Are Online Classes Right for You?

I have attended three different colleges and gone through three different majors since I graduated high school in 2002. This December I will finally graduate with my Associate's Degree in Business from Harrisburg Area Community College. With the flexibility of online courses, I am able to complete my degree.

Online classes have given me, an adult student, the ability to have a flexible class schedule, and to work my studies around my life schedule which includes work and volunteer activities. I have taken numerous online classes from Music Business and the Internet, Environment Science, Business Law, Marketing, and even Math; I have passed all of them.

Choosing to take courses solely online is not for every type of student. Most adult students find that the flexibility it offers is worth the heavy reading and self discipline. College students who are younger may struggle more with online classes due to the self propelling nature of the courses, however, the technology may appeal to younger students.

Students who tend to procrastinate should not consider online courses. I tend to procrastinate, and this has been a major struggle while completing my assignments. In the first few courses I took online, I would wait until a few hours before an assignment was due to complete it. This left me very frustrated and stressed. Now, as I have learned to better manage my time and priorities, I try to read ahead as much as possible to stay current with my homework assignments. Most professors refuse to accept late submissions despite circumstances.

It is important to ask your professor questions, as well as questions of your classmates. If you feel you are confused about an assignment, or, if you professor has properly received an online submission, you need to stay closely in contact with others in the class. Forums allow students to connect with one another as you would in a typical classroom setting. Always refer back to your syllabus which will often answer many of your questions.

Reading for online classes is a top priority. Reading and studying lecture notes is the only way to stay current with the topics of the class and will help you stay connected. If you fail to complete the reading, you can expect to fail the course.

Give yourself plenty of time to complete the assignments and quizzes. Technical failures can and do occur (internet connection fail, site goes down, etc.), so allow yourself plenty of time to submit the projects for your classes. If your instructor allows, work ahead as much as possible to alleviate your crunched timeline.

Online course requires much self discipline and are not for all students, but it does allow greater flexibility in comparison to classes held in brick and mortar schools. If you have a difficult personal schedule, online course may be the best option to complete a degree.