Deciding which college to choose is not easy and now this pivotal stage in a young individual’s life has gotten a bit more challenging with the addition of online learning. With the many advantages of online learning, it has become harder for students to ignore this option. But is it the right path for you?
Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether to pursue your college degree online or through a traditional university or college:
Online learning allows flexibility in your schedule. Generally, scheduling online classes are much easier compared to traditional campus-based classes, allowing you to take your classes during your free time which is an ideal arrangement for people who jobs. Campus-based courses will require you to attend class at specific times and days every week, which would consequently compel you to change your work schedule or hire a babysitter.
While online classes would require you to attend scheduled meetings in chat rooms at times, most of the time you can attend the virtual classes whenever your schedule permits.
With traditional learning, one can earn an associate’s degree in two years and a bachelor’s degree in four years. These time frames are based on the number of credit hours you take per semester. If you have a full time work or if you happen to have other obligations, it might take you longer to finish college the traditional way. A virtual university, however, will allow you to take on more coursework every semester without having to sit through long classes at scheduled times every day.
One common misconception about online courses is that this learning environment does not provide opportunities for students to interact with other students and their professors. On the contrary, collaboration among online students and professors through chat rooms, email, and VoIP. If you prefer to establish social interactions with fellow online students and your professors, you can always reach out to them in the same way as you would if you met them in a classroom setting.
There are online degree programs that offer campus locations and student centers to facilitate face to face coordination with professors and advisers if necessary.
Resources at online colleges are slightly different than the ones available at traditional schools. You will find that online schools are less expensive because there are no facilities that you need to pay for. If you prefer to have access to school amenities but still want to have the convenience and financial savings provided by online learning, you may want to do some research and look for brick-and-mortar institutions that create and offer online courses. This will allow you to have access to the same resources as traditional students. Also, there are several online programs that have campus locations with similar amenities.
While there are many advantages offered by online courses, both accredited online colleges and traditional campus colleges provide students with quality education and a degree that you will need to excel in your chosen profession. One style of learning is not necessarily better than the other, so reflect on these differences and choose the type of program that you feel will work best for you.
Michelle Rubio is an experienced SEO copywriter and blogger since 2010. She has been working with various businesses, big and small, in the United States, UK, Canada, and Australia. You can see more of her works and experiences in her LinkedIn profile.