A list of my 10 most useful tips for surviving virtual college
College is hard always but when it gets moved to completely on your laptop….. the struggle gets a lot harder. In March of 2020 my college classes at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette were moved completely online. This was a huge huge huge change for me. I love being in the classroom and asking questions so talking through electronics seemed impossible. After many mistakes I finally adapted to being a virtual student. Here’s my tips and tricks that helped me stay sane this last year!
1. Buy a Planner
Staying organized is critical for online courses. Since you aren’t physically meeting with your teachers every day and having them remind you of deadlines, you have to keep track of all assignments on your own. Make sure to write down all deadlines in pencil!!!! Teachers tend to change dates, and no one wants an ugly planner!
2. Set many alarms
No one can deny that waking up for class isn’t the most fun, especially when it’s on Zoom. You might be tempted to wake up 5 minutes before class starts and open up Zoom and go back to sleep—- terrible choice. Waking up at least 30 minutes for class and setting multiple alarms to remind you to get onto a virtual course is extremely helpful. Waking up earlier will allow you time to get your brain started, making it 10x’s easier to focus on the boring lecture you usually want to sleep through. Setting alarms as reminders to get onto your zoom class 10 minutes before it starts ensures you will never accidentally forget to log on and missed points and assignments!
3. Find a quiet place to work and only work
Set up a place in your house or apartment that is designated for work time. Having a designated space will allow your brain to know when to work and when it is time to play. The area should be an extremely quiet area that is not comfortable and feels like a classroom-type space. Sit up in a chair at a desk or table rather than sitting in bed and risking getting distracted by sleep! Have all your essential school supplies here, such as textbooks, flash drives, laptop chargers, and pens and pencils. Maybe even light a stress relief candle for extra focus.
4. Put your phone away and on Do Not Disturb
Okay, so yes, we’re college students and always on our phones looking for the next hot trend, but we can’t let that stop our success. We must make it a habit to put our phones on do not disturb and out of direct reach while doing schoolwork. That TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat post will still be there once you finish your essay. Putting your phone on the opposite side of the room makes it more difficult for us to give in and pick it up, leading to distractions. Making sure it is on do not disturbs cancels out that thing programmed in our brain that says we have to check every single notification we receive.
5. Get enough sleep
Being at home all day and doing schoolwork virtually can make us think that we should stay up and binge watch tv shows on Netflix or get lost on social media after we finish. It is so important that we get enough sleep to focus on the work we have to get done. Making time for rest also may mean saying no to some parties or activities we might not have time for. It might be insane for us to get 8 hours of sleep each night, but we should at least aim for it. I set the alarm for me to turn off the TV and go to bed. The ZZZs help to make sure we get the As.
6. Make sure you always have a strong WIFI signal
The basis of online classes is that they are online. Before the semester starts, if you’re unsure if your WIFI can withstand the workload, order a WIFI extender or strengthener. These can be as inexpensive as $20 and will ease copious amounts of stress. The last thing you want to happen is to be in the middle of a test, and your WIFI goes out, or be presenting virtually and have a shaky camera signal. Having a solid internet connection allows for classes to go smoother without having worries about possible mishaps.
7. Purchase a few flash drives
All classwork is online, which means you will have to save many documents to your computer, sometimes slowing it down. Purchase a few inexpensive flash drives to help keep work aside from your computer to ensure your laptop storage will not get overcrowded and slow you down. Having flash drives as a back-up also ensures that you will have a plan if your computer crashes, or like me, you spill a drink on your laptop, and it completely shuts down. We spend hours perfecting papers and notes. Having a second copy saved makes sure we will always have access to our creations.
8. Use the technology you have access to
If we are going to be online and having to teach ourselves, for the most part, we might as well utilize websites that can help us learn faster and better. I use free services such as Grammarly, Quizlet, and Socratic for my schoolwork. Grammarly helps fix writing mistakes by scanning over papers and emails, leaving suggested changes for the student. These changes are optional but have continuously increased my grades. Quizlet is helpful when studying for exams. You can create flashcards or study sets created by other students. Socratic helps to search the web for when you just cannot find the answer. I use Socratic for worksheets, reviews, and study guides. These platforms add an extra advantage for the struggling college student who does not know what is going on.
9. Take productive breaks
Sitting at a computer all day can be exhausting, so you must give your mind a break. Breaks should be a chance to clear your mind and gather your thoughts and be some-what productive. A break could be taking a second to clean-up around your room, wash some dishes, or put on a load of laundry. As college students, we are pressed for time, so we should always try and stay productive. We also don’t want our minds to get distracted by taking a break to look at social media or watching TV. I know every time I’ve taken a break to watch 1 episode, it has turned into 4 or 5 episodes then I’ve wasted the day. Taking small productive breaks between pages or assignments can help us stay on track while helping our to-do list mentally.
10. Know that everyone is struggling as much as you
College is difficult online or in person. Remembering you’re not alone in the struggle, and everyone is learning how to get through it helps us not forget that it is possible. When you begin to feel like you’re overwhelmed, think that it isn’t just you. We are all confused college students just trying to get that assignment submitted and make it to the following week. Having a group of friends to confide in about these struggles can also help to ease worries. In my classes, we use Group Me so that the others can pitch-in when one of us needs help. College is not a one-person experience.
In the end, it’s all worth it. The most difficult times come from questioning if the struggle is worth the reward. Four years from the start, will you receive your degree and see the smiles on your loved ones faces will prove that the work was worth it. Following these steps does not mean college will be easy, but it helps to make it easier. Having a positive outlook, organization skills, and determination will get you a lot further than you could imagine. It’s small things that can help make significant changes in your mental, health, and online college experience.
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