How Brandeis Online Advisors Help Students Succeed

At Brandeis Online, your success is our top priority. From academic advisors and faculty support, we’re here to provide you with the guidance and assistance you need to thrive in your academic journey. Whether you have questions about course materials, need help navigating the online platform or are seeking advice on your career goals, we’re always just a click away.

Our advisors have years of experience facilitating student success. They’ve seen it all, and they have proven tips and tricks to keep you organized and motivated. Starting your degree can take a lot of guts, but determination, dedication, and focus are what's needed to finish. 

Here is some of the practical advice our advisors give Brandeis Online students:

 

Follow Our Orientation Course

Sometimes the hardest thing about going back to school is learning a new environment. Because we care about student success, we created a Brandeis Online New Student Orientation for every student.. The course takes you through our online learning platform, best practices, and student lounge. This will be a valuable resource that you can continue to access throughout your program.

Plan Ahead

Review your syllabus carefully so you can anticipate how your course will unfold and what will be due throughout the term. Knowing what’s due in both the short-term and long-term will help you in develop a plan and timeline to successfully complete your course.

Online courses through Brandeis Online are asynchronous. Once you look over your course expectations and schedule, make sure to identify the best time to engage with your courses and complete your assignments based on your schedule. Be sure to make this part of your weekly routine.

Keeping track of due dates in a planner or electronic calendar will help ensure that you meet all deadlines within your study schedule. Block off “study times” on your calendar. This can be helpful in ensuring that you can benefit from designated times to successfully engage in your online courses. Let your family or friends know that you have carved out this time specifically for your coursework.

Take Breaks As You Need

Learning new topics at an accelerated pace and educational level can be intense. Between readings, assignments, papers, and projects, it’s important to take breaks to prevent fatigue and stay motivated. This will help you learn more effectively and be able to submit higher quality work!

Organize Your Thoughts Before Submitting Assignments

Prepare an outline to help you organize your thoughts and ideas before crafting a paper. Once you have your ideas on the page, you may be surprised by how manageable it is to write the paper itself!

Give yourself time to proofread. Finishing your paper ahead of the deadline gives you a chance to check for cohesion and mistakes that you might otherwise miss. Try reading your paper out loud to catch any errors that your automatic spell check did not catch.

Ask For Help When You Need It

Being productive isn’t a competition. Earning your master’s degree isn’t winning a race. It’s okay to ask for help, especially when needed. Asking for help connects you with others, increases your productivity, and anxiety around a given task.

Be proactive in asking for assistance when needed. Your instructor and your advisor are there to help you, and reaching out for support early will prevent you from falling behind. Maybe even reach out to a classmate to ask about a subject you’ve seen them excel at. We’re all in this together.

Connect with Other Students

In an online program, it is important to engage with your classmates. While opportunities to connect with your peers are embedded in your courses, consider ways to connect meaningfully with classmates outside class. Organizing a study group or working collaboratively on a group project can help reinforce what you’re learning in class while forming new friendships and professional relationships. Your classmates share the common experience of pursuing online graduate education and may become valuable connections and lifelong friends.

To learn more about the community and support we provide for our students, please visit our website.