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After being out of school for a while, getting back into schoolwork can feel daunting. At the beginning, it seems like graduation is years away, but the reality is that it doesn’t have to be. The time to graduation can be months away when you have the right program and support.
After attending traditional school, many adults feel discouraged about their ability to finish school because they didn’t finish the first time. We’ll let you in on a little secret: the traditional school environment wasn’t built for the challenges that many young adults face today. More specifically, it wasn’t designed for the demands of parenthood, health conditions, or working young adults.
Smart Schools was built for the challenges that adults face while re-entering school. They developed the program so that adults can still meet the demands of life. At Smart Schools, adults can access an accredited online high school program that is flexible, allowing them to learn at their own pace and schedule.
The Smart Schools program also offers multiple features that allow students to significantly accelerate their path to graduation. By using these program features and strategies, students can reach the finish line sooner than they imagined.
#1 | Leverage Your Previously Earned Credits
You can unlock the hard work and effort you put into your past school experience through a credit audit. Smart Schools uses your past transcripts to perform a credit audit. The audit allows us to see what credits you’ve already earned and remove them from the required courses for graduation. Prescriptive tests may also be available for some subjects, allowing you to test out of certain courses.
By transferring your credits into the program, you can reduce the time to graduation with the courses you’ve already taken.
#2 | Overcome the time issue and study in short sessions
We are all limited in time these days. When you’re limited on time, it’s easy to give in to the idea that you don’t have time to study. However, the “I don’t have time” barrier can be overcome by shifting from long study blocks to smaller study sessions.
Here’s what you can do:
Use small pockets of the day, like your commute, lunch break, or early morning, for 15-to 20-minute learning sessions.
The Pomodoro Technique: Study with high focus for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break to maintain high cognitive retention (your ability to remember). Tip: find a Pomodoro timer that works for you on YT
Go longer but take a break every hour you work so you don’t get overwhelmed.
These allow you to make consistent progress without burning out. Before you know it, you will be done with a class!
#3 | Create a schedule that works for you
With a flexible program like Smart Schools, you control your learning schedule. However, it’s still important that you set aside time to learn each week. Here are some tips for making your learning consistent:
Set a consistent weekly “anchor schedule” that matches your highest energy levels.
Bypass the filler: Moving quickly through familiar material to spend more time on challenging concepts.
It’s important to prioritize your classes in order to keep making progress. This is easier when you treat your online courses like a critical appointment or part-time shift that you can’t skip.
#4 | Use the support available to you
Even when you’re learning independently, you don’t have to stay isolated. You can access resources to help keep you going. You can avoid getting stuck or wasting time through the following steps:
Lean on your teacher the moment a concept feels confusing
Use the guided notes for getting through exams
Find tutorial videos on YouTube from credible sources
#5 | Connect with your Mentor about what to do
Use accountability check-ins to stay on track with graduation goals.
Everyone needs help sometimes. Asking for help when you need it is always a good idea. Reaching out for help when you need it can save hours of frustration and keep you going longer. It can make a big difference and increase your likelihood of success.
#6 | Stay focused by eliminating distractions
If you want to get through courses faster, staying focused is critical. Often, it’s a challenge, but eliminating distractions is one important way to progress through classes faster. Here are some ideas on how to reduce the everyday distractions that come our way:
Using website blockers and app timers during study sessions.
Establishing a dedicated, physical workspace free from household noise.
Turn off notifications on your phone for a while.
Earning a high school diploma isn’t about rushing through the learning. For many students, it’s about the skills they developed and the personal growth they achieved while learning. Learning how to optimize your strategy, schedule, and support systems is part of this.
There are many reasons why adults decide to finish high school diploma. Whether you want to finish school, pursue a new career, higher pay, or attend a trade school, your goals are closer than you think. Smart Schools can help you reach the first step toward achieving your goal.
How to Get Started
Ready to earn your high school diploma? Find out how Smart Schools can help you accomplish your goal and learn more about our free tutoring, academic advising, and flexible learning options. You can achieve your dreams and build a brighter future with the proper support.