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Challenges of Graduate School

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Challenges of Graduate Studies & Strategies for Success

Challenges of Graduate Studies & Strategies for Success
The modern job market makes advanced education necessary, but graduate studies are never an easy task. Distance learning, while it does add a layer of convenience, can also cause additional issues for some graduate students. A study performed by the Babson Research Group found that over seven million higher education students opted for online learning options in 2013 (Blair, 2014). However, as Reiss points out, “It’s one thing to start your online degree, but it’s another to finish it (2014)”. If distance learning graduate students are to succeed and overcome the challenges of graduate studies, they must devise an effective strategy for meeting these potential issues.
Potential Issues
Many of today’s online graduate students are faced with various educational and external challenges that can hinder successful completion of their studies. These issues could, and at ties do, lead to lower grades and lack of drive. Balancing multiple obligations, struggles with adapting to the online learning processes and environment, and internal battles are just a few of the issues that online graduate students are likely to face.
The Juggling Act
Balancing obligations can be a challenge for online graduate learning. Modern students must juggle the responsibilities to family and home, work, friends, and self in addition to school work. Quite obviously, this makes for a hectic and rigorous schedule. Little time is left for relaxation, entertainment, or other personal endeavors. Simultaneously maintaining all these obligations can lead to high stress levels that only the very determined can overcome.

A Whole New World Modern workers have found that, in order to climb the corporate ladder or advance professionally, they must go back to

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