| There are some excellent reasons that you might | | | | Online schools realize that in order for their students |
| want to earn an online college degree. There are also | | | | to succeed, and to continue their studies, the user |
| some terrible ones, and if you have any of these in | | | | experience must be pleasant. Frustration will lead to |
| the back of your mind, it's time to think again. | | | | students dropping out, so most programs offer |
| Reason 1: I'm very shy & quiet; if I get my | | | | extensive support; online tutors who can walk you |
| degree online I won't have to interact with people. | | | | through software; 24 hour help desks, and more. |
| While it's true that studying for an online degree | | | | Reason 4: It'll be quicker to earn my degree online. |
| involves less face-to-face contact with | | | | There are accelerated online degree programs, just |
| fellow-students, or teachers, it's a myth that no | | | | as there are in traditional brick and mortar schools. |
| interaction is required. Particularly for a bachelor's | | | | Conversely, many online students choose to progress |
| degree, where you'll be taking a wider range of | | | | at a slower speed, allowing them to fulfill career and |
| courses and spending less time on individual in-depth | | | | family obligations simultaneously as they earn their |
| projects, most of your classes will involve very real | | | | degrees. |
| interaction. | | | | The work load for any specific online class is unlikely |
| Since you'll be studying online, that interaction takes | | | | to be lighter than that for the traditional equivalent. |
| different forms. Whether it's through email lists; | | | | Students who have combined online and traditional |
| virtual classroom software; bulletin boards; social | | | | courses in their degree work report that study time |
| networking; or forums; distance learning is likely to | | | | and assignments are largely comparable. Of course, |
| require you to take an active role in debate and | | | | some schools are less demanding than others, and |
| discussion. You may be sitting alone in your room, but | | | | the same is true of different classes and |
| in a very real sense you'll be surrounded by students. | | | | departments. |
| Their ideas and questions will enrich your education -- | | | | Again however, this is no different to the situation |
| and their education will be similarly enriched by yours. | | | | for a traditional student; you'll be the one to decide |
| Reason 2: It'll be easy, because I don't have to go to | | | | the speed of your progress, and the rigor of your |
| class. | | | | course load. |
| You certainly don't have to fly out of bed; run a | | | | Reason 5: Online colleges are lower-quality, so the |
| comb through your hair, throw clothes on; and dash | | | | classes will be easier. |
| out the house to the bus stop in order to make that | | | | For some years, there were online degree programs |
| 8:00 am Intro to Statistics class. For which, | | | | that had the reputation of giving degrees in |
| incidentally, you should be very grateful. However, | | | | exchange for a little effort, and a lot of cash. This |
| many of your classes will involve regularly scheduled | | | | phenomenon of "degree mills" still exists, but it is a |
| lectures and seminars which you'll be required to | | | | miniscule part of the picture. If you restrict your |
| attend. | | | | choice of schools to accredited colleges and |
| It's true that, unlike online courses a decade or so | | | | universities then your degree will be absolutely |
| ago, you may be able to review those lectures at a | | | | equivalent to a traditional degree. Neither your |
| time that's convenient to you. This flexibility, known | | | | transcript, nor your diploma, will specify whether you |
| as asynchronous learning, allows you to schedule your | | | | studied online or not. |
| time more efficiently and is one of the great benefits | | | | Therefore, the quality of your education will depend |
| of distance education. But this flexibility also demands | | | | on two main factors. The first factor is the quality |
| self-discipline. You'll still be responsible for completing | | | | and reputation of the school you choose. Thousands |
| the material and there are likely to be regular | | | | of schools around the world now offer at least some |
| assignments designed to keep your progress on | | | | college credit classes online. You can choose to study |
| track; the college doesn't want you to fall behind. | | | | at Harvard; at your state university; or at a local |
| Reason 3: I'm a computer expert, so learning online | | | | community college; it all depends on you and what |
| will be simple. | | | | you're looking for in your education. |
| A thorough knowledge of computers is helpful in | | | | The second -- and most vital -- factor is your |
| almost any field and it certainly won't hurt your online | | | | commitment, and the effort you put in. If you're a |
| studies, particularly if you're focusing on technology | | | | good student, and you take your class responsibilities |
| or programming. But you do not need to be a | | | | seriously, you'll succeed. You'll earn an online college |
| computer whiz to earn an online college degree. If | | | | degree you can be proud of from any accredited |
| you are comfortable browsing the Web; sending | | | | school you choose to attend -- even if the only time |
| email; writing and saving a document; and chatting via | | | | you actually walk through the gates of the college is |
| instant messenger; you'll be quite capable of | | | | to receive your diploma. |
| completing any of your online courses. | | | | |