Top 7 Tips for Success From Alumni of Walden’s MS in Education Program

Deciding to go back to school for a master’s degree in education can be both exciting and a bit scary. While you’re driven by a desire to be a more effective educator and to help your own students become more successful, at the same time, you’re likely wondering how you’ll manage going back to school when your life is already so busy.

Thankfully, you’re not alone. More than 40,000 educators have graduated from Walden University’s accredited online master’s in education program, and they know firsthand what it takes to succeed.

Here are their top seven tips for success:

1. Support at Work and at Home – When educators first decided to go back for their master’s degree in education at Walden, they talked about their decision with their employer and family. They explained why getting a master’s degree was so important for them personally and professionally, and asked their employer to back their decision. They also asked their family to support them through specific requests, like agreeing to help more with daily chores.
2. Commitment – Many graduates emphasized that you need to be fully committed to successfully complete your master’s degree. They agreed that anything other than success is simply not acceptable. Be honest with yourself about your dedication so you start out with the right mindset.
3. Motivation – Don’t expect other people to keep you motivated. You decided that getting your MSEd degree was a worthwhile goal, and it’s up to you to accomplish it. “It requires a lot of self-motivation,” one graduate emphasized. That said, Walden offers extensive student support services, so connect with others in your degree program through our online communities.
4. Time-Management Skills – Most students in Walden’s MS in Education program who are actively teaching PreK—12 classes also have family obligations. Managing time properly is critical for succeeding and balancing life’s demands.
5. Accelerated MSEd Model – Take advantage of Walden’s accelerated MSEd model, which gives educators the flexibility to earn their master’s degree for a little more than $10,000 in as little as 12 months.* The accelerated option is available in six MSEd degree specializations: Elementary Reading and Mathematics, Integrating Technology in the Classroom, Special Education (non-licensure), Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment; Elementary Reading and Literacy, and Teacher Leadership.
6. Walden Student Resources – Successful students saved time and enhanced their online learning experience by using convenient resources like Walden’s Writing Center, library, and the Student Support Team.
7. Create Online Study Groups With Classmates – Successful students formed study groups early on in their program, and established peer relationships for studying, developing papers, and completing assignments.

Praise From a Walden Graduate
“When you are a graduate student in the MS in Education program, you will see that it is a very new way of looking at the world, and you will not be the same person when you leave as you were when you arrived. You’re going to appreciate and value those improvements for the rest of your life.” —Richard Biehl, MS in Education Graduate

Discover more helpful tips for academic success in this video from graduates of Walden’s online MS in Education program.

Walden’s MS in Education program offers more than 15 specializations to help you meet your educational goals, ranging from STEM Education and Special Education to Integrating Technology in the Classroom and Teacher Leadership.

Walden University, an accredited institution has been serving the higher education needs of adult learners for 50 years. Today, more than 50,000 students from all 50 U.S. states and around the world are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees or certificates online at Walden.

Explore Walden University's online college degrees in education and position yourself for success inside and outside of the classroom. Earn your education degree in a convenient format that fits your busy life.

*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.