Five Must-Have Tools and Essentials for Those in an Online Degree Program

Where it used to be that the only way you could obtain an online degree was to attend a school in person, times have changed. In fact, they have changed so much that now degree programs are more convenient than ever to enroll in since they can be completed online. Online degree programs offer a kind of flexibility that a traditional in-person campus just can’t compete with since students can study from their own home.

If you’ve recently enrolled in a degree program, such as the popular master of public health (MPH), then there’s no doubt you have big career goals. Maybe you’re looking to break into epidemiology, health promotion, or even health services administration. And it doesn’t even have to be an MPH degree; it can be any online degree program that will require you to study from home. While there is that convenience factor in that you will be working from home, at the same time, there are some study tools and essentials you’ll need in order to succeed. Let’s take a look.

Reliable and Fast Internet Service

Because all your studies and assignments will be done in an online classroom, the most essential tool you’ll need is reliable and fast Internet service. You don’t want to be missing important content simply because you can’t get online. This may require updating your Internet package or provider, and possibly your computer or laptop.

A User-Friendly Laptop or Computer

This brings us to our next must-have study tool, which is a user-friendly laptop or computer. While it doesn’t have to be top of the line, it needs to have enough memory to store all your important content and, of course, connect and load online content smoothly and quickly. Obviously, the pros in owning a laptop is that you’ll have portability, so you can work from any room in your house, and you can also take it with you and work outside the house if necessary.

Create a Designated Study Space

It doesn’t matter if you live on your own or you live with a house full of family, setting up a designated study space is essential for your success. A designated study space is one that has a desk, a chair that is comfortable and offers the right kind of support (keep ergonomics in mind), and a space that is free from all distractions. It doesn’t have to be a large area; just a quiet area that you can retreat to and be left alone.

A Selection of Apps

The final essential is one that will help you to be productive and ensure your work is the best it can be. There are all kinds of apps that are dedicated to college and university students, such as Writer’s free grammar checker. This app will check your research paper or essay and look at its spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure, and then give you a score along with helpful suggestions.

Other helpful apps include Schooltraq to help with your time management skills, Gradesaver which features helpful tips from Harvard students, and Cram, which features thousands of flashcards meant to help with studying.

Each of these tools and essentials will help you to be the best student possible so that you can move on and have that dream career.