| If you've decided to return to college, whether to | | | | a lecture hall, and sitting with a couple of hundred |
| get a bachelor's degree or a graduate degree, you've | | | | other students, you do still have to attend lectures; |
| almost certainly considered studying online. Every | | | | you'll simply be watching or listening online. But instead |
| web site is full of ads for Capella, or the University of | | | | of having a schedule that imposes a certain amount |
| Liverpool, or the University of Phoenix, while | | | | of discipline on you, it's going to be up to you to find |
| newspaper articles sing the virtues of distance | | | | the motivation to study; to write papers; to take |
| learning as a solution for busy management | | | | part in online discussions and yes, to hear lectures. |
| candidates. | | | | You need to know whether you have the |
| There are some advantages to studying online, but | | | | self-discipline to turn off the TV; to say no to friends |
| the truth is that there is also significant downside. | | | | who call you for a night on the town; or even to |
| Before you leap on your computer and make a long | | | | leave the dishes piled up in the kitchen. All of these |
| term commitment to an online university, you should | | | | things can seem very attractive when you've got a |
| consider some of these problems. | | | | paper due (even the dishes) but if you plan to earn |
| That degree's not worth the pixels it's printed on | | | | that degree, you've got to write that paper. |
| There are some prestigious and well-established | | | | A fraternity with only one member doesn't throw |
| colleges that offer online degrees. If your degree is | | | | very good parties |
| from one of these schools you can be confident that | | | | One of the nicest things about attending a traditional |
| employers and graduate schools will accept it without | | | | college is the chance it gives you to meet new and |
| question. The problems arise however, if you choose | | | | interesting people. What a wonderful way to spend a |
| a school that isn't so well known. | | | | spring afternoon; sprawled out under a tree in the |
| At the very bottom of the barrel you'll find colleges | | | | center of a park-like campus, surrounded by other |
| that are simply businesses; they're unaccredited | | | | eager students, discussing the meaning of life. And in |
| "degree mills" that will be glad to sell you a diploma as | | | | the evening, strolling down to the Alpha Delta Phi |
| long as you're willing to pay for it. These obviously | | | | house to share a laugh with your buddies. Doesn't it |
| are worth neither your time nor your money. | | | | sound great? |
| But even some more legitimate schools, where you | | | | Well, think again. If you choose to get your degree |
| will be required to complete course work, remain | | | | online, you're going to spend the bulk of your college |
| unaccredited. It's highly recommended that you avoid | | | | career staring at a computer screen, not at the cute |
| these schools, since your hard work and tuition fees | | | | freshman across the room. To the extent that |
| may not be recognized by graduate schools, or | | | | there's any socializing it's likely to be over email and |
| employers. | | | | an online forum, not over pizza and a beer. |
| A night in front of the screen doesn't include Jay, | | | | Before you begin an online degree, it's important that |
| Dave and Conan any more | | | | you know whether or not it will be the best |
| The term "studying online" is two words, not one. | | | | environment for you. Are you sufficiently |
| Self-evident? Maybe, but a surprising number of | | | | self-motivated to succeed without the structure of a |
| people seem to focus on the online aspect of their | | | | formal schedule? Will you feel deprived by missing |
| program, rather than on the studying bit. | | | | out on the social aspects of a college education? |
| Although you won't be leaving the house, heading for | | | | |