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 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP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.
小蝌蚪APP淚t was a family effort from my husband to my kids, my parents, relatives. After graduation, we had dinner and I said, 小蝌蚪APP楢 part of this degree belongs to everyone in the room because everyone helped me,小蝌蚪APP櫺◎蝌紸PP 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小蝌蚪APP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.
小蝌蚪APP淎t any given time we have five kids in our household; I小蝌蚪APP檓 小蝌蚪APP榤om小蝌蚪APP to some and 小蝌蚪APP楽hell小蝌蚪APP to others. We said this is what we小蝌蚪APP檙e going to need from everybody: you小蝌蚪APP檙e going to do your own laundry, we小蝌蚪APP檙e going to have chores,小蝌蚪APP she says.
小蝌蚪APP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.小蝌蚪APP
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.
小蝌蚪APP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,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚t was very integrated into my life.小蝌蚪APP
Know your learning style
Everyone has a distinct learning style 小蝌蚪APP 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 小蝌蚪APP減en-and-paper gal.小蝌蚪APP Because MBA online uses online open educational resources and textbooks, she says she made adjustments for her learning style.
小蝌蚪APP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小蝌蚪APP檇 print them,小蝌蚪APP 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.
小蝌蚪APP淒on小蝌蚪APP檛 undermine your abilities, but you have to pace yourself,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淏e realistic about how many courses you can take and what you can achieve at home and in your coursework.小蝌蚪APP
Michelle says she also had to be realistic about the time she needed to commit to her coursework.
小蝌蚪APP淚 had to have mini-come-to-Jesus conversations with myself,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚f other people were going to be helping me, I had to do my part. I had to tell myself: 小蝌蚪APP業f you say you小蝌蚪APP檙e going to study when the kids go to bed, you小蝌蚪APP檙e going to study. Turn off Netflix, open the laptop, and do it.小蝌蚪APP櫺◎蝌紸PP
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小蝌蚪APP檚 the right time.
She says she knew she wanted to earn a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree before she completed her bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in 2012, but it wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 the right time.
小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP working, wife, mom times five. So I said if I小蝌蚪APP檓 going to do it, this is the right time to do it and this is the right way to do it 小蝌蚪APP online.小蝌蚪APP
If you小蝌蚪APP檙e interested in earning your degree through one of UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP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.
