If you're considering a return to college to study for a degree, it's important that you know exactly what you want to get out of the experience. The more preparation you can do before you plunge into your studies, the more benefit you'll get from your decision. You're going to invest a lot of time, hard work, and tuition fees into this process, so it's important that you are clear about your objectives.
There are as many different types of distance learning students as there are people in the world. But research and anecdotal evidence suggests that the most successful students have seriously considered the following three questions:
Why am I returning to college?
It's tempting to answer this first question simply: "To get a degree." And for some people, that may be motivation enough. Many of us choose to go straight to work after high school, or there may be reasons that you dropped out of college without completing your degree. And the desire to finally return to school and earn that degree can be very strong.
But most students who choose to return to school later in life do so for a practical reason: Career advancement. Skilled manual & technical work is becoming more scarce, and in a knowledge-based economy the better-paying jobs often demand a college degree.
If that's the reason you're considering college, be sure that you spend the necessary time researching which subjects you should study. This is especially important if you're studying a rapidly-changing technical field like computer programming; you don't want to be the last student in the world to become expert in an obsolete programming language.
Do I have the self-discipline to earn an online college degree?
At first glance it's tempting to think that studying for your degree online will be easier than attending classes on campus. After all, you don't need to get out of your pajamas, let alone out of the house!
But the fact is that you need to be extremely self-disciplined to complete even one course ... and you'll have to take quite a few to get that degree. Without the discipline that a regular schedule imposes, it's very easy to fall behind on your course work. And while most colleges and universities now allow for asynchronous learning, which means that you don't have to login for an online lecture at a specific time but can instead watch it at your convenience, you do still need to watch it.
Online colleges recognize the danger of students slipping behind in their work and will schedule papers, quizzes, and exams in such a way as to monitor your progress. But the final responsibility for your success or failure is yours.
Will my friends and family give me the support I need?
You're going to spend a great deal of time studying when you plunge into your course work and, unless you have an awful lot of spare hours on your hands right now, that means time that you'll have to take from other activities. Particularly if you'll be working and studying simultaneously, you'll have a lot less opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Are you, and they, comfortable with that?
If you're married, the support of your spouse is absolutely vital. They may have to be willing to accept a much greater share of the housework, errands, and parenting. At the same time, you're going to have much less opportunity to relax and go out for a quiet meal; see a movie; or even watch TV together in the evening.
Are you, and they, willing to make compromises to allow you to fulfill your dream of earning a degree? Are they equally invested in the potential career opportunities and rewards of your studies, or is it possible they will feel threatened by you moving up the career ladder and broadening your horizons?
If you're already fully committed to getting your degree, don't let these questions be a barrier to your goals. But by taking the time to address the potential pitfalls ahead of time, your experience will be more enjoyable, more manageable, and more rewarding in the long term.
When it's time to break into a new career or push things forward on the career path, an online college degree is often the first thing that comes to mind. It is now the mainstream approach for many working adults who want to reach their goals without putting themselves in a bind. Accepted by workers and employers alike, there is hardly anyone who can't find some sort of online program to enhance their career.
Although it has faced its critics, it has been found that online learning simply has too much to offer when it comes to convenience and cost effective learning options. Those making their way in the world on a daily basis are often maneuvering through unforgiving hectic schedules. When the need for extra education arises, rarely does that hectic schedule make room for a large number of options.
Likewise, the working adult is typically one who shies away from returning to school when faced with the cost factor. Not only must the cost of courses be considered, but traveling to classes and other related expenses come into play as well. Many working adults just feel intimidated by the overall picture.
However, with an online college degree, concerns having to do with these factors are addressed right away. Many are familiar with the fact that, depending on the course of study, online learning can require little or no class time. This fact often peaks the attention of those looking for options to further themselves.
Online learning also means paying only for the course and materials needed. The extra costs that come with attending an onsite college are a non-issue. This is the second thing that gives working adults the hope they are looking for.
A good number of companies are now changing their employment requirements to meet the needs of their target industry. In order to keep from losing their workforce, companies sometimes put education reimbursement programs in place for their employees. Knowing employees are already trying to juggle home and work, online learning programs have become the most recommended course of study by companies.
Those who take on this type of learning will need to be self-motivated. However, individuals who have spent their time in the workforce are generally used to taking on tasks that need to be done without being told. Students can take their course of study as fast or as slow as needed, studying the concepts that need the most attention.
Students of online learning must also be able to make time for their studies. More often than not, classes are set up on a syllabus that can be attended to at any time of the day or night. This means instead of working another activity into a set schedule, students can take on their education at a time that is best for them.
Working adults also like the idea of an education that focuses on getting the specific skills they need. These skills can be easily put to use in either their current position or it can even take them to the very next level. Either way, it is no secret that job skills can often mean greatly increasing one's earning prestige and power.
Once an individual earns their college degree online, he or she will have a fully recognized and reputable degree to show for their hard work and dedication. This will also likely come with a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction at completing such an important task. With a degree often paying for itself in the long run, rarely do individuals regret taking on such a life enhancing experience.
If you have been unable to obtain the college degree you wanted because of other obligations such as family or work, then an online college degree program was created with you in mind. If you have wanted to earn a specific degree, but that degree is not offered close to your home, then an online college degree program was created with you in mind. Flexibility and lack of geographical boundaries are two of the most important qualities of online education programs.
If you are self-directed, self-motivated and have the discipline to stay on task, then you are certainly capable to complete a bachelors, masters or PhD degree online. You will have all the support systems that a land-based college offers, such as counselors, instructors, classmates that you can communicate with, and technological support, to help you complete your college degree.
If you have a computer with Internet, then you have all the equipment that you need to be able to participate in an online college degree education program. Basic level keyboarding and computer skills, and the ability to send and receive e-mail, are all you need to be able to enter an online program.
Online sites that provide instant information and applications for various schools and programs can get you started in the right direction. Simply and easily enter the type of program or school you are interested in, and instantly you will be provided with information about the many choices you have. From there you will get all the more detailed information about classes, requirements, financial cost and scheduling that you will need to pick the program that is perfect for you.
When the first college offered correspondence as a method of obtaining a degree from the comfort of one's home, many people protested. This new system was too lenient, too simple, it didn't promote social interaction the way a regular college would. Students would grow to be social recluses, unable to interact with other people. Then when online college classes became the next step, the complaints were even louder. Not only would they not attend classes, but the internet has so many distractions that they might not study at all.
Other people were wiser and stayed quiet. Those happy with the new system actually knew how many benefits it would have. They realized that they would end up paying less, since the fees for books, schools and dorms would disappear. Not to mention the money needed for gas, to drive to classes and back. The only question was whether or not students would be able to focus enough for online college classes. This is not much of a problem with older students, but will young men and women, fresh out of high school, have the determination needed for this system to work?
If correspondence needs discipline, online studies need twice as much of it. It isn't easy to force yourself to sit down and study several hours a day when there's so much else that could be done. Young students often do not have the motivation to study hard, and online studying only fuels the apathy. Time wastes away quickly and simply because all the material is online does not mean it is any easier to learn. It may in fact be much harder; there is no tutor to explain the difficult parts, and no classmates to discuss and brainstorm with. There are online discussions through forums and e-mail, but those are only useful to a certain degree. A fast answer will not come from those when needed.
The one issue those for and against online college classes will agree on is the lack of social interaction, and how dangerous it can be. College, for most of us, is the time when we truly begin to blossom, to find out who we are and what we're good at. By eliminating the campus from the equation, can we truly gain the same results? While it is true that online interaction can help to a degree, it will never be as good as meeting others face to face. An effective solution for this problem has not been found yet, but online classes are nonetheless extremely popular.
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