Online College: Yes or No?

Online college is on the rise. Dare to jump on board? Before you decide, allow me to give you some advantages and disadvantages of attending. Flexibility and convenience are the top two perks. By attending an online school, you have access to your classes 24/7; in other words, whatever time is best for you! That means, no waking up to that annoying alarm clock (unless you have to already) and throwing on some nice clothes to sit in a classroom listening to a lecture. Whether you are an early bird or a night owl, your education can easily fit into your schedule. With this luxury, you can log-in during the time of day when you are most productive.

A downfall to this freedom is the need for students to have self-discipline and time management skills. In order to attend an online college, you must be self-motivated. Since no one is making you get up and go to class, you must take the initiative. If this is your strong suit, I say go for it! But if you are the type of person who needs to be reminded to do your schoolwork, I suggest another route.

Taking college classes online is beneficial to the student who are either shy or English is their second language. By remaining in the comfort of your own home and hiding behind a computer screen, some students feel more at ease. There is no fear of speaking up in class, because most of the classroom time is a live chat session. This is when the professor has a chance to answer students’ questions and to explain the assignments better.

A disadvantage to online classrooms is the lack of face-to-face teacher interaction. Having the ability to attend the professor’s office hours is important to some folks. Speaking to a live person is easier and more effective for some. Therefore, some students may have a difficult time getting used to the lack of face-to-face interaction. Don’t let this fool you into thinking you cannot contact your professor! All professors offer a phone number, their email address, and are available for live chats or instant messaging sessions.

Some more advantages are access to students around the country, multimedia and non-verbal presentations, some employers pay for school, save time and money, no commuting, no room and board fees, geographic flexibility, technologically advanced classes, and no dress code. If your job doesn’t have a consistent schedule, online college would be a perfect match for you. Especially, if your employer pays for your tuition!

Other disadvantages are isolation from fellow students, may be difficult to transfer credits, and access to and knowledge of technology required. Remember, if you don’t have access to a computer or your internet goes down, you cannot access your classes! However, you can always go to the library.

If you read all of this and feel the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, I say research some accredited schools to see if they offer a program that interests you. I highly recommend American InterContinental University online. However, there are other schools you should take a look at: http://www.elearners.com/colleges/?tsource=it&tid=68147. Good luck with your search!