1. Apply for admission: Submit an Application for Admission and an Application for In-State Tuition form if this is your first time applying to NVCC or if you have not taken credit courses in the past three years. You may apply online using the NovaConnect web site or use the forms in the printed Schedule of Classes. Note: High school students and international students must apply for admissions through one of the NVCC Admission and Records offices.
2. Take Placement tests:- If you are planning to complete a certificate or degree at NVCC or are planning to take an English or math course, you must first take the English and math placement tests. These tests will help determine your levels in reading, writing and math. You may take them at any NVCC testing center after you have been admitted to the College. There are online sample questions for review at www.nvcc.edu/annandale/lrc/testing .
3. Request transcripts: Request an official transcript from any college or university you have attended previously, if applicable. Please have the transcripts sent to the Admissions and Records office at the NVCC campus most convenient for you. Official transcripts will be evaluated only after you have been admitted to the College and have declared a major.
4. Academic advising: Before registering for courses, please make sure you have satisfied the course prerequisites and understand the required course assignments. You can find detailed course information at eli.nvcc.edu/courses.htm
5. Register for courses: You may register for classes via the NovaConnect online or telephone registration system. Please check to make sure your address is current at the time you register.

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The following Ten Tips for Success, though certainly not new or revolutionary, were compiled with the help of the textbook for the ELI distance learning version of STD 100, David B. Ellis' Becoming a Master Student, and the staff at the Extended Learning Institute.

1. Establish a place for studying and begin immediately. Buy your course materials. Read your syllabus and skim your course guide. Create a space (not as comfortable as your bed!) that's only for studying. Begin now. This is not the time to procrastinate!
2. Plan your time wisely. Develop a plan for today. Develop a short-term plan, for the next week. Develop a long-term plan.
3. Plan on spending as much time on your distant learning course as you would if you were taking the course on campus. If you are taking a 3-credit course, plan on studying for at least 6 hours a week. (If you were attending class on campus, you would also be traveling to and from campus and parking your car!)
4. If technology is required, learn how to use it. Try it right away. If you need help, call immediately. Use it often.
5. Use the convenience of voice mail and email.
6. Don't ever hesitate to ask for help Although you are an independent learner, you are not alone. You have an instructor. You have people on staff whose mission is to help you. You have student services on campus to support you: counselors, librarians, writing and computer labs, tutoring services, financial aid, a veterans affairs office, and others.
7. Encourage yourself! Be positive! If you feel you are getting bogged down, remind yourself that this is going to help you achieve something you really want.
8. Take advantage of who you are. If you have just finished high school, you already know how to use new technology. If you use computers on the job, you will enjoy computer conferencing and you are accustomed to word processing. If you are older and are returning to school, you have maturity and a sense of purpose that will serve you well.
9. Pay attention to your own preferences. You have chosen distant learning because you need the flexibility and you believe you can succeed on your own, so decide on the best times for you to concentrate, discover 15-minute breaks when you can go over some notes or list the main ideas for your next paper.
10. Plan on times to relax, too, without guilt! Successful students: find enjoyment in learning; reduce anxiety by being well prepared; turn in assignments on time; set realistic goals for themselves; make the commitment to study.

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Taking a distance learning class is very different from attending a traditional on-campus course. Often it requires much more time than one would expect. Not everyone is well-suited to distance learning. How about you?

Students who are most successful in online courses are those who are disciplined and are good time managers. For a better idea of what distance learning encompasses, it is strongly recommended for all distance learners to complete the Online Orientation.

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Print your Class Schedule

To print your class schedule, access the NovaConnect website. After logging in, click “For Students” and then “Enrollment”. Click “Your Class Schedule” (linear format) or “Class Schedule – Grid” (table format). If you have not set your user preferences, enter the “Term” and “NVCC” as the institution. On the menu bar, click “File” and “Print”.

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A complete list of course materials appears in your course syllabus. If you are unable to locate it, contact your professor directly.

Textbooks: You may order textbooks and other course materials by phone, fax, e-mail or mail. Visit the NVCC bookstore website or call 1-888-SHIP-TEXT for more information.

For ELI distance learning courses, use the ELI Textbook Order Form. You may also purchase course materials in the any NVCC campus bookstore.  Check the individual NVCC campus maps for location. However, before traveling to the bookstore, call ahead to confirm that your books are in stock. Some textbooks may also be ordered online at direct.mbsbooks.com/novaeli.htm. 

ELI Course Guides: Most Course Guides for ELI distance learning courses are available at no charge on the ELI website at eli.nvcc.edu/courses.htm. 

Video broadcasts: If you are taking a telecourse or a course using video, you may access the video programs in several ways.  Course videos are broadcast over local PBS stations. See the ELI Telecourse Broadcast Schedule for more information. A second, more convenient option is to view the videos on demand from any NVCC campus computer.

Software: Sometimes software is required for distance courses. Many can be downloaded free of charge. Make sure you notice where you will download the program on your hard drive. After finishing downloading, locate it, and then double click it to install it by following the online instructions.

Voice Mail: Some distance courses require students to use a voice mail system for both delivering class assignments as receiving feedback from your instructor. These directions will help you navigate the voice mail system.

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How to Begin an ELI Distance Learning Course

Distance learning courses are 16 weeks in length. If you need to finish early, contact your professor for permission to accelerate the schedule for your course. You may request more time if your work is satisfactory and you have completed approximately 50% of the required work (as specified by your instructor). See your ELI course information for details.

To begin your course, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/courses.htm. You will also receive course enrollment confirmation in the mail. If you do not receive this confirmation by 10 days after the course is scheduled to begin, contact ELI Registration immediately at (703) 323-3368. You are responsible for accessing your course web site in a timely manner to begin your course. If you do not start your course when it is scheduled to begin, or if you register late in the registration period, you will need to accelerate the class schedule to make up any assignments you may have missed.

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Student Support Services

NVCC has put many support services in place to support you as a distance learner. The key is knowing who to contact.

Academic and Student Counseling: Before registering for courses, please make sure you have satisfied the course prerequisites and understand the required course assignments. You can find detailed course information at eli.nvcc.edu/courses.htm. Every NVCC campus has complete counseling services available. In addition, you can contact the ELI Distance Learning Counseling office by phone at (703) 323-3712 or by email at elicounselors@nvcc.edu. You may also schedule an appointment to come in person to the ELI distance learning office at 8000 Forbes Place, Springfield, VA 22151.

Technical Support: The IT Help Desk provides first-level technical support to students of Northern Virginia Community College. They are dedicated to servicing the computer and telecommunication needs of all students by providing detailed resolutions and general system information for common problems.

Tutoring: Any student enrolled in a course at NVCC is eligible for the same tutoring help available on campus. Tutoring options include staff and software and focus on writing, mathematics, and peer tutoring for ESL students. We encourage you to investigate further on your own. Policies and procedures change quickly, often due to funding and availability of trained students and volunteer faculty.

Writing Centers: Campus Writing Centers provide an environment to the traditional classroom where writers from any college course can come to receive honest feedback for their writing.

Libraries: In addition to traditional support for students, NVCC libraries also provide a special feature, "Ask a Librarian". If you need help finding the best resources for your research, now you have three ways to get help without ever having to come to campus.

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