Top 3 Tips for Attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division

When it comes to attending college or a university, I prefer an online college. I currently attend the Art Institute of Pittsburgh's Online Division. Attending this college in the way I do has it's rewards as well as its drawbacks. While I can go to class laying in bed using my laptop, I get to give up the finer things in life for the privilege. This means I do not get to go to Fraternity or Sorority parties, I do not get to interact with other students as I would had I chosen a "normal" university.

This also means I cannot give advice about the best places to eat or hang out in college. You see, the best places for me to eat are at home in my own kitchen and hang out in my own spots in my own town. When you go to an online college, you do it from home and I make my own schedule-mostly. That said, there is a ton of advice I can give about the complexities of attending an online college-namely the AI of P Online Division.

Make Friends

The best piece of advice I can give is you simply must become best friends with your advisers. There are two of them who are absolutely vital to your graduation success, your Academic Adviser and your Financial Adviser. Your academic adviser is the lifeline between you and the school. If you have a problem with classes, he is your "goto" for help. If you have a problem with your professor, you tell your adviser about it. If you need to switch classes, withdraw from class, add an extra class, anything at all you need, he is the person who will help you do whatever it is that you need to do.

Please be aware, however, he cannot take care of financial situations. For that, you have your Financial Adviser. She will take care of your financial aid, student loans, payment plans and any other school-associated costs. This person will need to know everything financially about you and will help you find the money you need to succeed in graduating. Any questions you have or complaints you want to make about your financial aid package or payments-even if you need textbooks or software-it will go through your financial aid adviser.

Because both of these people are very much an important part of your schooling and your success in finishing school, make sure you keep them up to date with your contact information and anything else they need from you. Missing an email or not responding to a call can mean the difference between a financial deadline for payment or a schedule change you need and whether you get the help you need or not. It can also mean the difference between graduating on time with the right classes under your belt and whether you owe the school ten grand-or they owe you. Put them in your top priority list, keep the lines of communication open, along with your course schedule and you are sure to succeed.

Disciplining Yourself

Trying to attend school regularly is one thing, but trying to do so online can cause a permanent procrastination syndrome. When you attend the AI of P, knowing the limits to what you can and cannot do is important to your success here. For example, while the general policies are the same, each class has its own late and attendance policies-and what kind of make ups you can do. Knowing what these policies are can help not to procrastinate.

For example, I took a class last semester, which required four days of attendance with a project, or assignment due the third, fifth and seventh day of the week. This term, I am taking a class, which also requires four days however my one assignment was not due until the sixth day of the week. So make sure you are aware of the scheduling for your class and use a calendar to keep track of assignment due dates. Missing even one assignment can help you fail your class.

This is largely because our online classes are only six and a half weeks long. This is, on average, less than half of any other online college's class term. Most are usually three and a half to four months long. Because of the short class times at the AI of P, it is very easy to fall behind. The last day to submit any make up work sneaks up quickly and in many cases will bypass you unnoticed. Please, if you have high hopes of graduating, make sure you know your schedule and stick to it. The discipline you show now at getting your work done on time every time, will stay with you throughout our entire time at college and will serve you well.

Isolation Factor

When you make a choice to go to school online, you are severely limiting your interaction with others. Because the AI of P does not offer online lectures in most classes, you are basically on your on when it comes to doing anything for school. You do not interact with anyone unless you are answering a question on your discussion board. It can make you feel like you are alone in the world.

When someone goes to school online it is no surprise you must give certain things up. The constant partying that most colleges are known for are a thing of the past with the AI of P's online division. This is because most od the people you are going to school with love hundreds of miles away from you. Many live across country and it is difficult at best to schedule time to even work on a project together, let alone have any social gatherings together.

That said, the best thing you can do to keep it together socially is take advantage of the events offered and announced on your log in page. When you first log into the student home page, there is a window with announcements. Sometimes the AI of P hosts online debates, discussions, and other events with others in your class, or other school functions you may wish to attend. The school understands the need to socialize with others of the same interests so they try to do this as well as they can, considering the limitations of online scheduling.

The Bottom Line

When attending an online school, make sure it is what you really want to do. While yes, the rewards are great, the consequences can be even greater. The challenge of being on your own at such a difficult time in your life can make even the easiest classes seem more difficult. However, if you attend the AI of P, taking the advice here can make your responsibilities easier to attend to, even when you attend school in your pajamas.

AI of P Online Course Catalogue
AI of P Online Division