The Pros and Cons of Getting an Online Degree

It used to be that to get a degree, you had to enroll at a school and either live there or commute to classes. If you already had a job or other obligations, you had to rearrange your schedule to fit your time in the classroom. But now, the Internet has opened up a whole new world of possibilities through online degree programs. Getting your degree online has never been easier, but it's not for everyone. Below is a list of factors to consider before attending school online. Read through and decide if college online is right for you.

Flexible Schedule
One of the biggest draws of getting a degree online is the flexibility that it offers. Instead of having to attend classes at a set time, you can simply log on to your class when it's convenient for you. Most online classes have a syllabus with weekly or monthly deadlines; simply complete the work in the time specified and you're done. This means that you can work day or night to accommodate a job, parenting or even caring for an elderly or ill loved-one. Even if you have an online discussion requirement, you can log in on your owe time table and add your input. As long as you're providing consistent interaction as specified by the professor, you can choose when that interaction occurs.

However, if you are not a person who works with long-term deadlines well, then this may not be the best choice for you. Without the motivation of attending classes and face-to-face interaction with a professor, you may let the deadlines slide, either constantly cramming at the last minute to finish a paper or other assignment, or forgetting to complete them all together. Either way, this type of behavior is not conducive to learning, so make sure you know your personality before you consider an online degree.

Save Money
If money is tight for you, then getting your degree online may be the perfect solution. Not only are many online programs cheaper than traditional ones, shaving off fees and other expenses of an in-person education, you also save money on commuting to and from a physical location. Since you don't have to upend your daily life to attend class, you can save gas money, food money by eating at home instead of a cafeteria and even money on new clothes, since no one can even see you. If you want to get a degree without spending a fortune, then an online degree is an attractive option.

Variety of Options
If money is already tight and you can only consider local options for school, looking at school online may present you with many more options for classes and degrees than what you can find locally. Degrees online have no limit to the variety of majors, so you can choose any field you wish. Also, because online communities have no boundaries, you'll most likely be studying with other students from around the country and possibly the world, giving you an experience that's rich in different opinions and viewpoints.

No Personal Interaction
One of the biggest drawbacks to an online degree program is the lack of personal interaction. If you've already had a traditional college experience and are simply looking to finish your degree or get an additional one, this may not be a big deal. This also may appeal to those who don't enjoy a lot of face-to-face interaction and sharing opinions in front of a room full of people. For those who feel this way, getting an online degree may actually increase one's interaction as it's all faceless on the computer.

However, online discussions are rarely as vibrant as in-person ones, especially since they don't take place in real time. While taking a literature course online, I was disappointed at the lack of interaction on what we were reading that I had enjoyed in my regular college classes. Instead of being able to converse back and forth about our assessments immediately, I had to post a comment and then wait for others to post in response. This process took much longer and soon, the next assignment was due and the conversation was abandoned for a new one. I personally found this aspect frustrating, preferring live conversations to online ones.

Lack of Hands-On Experience
In most classrooms, part of the learning process goes beyond lectures to include experiments, activities and even group projects. This type of interaction can be very helpful to the learning experience, especially for certain degrees. But in an online degree program, you forfeit extra hands-on experience. Depending on your major, this lack of experience could be detrimental to your resume and portfolio. In a competitive job market, many employers look past the degree to experience. Make sure that if you choose to get your degree online that you supplement what you've learned with some practical experience.

Look at the above list carefully, and if it seems that your personality and needs fit, then maybe an online degree is right for you.