Online Social Science Degrees
Insider tips for choosing and succeeding in the right school and career
School Surprises
"Time And Effort...
I was surprised at the amount of time and effort the course required from me. It was much more like an actual in-person class than I had anticipated." (Epidemiologist; 2014)
"Quick Professor Response Time...
I was surprised that the school had such a good academic foundation and many qualified and quality professors and learning experiences. The professors are very professional and prompt when you need help." (Programmer; 2014)
"Professor Interactions Are Unpredictable...
I think I was most surprised by the wide range of willingness to cooperate/communicate with students depending on the professor. What I mean, is that it seemed at Trinidad you had professors/instructors who were either very student focused or not at all interested in their students." (Social Researcher; 2014)
"Online Easier Than In-Class...
I was surprised to find that the online courses were far easier than the in class courses. I felt as thought I ended up doing either the same amount or even less work and received much better overall grades." (N/A; 2013)
"More Compassionate Than I Could Have Imagined...
I was surprised at all of the helpful instructors. Instructors were easy to reach, and communicate with. Every course was enjoyable and resources were available for students to succeed. When my grandmother passed near finals the instructors were caring, understanding and willing to give me an extension if needed." (Library Technician; 2014)
"Challenging And Relevant Public Health Program...
I was surprised at how challenging the program was. I learned a great deal of hands on experience during my internship." (Public Health Educator; 2013)
Best School Tips
"Use All Of Your Resources...
Don't be afraid to ask questions. There is a lot of resources available. The biggest one is the instructors. The schools library database is the next best resource. Using this resource will help you write all of your papers." (Library Technician; 2014)
"Use Time Wisely...
Utilize time wisely because the program requires a great deal of time to complete assignments." (Public Health Educator; 2013)
"Study Technique...
Spend more time focusing on the most effective ways to learn rather than just studying lots of material" (Programmer; 2014)
"Set A Schedule...
Think of your online class like an in-person course: set aside a certain amount of time on a set schedule to review material, listen to recorded lectures, ask questions in discussion boards, or complete work. This will ensure that you won't fall behind in class and have to make up all work at the end of the semester or, if the class has weekly assignments, that you won't forget to complete assignments in time. Instructors expect you to be self-motivated and organized and design their course accordingly. If you don't plan for this, you may find yourself quickly falling behind in the course." (Epidemiologist; 2014)
"Know Your Due Dates...
Stay on top of when assignments are due. Professor's won't always remind you and weekly or monthly assignments can creep up on you." (N/A; 2013)
"Communicating With Professors...
Be persistent in your communications with professors. I found that even with those who were less than enthusiastic with student interaction were far more cooperative and communicated better over time once they read a couple messages/questions from you. Start this process from day one, asking questions about the syllabus, etc. It helps them understand where your head is, and to get to know your name. When they know your name, they are more likely to help you." (Social Researcher; 2014)