Internet technologies have changed education. Via online classrooms, students can study anywhere, anytime. However, online classes and degrees also have drawbacks. If you’re thinking about taking an online degree, it’s best to look at the pros and cons before you do.
Pro: It’s Convenient
One of the big pluses of online education is convenience. You don’t have to commute further than your home office to “attend” class. You log onto class when it’s convenient for you, even if it’s the middle of the night. Many online classes are asynchronous so you don’t have to study at a specific time. For those classes that aren’t, you can use free technologies like Skype and Google Hangouts to meet up with professors and peers.
Pro: Access Majors That Your Home University Doesn’t Offer
It used to be that you had to move out of your house, and sometimes out of your hometown, to study certain majors. While it’s an exciting prospect to study in a different city, that option isn’t always available to people, especially non-traditional students who have families and jobs.
Kristy English of Portland State University expressed how critical an online degree was for her. She looked at a few schools before deciding on Portland State. She felt that her criminal justice degree would help her to help her community. Fortunately, she didn’t need to leave her community or her job since she could study criminology online.
Con: It Can be Hard to Find Quiet Time
Students who need sequestered places to study might find the online environment challenging. Students at traditional universities can go to the library or the study in the quiet of the lounge. Online students often have to work around family, pets, and co-workers to get their work done. This makes it hard to concentrate at times.
Con: An Online Degree Requires Self-Discipline
If you have trouble getting to class at a traditional university, it’ll probably be more challenging when you’re getting an online degree. Classes on campus force you to focus and to set aside specific times for work. Students who lack that kind of self-discipline may falter in an online class. It’s easy to forget about class when you don’t have a set schedule to follow.
Final Thoughts on Online Degrees
Online degree programs have opened up educational opportunities for all sorts of students. They allow people to study when it’s convenient for them. However, they also require a great deal of discipline and don’t offer the quiet spaces a traditional university does. If you’re looking at some online degrees, be sure to be honest about how well you’ll do with the cons as well as the pros before deciding on a program.
About the author: Anica is a professional content and copywriter from San Francisco, California. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here.
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