Pros and Cons of Pursuing an Online Education

Like everything in life, there is of course an upside and a downside to attending classes online. The choice to pursue higher education however, I can only see an upside to. So no matter where or how you choose to attend college, it is a decision that will help you later in life in some way or another.



First, the pros:

• Online classes are oftentimes more convenient. Particularly if you have children. Pursuing your degree online allows you the comfort of staying in your home (or where ever you choose to study).
• Attend classes on your own schedule. Although nearly all online colleges require that your work for the week be submitting by Sunday, you still have the luxury of choosing when you want to log in and do the work, rather than having to adhere to an in class lecture schedule.
• Attend year round. Many colleges allow you the freedom of attending classes year round. If you are only taking classes part-time, this will allow you to stay on pace with your graduation date.
• Generally speaking, online courses can often be less expensive. The per credit rate for online colleges is often much less expensive than a brick and mortar University.

The cons:

• Limited supervision. This is not always an issue for people, however, the motivation to log in and complete your work on your own can often become a daunting task. Without the supervision of in class professors, many students fall behind in their coursework.
• Limited social interaction. Being that you are doing nearly all coursework from the comfort of your own home, this does not give the opportunity for much social interaction with other students. There are discussion boards, but this is a far cry from the bonds that you can form attending a campus.
• Some credits may not transfer. For some online colleges, some of your credits may not transfer over to another University you are considering attending. This is not always an issue, but it is something that should definitely be considered.

With any online college, be sure that you thoroughly research the school. Search for reviews, check on accreditation, pricing, and anything else you may consider important to your personal situation. There are too many places out there claiming to be accredited colleges that really are not. So be sure to check them out. This is your money and you of course want to be sure that it is going to a place that you can count on. If you have to, get a hold of someone in administration and ask questions. This is your future that is at stake, so make sure you are doing everything in your power to ensure that you are going to be attending a college that will help you make the most of it.