Online College a Truly Viable Option

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:32:48 EST

Twenty years ago, when a student graduated from high school their choices were go to work or go to college. Things have changed. Now many students decide to travel after graduation or get some work experience before committing four years to college. Thanks to the Internet there is another option for students who want to go to school but also need to work. Obtaining college degrees online benefits those with a busy lifestyle that does not allow them to get a college education the traditional way.

Some people who head off to college immediately after high school end up dropping out. Their education may be put on hold for a number of reasons including illness, finances or family obligations. That does not mean their dream of a college degree has to be lost. Many online colleges allow students to transfer completed courses for college credit. This allows the student to pick up where they left off.

It can be difficult to go back to college after taking some time off. You're older; maybe you have a full time job or have a family to take care of. These responsibilities can make finding time to drive to a college campus for classes at particular times difficult. It does not have to be that way. There are hundreds of online colleges that fit the needs of non-traditional students.

Online college is helping adults fit college into their lives. Distance learning students study at their own pace. They can watch lectures and complete assignments at a convenient time from anywhere they have computer access. This means the students can work toward a degree during lunch breaks, business trips or after the kids go to bed.

Choosing to get your degree online will require some adjustments. Sure, you can attend class in your pajamas, but you do have to attend. Online learning takes discipline and a commitment to stay on top of assignments. However, since the student is in control, they do not have to adjust their lives as much as attending a traditional four year college would require.

Busy professionals do not have to worry about rushing to make it to class on time or wandering around campus looking for the lecture hall. In distance college, everything happens through the Internet when the student is ready.

Instead of sitting in a lecture hall, online students view a professor's class by computer. All communication with instructors and classmates takes place through email or chat rooms; there is no need to make an appointment. Students are responding well to this new kind of learning. The Sloan Consortium reports more than 4.6 million students took at least one online course in the fall of 2008, a 17 percent increase from the year before. Not surprisingly, 73 percent of the schools surveyed report more students are demanding online courses.

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Online College a Truly Viable Option