Have you ever been uneasy about glitches ruining your participation in an important online live event where your future is at stake? Follow these technical tips to ensure you never worry again.
Whether it’s your online mandatory class at school, a virtual info session for selecting a Master’s programme, or a webinar, these simple steps will enable you to focus on enjoying the experience without being distracted by technical issues.
Access Masters has compiled tips to help you make the most of live online events where you meet grad school and career advisers to plan your further education and land your dream job. Even though you might feel pretty confident navigating various platforms, a fully customised live event platform is worth exploring in advance.
#1 Find your way around before a live online event
Prepare and practise. You will want to avoid figuring out how the platform works while the event is already running. Being a student, you must have heard these words a million times. But with online live events, it’s really important to get familiar with the platform. Once the event starts, you need to know what to do to get on with your session or webinar.
Get a video tutorial on how to use the platform – don’t hesitate to ask the organiser if you can’t find one. It’s also a great idea to log in with you credentials a day or two before the event and get familiar with the interface. You can also ask the organisers if they plan to walk you through the platform just before the event. This will help you get an idea of what to expect on the day and allow you to focus on what matters most. On Access Masters you will get plenty of valuable advice in real time directly from graduate school representatives, test prep coaches, and career advisers.
#2 Test your devices
Before the event, try to reproduce the real event experience with the devices and internet connection you will be using. Get familiar with the technical requirements, such as the preferred browser and right settings. Also, make sure you are using the latest version of required software. As you know, devices tend to break and internet connections are sometimes unsteady.
To avoid unpleasant surprises, prepare an alternative device to have at your disposal, and test it. Also, ensure you have a backup internet connection that is sufficiently stable to support a video meeting. For instance, you can set up your smartphone to act as a mobile hotspot. You can learn how to provide yourself with a mobile hotspot by using your Android device here, or your Apple device here.
#3 Likes and kudos
What makes a great impression when connecting to universities? Do your homework and show you’ve done it – ask relevant questions, be curious about details, share what you like about the programme, campus or city where you want to study.
How you present yourself is important. Admission advisers will give you kudos for the research you have done on their programmes, the questions you ask, and your general attitude.
Read: How to Prepare to Meet Graduate School Representatives
#4 Spellcheck
Chat is always part of live online events – be it for a webinar Q&A, or a one-to-one chat. Write clear messages, use proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and avoid jargon and abbreviations. Of course, this is not a writing exam, but neither is it just a casual chat with friends.
#5 Start video call
Enjoy a fully interactive experience with peers, advisers, and school representatives from around the world. Take the opportunity for a video talk – this makes a great difference when you are exploring your next-level education and student life destination.
#6 Lighting, framing
Think about how you will appear on the screen of the person you are talking to. Raise your camera to eye level. If you are using a laptop, you can use a stand, boxes or a stack of books to lift the device. If you are using a desktop monitor or webcam, adjust the camera to your eye level.
Avoid having lights in the background of your frame. If you have a bright window behind you, you will appear as a dark silhouette with an invisible face. Instead, put lights behind your camera to illuminate your face. A desk lamp is a good option. If you wear glasses, reduce the brightness of your screen to lower the glaring reflection on your lenses.
#7 Dress the part
And yes, in case you are wondering, your outfit does matter. Dress smartly. Also, think about the space behind you that will appear in your frame. Ensure a neat background.
#8 Keep cool and ask for help, if needed
Access Masters live online events are all supported by big teams of facilitators and IT specialists. So you are not alone. Whatever happens, keep your cool. If you can’t solve a problem, don’t hesitate to ask for help from the support team or the moderators.
Focus on making the most of a live interactive online event. Seize the opportunity to get valuable insider information and expert advice as you prepare to make one of the most important steps of your life – finding the best Master’s programme for your dream career at an exciting study destination.
Read: How to Ace a Virtual Meeting with Grad School Representatives
