This seems like a given, but I’ve always heard professors complain about getting questions with answers that can easily be sought out in the syllabus. At the beginning of the course, write down all due dates, whether that be in your phone calendar, a physical planner or a master note on your laptop. Whatever method is the simplest way for you to see what needs to be completed in a given week is the best way to ensure your success. This is also a helpful way to split up your work throughout the course and each week so you feel as if your time is best managed and you do not feel overwhelmed by the work you need to complete.

Announcements from the course instructor or professor are typically posted on the class learning platform, whatever that may be. Course announcements are highly important to keep up with and read on a regular basis, as they will likely contain clarifying information about questions being asked or any assignment or grade update made to the course, as well. Make it a habit to check the announcements tab each time you log into your learning portal. Don’t skip out on reading these! I guarantee each one contains helpful information that applies to the entire class, including you.

In Addition, Read Any Canvas Messages

Emails can pile up quickly, especially as you start to be included in group correspondence. To avoid getting overwhelmed, be sure to schedule some time every day to check and, if necessary, respond to any emails in your inbox, even on days when you are not expecting to receive work from a professor or have something due.

I know an astounding amount of friends and fellow students that have thousands of unread emails in their school email account. The first step here is going through and clearing out all the previous professor emails that no longer apply to you. Delete ones from old classes or ones that just do not need to be sitting unread in your inbox anymore. In addition, read and star the emails sent by your online professor(s) so you are always up to date with the class information. You’ll never know what you’re missing out on if you don’t read these. You can even create a separate email folder to move them to once you have read them so they’re all in one place and are easy to refer back to later.

If you do any of these things regarding your online courses, keep up with your grades! Since all the required work is online, it can be easy to simply complete it in one sitting and forget about it completely when you become busy and overwhelmed with other things. Check your grades at least once a week to ensure you didn’t miss anything and so you have time to ask for clarification from your instructor on any points you missed. Doing so will ensure you’re on the path to success and will receive an overall good grade in the class!

While it may be tempting to wait until the last minute and do an assignment on the day before it’s due, students should try to have things completed earlier to allow for more flexibility. Ideally, assignments should be finished a couple days before the deadline. You may feel less stressed knowing that if something comes up, your important work is already finished.

Most programs offer some form of tutoring, and at the very least, some resource library you can access to answer questions and seek out guidance. Don’t hesitate to use these tools. Villanova University offers dedicated student advisors which can help you apply the curriculum you’re learning to your job, or in some other circumstances, find a career that better suits your interests and ambitions.

Online classes typically require a higher degree of accountability than traditional courses. They can be tough, complex and demanding on your time and setbacks aren’t uncommon. That’s why persistence, above all else, might be the biggest factor in your success. The most successful online students are generally those with great time management skills, who anticipate challenges and continue to make progress when the stresses of life and work start weighing on them. It’s very easy to become overwhelmed in an online program. If you want to be successful, you need to bear down, be accountable and let your persistence see you through to the end.