How to Survive Grad School Online
If online grad school is on your mind, Michelle Hunt's story offers a real perspective.
In December 2019, Michelle Hunt walked into the Cajundome clad in a black cap and gown as her family cheered from the stands. Less than an hour later, she was holding her MBA degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.
That night, Michelle became the first person in her family to earn a graduate degree. She says the work was hers, but the whole family helped her cross the stage.
“It was a family effort from my husband to my kids, my parents, relatives. After graduation, at dinner I said, ‘A part of this degree belongs to everyone in the room because everyone helped me,’” she says.
Michelle earned her degree while working full time as a UL Lafayette online enrollment specialist. Her job helps her guide students toward the right online degree program for their goals.
After finishing graduate school online, Michelle learned a lot about what it takes to succeed as an online student. She recently shared what she learned along the way.
Include your people
Michelle says getting ready for grad school meant getting everyone on board. Before she started classes, she and her husband met with their blended family and set clear rules.
“At any given time we have five kids in our household. I’m ‘mom’ to some and ‘Shell’ to others. We said this is what we’ll need from everybody: you’ll do your own laundry, we’re going to have chores,” she says.
“I think it was exciting for my kids to watch me walk because everything I was doing, they were a part of that. It was the tangible outcome of what we were all working towards.”
Establish a schedule
From after-school activities to meals to classwork, the Hunt home ran on a kitchen whiteboard.
Michelle kept her course calendar and family calendar together so she could stay present for her children and keep up with school.
“When I had assignments, I'd check what was going on that week because that tells me when I need to do what. If the kids have something important on Wednesday and Thursday, I knew I had to do my assignment Monday,” she says. “It was very integrated into my life.”
Know your learning style
Everyone learns in a different way. Some people learn by listening. Others learn by reading or doing. Knowing your style can help you do better in grad school.
Michelle calls herself a 'pen-and-paper gal.' Since her program used open online resources and textbooks, she made changes to match the way she learns.
“If there were materials I wanted to write or highlight on, I would go to the public library and print them,” she says.
Set realistic goals
Graduate students often wear many hats, and that can lead to burnout.
Michelle says she almost reached that point near the end of her first semester. She knew she had to set goals she could actually meet.
“Don’t undermine your abilities, but you have to pace yourself,” she says. “Be realistic about how many courses you can take and what you can achieve at home and in your coursework.”
She also had to be honest about time.
“I had to have mini-come-to-Jesus conversations with myself,” she says. “If other people were going to be helping me, I had to do my part. I had to tell myself: ‘If you say you’re going to study when the kids go to bed, you’re going to study. Turn off Netflix, open the laptop, and do it.’”
Get your timing right
Michelle says people thinking about online grad school should ask two questions: Do you want the degree, and is this the right time?
She wanted to earn a master's degree after finishing her bachelor's in 2012, but the time was not right.
“It was put on the backburner once I started having kids and other responsibilities. When I saw UL Lafayette had an online program, I thought this would be perfect for me. I said, this is the right time to do it and the right way to do it — online.”
Ready to earn your degree through one of UL Lafayette’s online degree programs? Contact our Enrollment Support Team or email online@louisiana.edu to request information.
