| Online education options and degree programs are on | | | | While you are the only one that can truly decide |
| the raise. According to a recent publication, 3.5 million | | | | what program is best for you, here are some |
| students took at least one online course in the fall of | | | | questions to consider to help you in your decision: |
| 2006, a 10% increase over the previous year (Online | | | | Are you able to stay motivated? Are you very |
| Nation: Five Years of Growth in Online Learning 2007) | | | | disciplined? Can you be productive at home? Do you |
| .But with more choices come more questions and | | | | like working from home? Are you shy and prefer |
| uncertainty. What should you do? What type of | | | | written communication? Do you currently have a full |
| degree program is better? What will provide greater | | | | time job? Do you have daycare issues to deal with? |
| benefits in the future? | | | | Did you answer YES to most of these? If so, an |
| All legitimate and important questions. Unfortunately, | | | | online degree program may be just for you. Try a |
| there are no easy answers or at least no absolute | | | | class or two before you commit to a full blown |
| truth. The question: "Is an online degree better | | | | degree program. |
| compared to a campus college degree" should be | | | | If you answered NO to most of the above |
| replaced by the question "Is an online degree a | | | | questions, you probably have a hard time staying |
| better choice for ME compared to a campus college | | | | motivated without someone pulling you along. You |
| degree". | | | | rather get out of the house because working from |
| To complicate the matters further, you will find that | | | | home is too distracting. You like socializing and |
| the answer to this question may change as your life | | | | meeting new people in person, eye to eye. You have |
| changes and what worked at the start of your | | | | time to attend a scheduled class because you either |
| education career may not fit your needs down the | | | | don't have a full time job or can work around it. If |
| road. | | | | this description sounds a bit like you - a campus |
| Fear not. With so many options in front of you, you | | | | college education may be right up your alley. Don't |
| don't really have to pick one over the other. Most | | | | forget to try one or two online course, you may be |
| large institutions of education offer some online | | | | surprised! |
| courses, with many having a complete online | | | | Whichever degree program you choose, online or |
| program. Benefit from both methods of learning and | | | | campus, be assured that you can't make the wrong |
| instruction by combining the two. Your ultimate goal | | | | decision. You will find benefits for both, and if you |
| should be completing the degree of your choice, | | | | really hate the choice you made, just change it. It's |
| online or on campus. | | | | that easy! |