It is amazing how many people are traveling domestically and internationally while still seeking a degree. They may be working seasonally to earn a living but want a degree so they can earn more no matter where they land. They may be working on contract, moving from job to job, but need a program that lets them earn even more. Or they may be traveling during a gap year but still want to complete a certification. Regardless of your circumstances, here are three tips for student travelers seeking an online PR degree.
Have the Right Tools
While a smartphone may be good enough for watching TV show re-runs, it isn’t right for online classes. You’ll miss critical information if the audio is not great or the buffering is bad. You should take a laptop with you while traveling so that you always have a way to log into your classes. You don’t want to rely on libraries and other public facilities to access your courses, since they may not be open when you’re available.
And in the case of internet cafes, the price of sitting there taking a class and connecting with classmates for assignments may be more than what you’d pay for a laptop if you have to do it repeatedly over the course of a year. Have cables with you so you can connect to landline connections if Wi-Fi is spotty. Have chargers and power cables for the countries you’ll be staying in so that your computer never dies in the middle of something.
Plan Stops with the Right Resources
When you’re on vacation, you can pick that rough camping spot without power and running water. If you’re working on an online masters in public relations, you need a stay with reliable electricity and equally good bandwidth. You shouldn’t stay at a hostel and assume you’ll have the bandwidth to stream your classes live, much less the peace and quiet you may need to study. It may be worth paying more for the RV stop with better Wi-Fi for the sake of your education.
Remember to Consider Time Zones
When you’re earning an online public relations master’s degree while traveling, you’ll often find yourself in other states or even other countries. In any case, you’re in another time zone. Remember to plan your schedule of events and activities so that you can connect to your classes live or download the content and watch it when you get up in the morning. You want to stay abreast of the material so you don’t fall behind. Also consider the availability of resources like tech support with the university, teachers’ office hours and study groups. Alternatively, you could look for online PR programs that upload their lessons where you can view them at any time.
Being a successful student traveler is all about have the proper preparation. Have the right tools from the get go, learn to locate resources and find ways to integrate your school projects with the work you’re doing while being mindful of different time zones.
