this is the right way to do it 杏吧专区 online.杏吧专区
If you杏吧专区檙e interested in earning your degree through one of UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 online undergraduate or graduate programs, contact our Enrollment Support Team. Michelle or another member of our team will be happy to talk through your options and answer questions regarding application and enrollment. Email online@louisiana.edu to request information.
