You have worked hard to get to college. You no doubt have high hopes for enjoying it and getting an education, which will influence and benefit your professional life. Statistics indicate that college graduates have greater earning power and hold higher-level executive jobs throughout life. Studies also indicate that men and women with college degrees enjoy more job satisfaction and healthier family lives.

But these advantages, desirable as they may be, can distract from the most important benefits of a college education. The real measure of a successful college career will not be the grades you earn or the job you get, but rather the intangible benefits of living and learning in an intellectual environment.

You will be responsible for learning on your own and for getting the most out of classes and textbooks. Your intellectual curiosity will be heightened and, hopefully, you will experience the satisfaction that comes with the knowledge and with accomplishment. You will be forced to make choices and to discipline yourself in order to take full advantage of the wonderful opportunities that await you.

In order to be a successful distance learner, it is important to develop good habits early. 

• Identify tools necessary to be successful
• Take the program and/or course seriously
• Check your email at least once a day
• Log on to your course(s) everyday
• Use resources available to you, including tutorials, course syllabi, assignment directions, discussion postings and the Internet
• Participate - Be an active participant. Communicate with your instructor and classmates.
• Contribute advice or ideas about the real-world as it applies to the subject matter you are studying
• Set Goals - Monitor your own progress by noting where you are in the course and assignment deadlines
• Make connections between what you learn and what you do professionally

Identify tools necessary to be successful
Before registering for the course, make sure you have the tools necessary to be successful in the course: software, hardware, Internet connectivity, e-mail, etc. The computer is the primary learning and communication tool in online courses. You will need regular access to a computer with an Internet connection.  It is important that you get comfortable using computers. If you are not comfortable with technology it is a good idea to register for a basic computer course.

• Take the course/program seriously
  Surround yourself with colleagues, friends, and family who understand and respect what you are doing and will assist by giving you quiet time, helping with the kids, etc. Stay on task and don't fall behind in your course work! Be realistic with the amount of work you can take on. If you don't allow yourself enough time to complete your assigned work, you can become frustrated and stressed. Allow at least four to six hours each week per course.
  
  
• Log on to your course(s) every day
  Check e-mail, discussion board and assignments on a daily basis. Be aware of assignment and exam deadlines. If you fall behind it is hard to catch up.
  
  
• Motivation
  As a distance learning student you are required to do all of the work on your own at a distance. In order to ensure that you do this you need to have a high level of motivation to stay current with class assignments, be an active participant in online discussions, and adhere to deadlines.
  
  
• Participate
  Be an active participant. Your instructor is not the only source of information for the course. Contribute ideas or comments on discussion board. If you don’t understand something, ask questions; the chances are that someone else has the same question. If you encounter technology problems, let your instructor know.

Set goals and identify deadlines
Identify assignments, quizzes, etc. for each week. Set goals for yourself. Break large tasks down into manageable parts. Organization is important in order to avoid submitting late assignments. List due dates on a calendar and refer to the calendar on a daily basis. Don't procrastinate and fall behind in you work!

References:

• Deese, E.K., & Deese, J. (1994). How to Study and Other Skills for Success in College. New York: McGraw-Hill. 
• Ellis, D.B. (1991). Becoming a Master Student. (Seventh Edition), Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Mass., 1994.
• Gottschalk, T.H. (2000). Strategies for Learning at a Distance. [online]. Available: http://www.uidaho.edu/evo/dis8.asp. (July, 12th, 2001).
• Pauk, Walter, (1989) How to Study in College, 4th. Edition Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston
• Wong, Linda, (1994) Essential Study Skills, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Mass.