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Online Learner Profiles: Scott D.

Profiles of Real Online Learners

Guide to Online Education > Online Education In-Depth > Meet Real Online Students > Scott D., B.S. in Management

He says, "This is considered a full load at Kaplan. That's about all I can handle with all of my other obligations at work and home." He is usually able to devote 5 to 10 hours per week on his schoolwork.

"There are some classes where I need to dedicate more time just to stay ahead of the curve," he explained. "Others require a lot less time based on my previous experience or the difficulty of the class."

While earning his associate's degree, some subjects like economics and statistics, were completely unfamiliar to him and required extra time and focus. But when he got into the information systems portion of the program, he found he was able to bring in so much knowledge from his work experience that he was able to help other adult learners.

After being at this juggling act for several years, Scott says he has "perfected the art of balancing all aspects of [his] life." He advises potential distance learners to assess if they have "the true desire to make it happen." If they do, the key to making it work is structure, he declares.

"Getting a good feel for the amount of time you have to spend at work, responsibilities at home, and understanding how much time school will take is a must. When you have all that information, you need to set a schedule. Structure is the best tool a distance learner can have. If you don't embrace structure and routine, school becomes much harder than it really is."

Embracing structure has clearly worked well for Scott. Even though there have been times when his other responsibilities have prevented him from spending as much time as he would like on his schoolwork, Scott has managed to excel, earning a 3.6 GPA.

This disciplined online learner is not sentimental about his education. Scott takes a pragmatic view towards his education.

"I don't look at it as a 'journey,' so to speak," Scott concedes. "I look at it as 'getting my ticket punched' so I can go get my M.B.A."

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