Last Updated on January 26, 2026 by Alexandra Markin, Dip.Mgmt.St.
Just registered for an online course? Whether it’s your very first online class or you’re a seasoned online student, these are the top 10 things to do before starting an online college course to set yourself up for success.
As an online undergraduate student, I know it can be a bit daunting when you first start out. You log in, open your course dashboard and then realize you’re on your own to figure things out.
Getting prepared before your course start date makes a huge difference. From taking orientations to setting up a study routine, these are the 10 things I do before starting every online college course.
10 Things to Do Before Starting an Online College Course
I wish I had known exactly what to do when I took my very first online course, so I’ve created this post as guide on how to prepare for online college classes.
MY TIP: Be prepared to put in 5-10 hours to complete the below tasks before actually starting your course material.
1. Complete the Online Student Orientation
Most online colleges offer a student orientation, and I highly recommend taking it if you’re a new student. Online student orientations are usually optional, but completing it will save you a lot of time later.
Put aside 2-3 hours (yes, that much information is covered) to save yourself from clicking around at 11:00pm trying to find the answer to a simple question.
Online orientations generally answer the most important questions students have, such as:
- How long it takes to mark your assignments.
- If there is writing or math help available.
- How to contact your assigned tutor or support center for specific course and assignment questions.
- Student loan deadlines.
- How to use your online student dashboard.
- How to access your grades.
- How to participate in online class discussions.
MY TIP: I’m in several online student groups, and I constantly see students posting the same types of questions: “How long does it take to get my mark back on an assignment?” This is covered in orientation, and you should know this before starting your course. Please don’t be that student!
2. Take the Learning Management System Orientation
Online college courses are delivered through an online Learning Management System (LMS).
Different from the student orientation, a LMS has its own orientation that will walk you through how to use it to access course content, contact your tutor and submit assignments.
Some of the most common LMSs that colleges use are:
- Brightspace
- Moodle
- Blackboard
MY TIP: Each LMS is tailored specifically for each college, so if you’ve used Brightspace at one college and are now a student at another college, the platform may look and function slightly differently.
3. Create a Dedicated Study Space
Creating a dedicated place to study not only helps keep you organized and focused, it signals to your brain that it’s time to work every time you sit down.
It doesn’t need to be fancy, unless you want it to be. A small desk, a corner of your bedroom or even the dining table works as long as it’s kept tidy.
If you’re planning to use the kitchen or dining table, I recommend getting a rolling utility cart to keep all your school supplies in one place, easily pushed out of the way when the table is used for meals or children’s homework.
Dedicated Study Spaces Outside the Home
Some students just don’t have the space to study at home, find it too distracting or want to take full advantage of online learning – the ability to study from anywhere.
You can create a dedicated space to study anywhere you want. Choose a place where you feel comfortable, focused and ready to learn, such as a library or coffee shop.
MY TIP: Did you know that anyone is allowed to use the common areas of any public college campus, whether you’re a student there or not? Just make they have accessible Wi-Fi (some colleges don’t have guest or open Wi-Fi) and you’ll be good to go.
4. Gather Necessary School Supplies
Even as an online student, you still need some basic school supplies if you plan to take hand-written notes, make physical flashcards or print assigned readings.
Gathering things like pencils or pens, highlighters, and a binder or notebook will save time when your start date hits.
For a complete list of supplies I recommend, check out the post The Essential School Supply List for Online College.
MY TIP: If you’re like me and enjoy studying away from home sometimes, consider putting together a “study bag” full of everything you need so you can just grab-and-go when study inspiration hits, without worrying if you’re missing anything.
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5. Get Course Materials
Each course is different, so make sure you have everything you need ahead of time. Most items are listed in the course syllabus, so take a look as soon as you have access.
Textbooks, lab materials, course-specific software, books or required calculators are common for online courses.
MY TIP: If you’re buying a physical textbook, order it well in advance to give yourself time to deal with unforeseen shipping disruptions.
6. Check Your Technology
Make sure your hardware, software and internet is compliant, updated and ready to go.
Updates and Storage
Run any required updates on your computer, tablet and apps, and ensure you have enough storage space to download files you’ll need throughout the course.
Internet Connection
Next, check your internet connection. If your Wi-Fi is spotty or weak, make a backup plan now instead of during your first assignment. That might mean investing in a better internet plan, knowing which coffee shops and libraries have reliable internet, or purchasing an ethernet cable to plug your computer directly into your router.
Course-Specific Software
If your course requires specific software like Zoom or Office365, download it ahead of time and do a test run.
Webcams and Microphones
Most exams for online college courses are done online in the privacy of your own home using a third-party proctoring service like ProcterU.
The invigilator needs to see and hear you clearly. If your built-in webcam doesn’t work or is low quality, you’ll need to purchase an external webcam to write your exams.
MY TIP: The built-in webcam on my MacBook Air works well, but I prefer an external webcam for online exams because sometimes the invigilator asks you to show your room, and it’s way easier to pick up an external one than my whole laptop.
7. Confirm Your Logins Work
One of the most important things to do before starting an online college course is confirm your logins work on every required platform.
Nothing ruins the excitement of starting a new class faster than by finding out you can’t log in and the IT department is closed.
Log into your college dashboard, learning management system and any other course-required software to make sure your password hasn’t expired and you have the correct permissions.
MY TIP: Since you’ll be signing into several platforms daily, use a secure password manager like NordPass to store your login details so you don’t have to re-enter them every time. Entering usernames and passwords as an online student takes up A LOT more time than you think.
8. Review Your Course Syllabus
As soon as your course syllabus becomes available, spend 1-2 hours to read it thoroughly. It covers everything you need to know: the course outline, grading policies and evaluation, exam information, how to contact your instructor, required materials and more.
Pay close attention to due dates (if you don’t have self-paced courses), participation requirements and assignment details. Write down your instructor’s or support center contact information so you know how to reach them when questions come up.
MY TIP: I like to bookmark important pages as I read them, like how many business days your professor has to grade your assignments and how the midterm and final are structured. You think you would remember the answer to these important questions, but believe me, you won’t.
9. Make a Study Schedule
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as an online student is that it can be both a blessing and a curse. Without set times to study, it’s incredibly easy to procrastinate or underestimate how long long you’ll need for each module.
Start by looking at your syllabus (or the course description if the syllabus isn’t available yet) to get a feel for how the class is structured. Are there graded discussion posts? Graded or ungraded quizzes? Big projects? Are assignments written papers or question and answer style? Understanding the course structure helps you decide how much time you realistically need each week.
Then, build your schedule around your life: work, family and any other responsibilities you have. Write down specific days and times when you’ll study, even if it’s just one hour at a time. Blocking it into your planner or digital calendar helps you hold yourself accountable.
Building good study habits like making a study schedule and sticking to it will contribute to your success as an online student.
MY TIP: As a general guideline, it is suggested that most undergraduate courses require 15 hours of study per week, per course. However, more difficult subjects like STEM may require you to put in 20+ hours of study per week, per course. I found this to be true when I had to take statistics for business and economics as one of my required undergraduate business degree courses.
10. Create a Study Planner
A study planner is a personalized plan for what you will study, and when. You can make a study planner digitally (I like to use Notion) or on paper.
I use my study planner to break down each module into the detailed learning activities required to complete each. Most colleges offer a general study planner with what needs to be completed (module, assignments and exams), but I find they lack the detail you need to make sure every activity gets completed.
MY TIP: If you have early access to your course and the syllabus is posted, I like to create my study planner for the first module before the course start date.
How to Prepare for Online College Classes: A Bonus Tip
Online learning can feel daunting and overwhelming at first, but completing this list of things to do before starting your online college course will give you a huge head start.
If you’re allowed early access, here’s my bonus tip: treat this time like a “practice run.” Log in before your start date, explore the course and get comfortable with the platform before your official start date. Doing this not only reduces first-week stress but also gives you confidence that you’re already “ahead” and can handle whatever the course throws at you.
With preparation and an open mind, online learning becomes not just manageable, but also kind of fun – the whole reason I decided to do my degree online!
I’d love to hear from you! If you’re new to online classes, what’s your biggest question or worry about getting started? Drop a comment below – I read and reply to every single one!
If you found this post helpful, sign up for my email list below and follow me on Instagram and Pinterest to join our online student community – you don’t have to go through your study journey alone!
