Key Information:
- Adult learners must develop strong time management skills to balance coursework, work commitments, and personal life efficiently.
- Educational technology tools are crucial for staying organized and enhancing learning. Tools like digital books, learning platforms, and productivity apps can be highly beneficial.
- Having support from family, friends, and academic advisors can provide both emotional and practical assistance.
- Maintaining motivation is key. Setting small, manageable goals and caring for your mental and physical health can help sustain your performance throughout the program.
Due to their speedy process, accelerated degree programs are popular among adult learners. With these forms of education, you can get a bachelor’s or master’s degree in half the time of a traditional program without worrying that you will waste all day on campus. They are quick and flexible, and you can hang onto your day job while preparing for your lessons and exams.
That said, getting your degree in an accelerated manner could be rather challenging. In fact, around 20 percent of the students with a job are less likely to finish their education. Unless you have a sound plan backing you up, achieving success can bring a lot of stress. We have prepared some fast-track degree tips to make things easier for you.
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Challenges of Accelerated Programs for Adult Learners
Accelerated degrees can bring about certain challenges for those unfamiliar with this type of learning process. Here are some of the obstacles you’ll come across:
· Intensive Workload
When joining an accelerated program, you go through the same topics and materials a traditional program covers. The only difference between the two is that you will be going through it at a faster rate. This means you will have to absorb a fair amount of information in a limited timeframe, which can seem overwhelming for some students.
· Balancing Education and Work
Perhaps one of the greatest challenges of continuing education for adults lies in balancing work, studies, and personal life. When you have to get your 8 hours of sleep, go to work for another 8, and study, there seems to be little time for you to have a personal life. It doesn’t help that the average person spends about 28 minutes on their way to work, which adds to around an hour by including the return commute. This can give you less time for your family and hobbies, especially as you will have a higher workload to deal with.
· Fewer Networking Opportunities
Traditional programs keep you on campus for about four years, offering plenty of time for networking. Accelerated programs take half that time, and many classes are usually held online. While you get networking opportunities if you are determined enough to reach out, building long-term professional relationships can still be challenging.
Tips to Succeed in Accelerated Degree Programs
Succeeding in an accelerated learning environment does have its challenges, but it’s in no way impossible. Here are a few in-person and online learning tips that you might find helpful.
1. Have a Good Time Management Strategy
You must learn a few time management strategies to complete your accelerated program successfully. First, you should create a weekly schedule that includes everything from your work hours to your study time and your personal endeavors. Depending on the course load, you should block out dedicated study time, doing it in places with minimal distractions.
Learning how to prioritize these “study blocks” is also quite important. You should allot uninterrupted blocks of time for tasks with tighter deadlines and deep work. This way, you won’t get sidetracked. Make sure to include some breaks here and there to make the process easier. The Pomodoro technique has shown great potential, as a 5‑minute break every 30 minutes or so can help improve your focus and productivity.
2. Leverage Technology Whenever Possible
We live in a world where technology has taken a great hold of everything, so it makes sense to make the most of it. Not only can it help you stay organized, but it can also help smooth out the learning process while keeping you connected. Some useful educational technology tools to take advantage of are learning platforms, digital books, and productivity apps (e.g., note-taking and task manager apps).
Peer-to-peer collaboration tools could also help streamline the studying process. For instance, Google Drive or Dropbox can help you share documents with your colleagues and professors in real-time. This could be very useful for students who are attending the classes remotely.
3. Create a Support Network
A family and academic support network is essential for students to make it through an accelerated learning environment, and it doesn’t have to be limited to the class. First, you should rely on your friends and family for emotional support and practical assistance. For example, having someone take care of household chores while you are focusing on your studies can help you a great deal.
Engaging with academic advisors and mentors can also be very useful for obtaining success. Below are a few tips for you to do so:
- Reach out and schedule regular meetings with your academic advisor, where you can talk about potential issues.
- Always be prepared for those meetings, as a sloppy student can prove very frustrating for a teacher who just wants to help.
- Look for potential mentors, whether they are professors, alumni, or professionals in the field, and reach out to them.
- Go to workshops and informational sessions whenever possible, as this allows you to meet knowledgeable people.
Once you find these connections, all that’s left to do is nurture the relationship. Pretty much all success stories in education start with the people that helped support them.
4. Learn to Stay Motivated
Finding motivation for adult students is often difficult, especially as the deadlines are getting closer and you are overwhelmed by other life responsibilities. One of the best ways to hang onto your motivation is to get a grasp on your “whys.” Why do you want to get your degree? Do you have a goal or personal aspirations to meet? Very often, this proves to be the greatest nudge to keep you going.
Visualize those goals and success, as this can make you more confident in your ability to stay on track. Create a positive environment where distractions are eliminated, and always reward yourself once you get past a milestone. Remember that small goals are often easier to meet, so you should break the bigger tasks into smaller ones. This way, the process should feel less overwhelming.
5. Take Care of Your Health and Well-being
Caring for your mental health and general well-being is also essential, as burnout could easily lead to a dip in productivity. High levels of stress can cause your cognitive functions to decline, which could make you feel that you are not strong enough to handle the intense coursework. This is why most health tips for students involve striking a balance between your tasks and hobbies, as the demanding curriculum could tire you out if you take no breaks.
Setting a routine is a good idea, especially if you incorporate exercise, healthy meals, and a good sleep schedule. Practicing mindfulness and relaxation could help reduce tension, and engaging in leisure activities could offer a sense of fulfillment.
6. Have a Proper Financial Planning Strategy
Finances are often one of the main reasons many students don’t get their bachelor’s degree. While accelerated programs are completed in one to two years, you could still have to pay around $20,000 annually. This is why you should do some thorough financial planning for education if you want to attend such a program.
Loans can help you cover your tuition, and this route is often recommended if you are aiming for a promotion. However, if you have performed well in the past, you could opt for grants or scholarships for adult learners. Many programs offer this, and you won’t have to worry about paying back once you graduate.
Resources and Tools
As a student in an accelerated program, you need to make the most out of the tools and resources made available to you. While the offerings can vary from one program to another, here are some that could be extremely helpful:
· Online Libraries
The eBook popularity in public libraries has increased significantly over the past few years. More people prefer the advantage of digital books, as they no longer have to commute to the library. Not to mention that they don’t take up any space. Most accelerated bachelor’s degree programs have their own online libraries you can connect to, but there are several other platforms from which you can get your resources.
· Tutoring Services
Accelerated programs can be very challenging to keep up with, and universities know that. For this reason, most of them offer tutoring services, whether online or in-person. If you have any problems progressing and need clarification, you can call them, and they will assist you.
· Counseling
Accelerated programs can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety, along with other mental health concerns. Reputable universities offer access to counseling, where you can learn stress management techniques and more. Check whether your program provides individual or group counseling, and don’t be ashamed to use this service if you can’t cope with the intensive curriculum.
The Bottom Line
Accelerated programs might seem overwhelming at first, but they can be easily managed. All it takes is a good schedule, motivation to reach your goal, and help from your peers. Once you get into a routine, you will realize that getting your degree fast is not such a faraway dream after all.
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