Do:

• Do assess how many courses you can realistically take in a given semester. Many online students work and go to school, but there are only so many hours in a week when you can get online, study and complete assignments. Look at your schedule and make an honest determination of how much time you will be able to devote to school.
• Do communicate with your professors often. Since many online students never meet their professors in real life, it is important to get to know them by communicating with them and asking questions. Not only will the professor appreciate the effort, but he or she will also perceive you as being more engaged in class and will be more likely to go the extra mile for you.
• Do have a quiet place in your home where you can access your classes and study. All online students will need to cut themselves off from distractions such as TV, cell phones or non-school-related Web surfing when they are accessing their classes from home. Parents may need to get a sitter to watch children while they study for tests or complete difficult assignments.

 Don’t:

• Don’t think online classes are easier than traditional classes. This is actually a common misperception. Online classes are designed to be just as rigorous as any course at a brick-and-mortar institution. The only difference is how the subject matter is delivered.
• Don’t become invisible. It’s easy to get so absorbed in your online studies that you forget to participate in online forum discussions. However, your grades are often dependent on your participation in such discussions. Make sure you comment, give your professor feedback and make your presence known.
• Don’t procrastinate. Because you never have to show up to a physical classroom, some students let themselves "forget" when they should be logged in to class, and put off their assignments. Since a whopping 20 percent of people identify themselves as chronic procrastinators, you will need to get in the habit early of making sure you’re logging in to your courses as often as you need to, and that you allow yourself plenty of time to complete assignments.
• Don’t leave your group in the lurch. Just because you take classes online doesn’t mean you won’t participate in group projects. Be sure to respond to your group’s e-mails and to contribute your part to these projects. The rest of your group won’t appreciate it if you go into stealth mode and the project suffers for it—and neither will your professor.