Tips For Military Members Attending Online University

Attending college or university online can alleviate some of the stress of being a military student. Here are some tips for making the most of your online university experience.

Manage Time Effectively

One of the first lessons to learn in attending online schooling at any level is to manage your time well. For military members, this often means scheduling time for online classes and assignments around other active-duty responsibilities.

Using tools like a calendar, agenda, or scheduling spreadsheet can help provide a visual for planning out assignments and staying on task. It may take some time to discover which system works best for you but keep at it.

If you're not sure where to begin in creating a time management plan, start by tracking what you spend time doing each day. After a week, look back at your log and decide which activities are flexible, which can be trimmed down, and which need more of your attention.

Also, be sure to factor in some 'catch up' time for when military life throws you something unexpected. Knowing you already have time set aside to catch up will greatly reduce the stress of these surprise instances.

Dedicate a Study Space

For many students, creating a space devoted to study and learning can improve concentration and efficiency. Though classes and discussions may take place online, students can still benefit from a workspace that is clear of clutter and distraction.

For military students, space may be a limiting factor depending on your living situation. You can still create a productive environment by using headphones to cancel noise or listen your favorite study music. Let the people you live with know which hours of the day you intend to do your schoolwork.

Find A Supportive Community

Though social connection can often be overlooked, it is a vital part of success when attending online university for military students. Form study groups to balance the workload, share ideas, and receive help from other students.

Attending online colleges for military students doesn't need to be an isolating experience. There may even be other military members in your local area who are online students. Reach out to your officers or other leaders who may know of military students nearby and can connect you with them.

Any online student can feel lonely without the typical college-living experience, so make sure you take advantage of opportunities to connect with others socially both online and in person.

Check out online colleges for military members to get your education started.